Materials Handling

Materials Handling is an all-encompassing term that involves just about everything in society. In fact, the handling of materials is such a basic part of daily routines that it’s almost impossible to think of an act that doesn’t involve the touching and/or moving of animate and inanimate objects.

In mining, perhaps more than most industries, materials handled run the full gamut from people to products, and that’s why materials handling is such an important part of the industry and most certainly, worthy of a closer look at what’s involved and what tools are available to make the entire process easier and safer for mine owners and operators.

First and foremost at every mine site is the safety and well-being of the people who work at the mine. From the moment workers enter the gates to when they leave, great care must be taken to help ensure that those “accident free days” posted at the entrance to the site continue to pile up.

People movers, mainly pick-up trucks and quite often, more rugged SUVs and other off-road vehicles, are the first handlers found on mine sites but farther into the operation is where the more complex and technically advanced systems are found.

The following pages contain just a few of those innovative tools and systems that are designed to make today’s mines more productive, cost efficient and, again… safe.

Flow-stream diverters

Flexco announces the availability of a full range of high-capacity, flow-stream diverters designed for online switching and splitting of materials without disrupting the materials handling process. Flexco transfer systems are designed with throughput technology to help improve conveyor belt life by matching material levels with belt capacities. Flexco transfer solutions also deliver dust levels that meet or exceed regulatory levels, low levels of spillage, low incidences of plugging, reduced material degradation, and significant noise reduction. One of the keys to the entire Flexco system is based on Tasman Warajay Technology, a design method developed by the company’s engineers and using exclusive software to make precise adjustments to the angle and velocity of moving material that literally shapes the flow path and minimizes the impact of the receiving belts.

For more information contact info@flexco.com

Materials handling

Taggart Global offers complete materials handling solutions from design, to start up, to commissioning of overland conveyors, bulk storage and reclaim systems, truck and barge loaders and unloaders, unit train batch weigh loadouts, and train unloading systems. The systems can handle coal, metallurgical coke, petroleum coke, limestone, gypsum, cement, ash and other aggregates. Taggart systems are built to meet environmental standards. From flow control chute design to dry fogging systems to chemical controls, the Taggart materials handling solutions can handle just about every bulk handling challenge.

For more information contact taggartglobal.com

Vibrating screen

The F-Class vibrating screen from W.S. Tyler offers a new solution for challenging screening applications through a four-bearing technology that minimizes structural vibration and delivers a consistent stroke.  Designed and built for scalping and classifying of ores, minerals, stones, sand and gravel, the screen features an advanced eccentric shaft design, supported by four high-performance, double spherical roller bearings. The double eccentric shaft creates a constant positive stroke that handles material volume spikes without losing momentum. It’s designed for high tonnage outputs and can process up to 5,000 tons per hour. It screens material from 6“ down to 20 mesh.  The F-Class is backed by a standard 18-month warranty from date of shipment, 12 months from the installation date, or 6,000 operation hours.

For more information contact wstyler.ca

Safer vehicle lift

As the mining industry – both surface and underground – becomes increasingly reliant on heavy-duty hydraulics for vehicle cleaning and maintenance, vehicle lift manufacturer Stertil-Koni now offers lifts that will function properly for years. Lifts with hot galvanized finish are designed for use in mining operations to protect against corrosion.

Contact Stertil-Koni for more information

Safety system

Massive surface mining machines working close to each other and near stationary objects are at risk of collisions.  Because of these potential dangers, Caterpillar has developed a comprehensive safety system, called Detect, based on a simple premise: The more that equipment operators and mine administrators know about the working environment surrounding mobile equipment, the safer everyone at the site can perform their jobs. Proximity Awareness brings the right information at the right time to the right people. Detect offers three levels of operator and administrator awareness: Vision; Object Detection; and Proximity Awareness. Detection by equipping all appropriate machines at the site with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and data radios that continually report their positions to a central office and to each other, which then broadcasts this information to all assets equipped with the system. The net result is that every machine operator is aware of the real-time position of all other reporting assets.

Contact CAT for more information

Continuous miner

Weighing in at 67.5 tons (61.2 tonnes) and with a compact design specifically developed for low- to mid-seam operations, 43 to 116 in. (1092 to 2946 mm)., the Cat® CM235 Continuous Miner features two,  275 hp cutter-head motors, making  it is the most powerful continuous miner in its class. The machine has a wide operating range. Minimum clearance is 27 inches (940 mm) and maximum cutting height is 128 inches (3251 mm). With total power of 940 hp (701 kW), a balanced power to weight ratio, and loading rates of 15 to 32 tons (14 to 29 tonnes) per minute, the CM235 delivers superior productivity. The rig also features variable frequency drive (VFD) traction system, and  fast tramming speeds shorten place-change times, and high torque across the entire speed range enhances sumping and turning crosscuts. At the core of the CM235 is the heavy main frame for rigidity and stability. The frame uses steel plate as thick as 3 inches (75 mm), and main support rails are 2-inches (50-mm) thick. Enhanced pivot points with replaceable bushings deliver extended service life, and massive boom legs ensure minimal deflection and enhance durability.

Contact CAT for more information

Quad-bearing rollers

Rubber-disc return rollers from Elite feature four tapered roller bearings (two in each hub) for smoother operation and a service life that is up to three times longer than traditional two-bearing roller designs.  In addition to significantly longer service life, this patented “quad bearing” design withstands more severe applications than traditional rollers.  Made with universal shafts, and  5”, 6” or 7” diameters, these products fit any manufacturers’ brackets.  They are designed for abrasive and corrosive environments, including use in mining, aggregate materials handling, power plants, and others.  In addition to longevity, the design allows the re-use of the axle assembly, yielding a significant savings over replacing entire idler assemblies.  Because there is no welding on the idler assembly, any damaged parts can be replaced in just minutes.  Rollers can be refurbished
at a fraction of the price of new ones, with 90% of the materials re-used. 

For more information contact eliterollermanufacturing.com

Monitoring system

A new camera monitoring system designed for mining equipment applications is now available from Dutch manufacturer Orlaco. The company has also developed a radar unit to work with its camera-monitor systems, therby enabling the operator of a vehicle to detect humans, machines and other objects. The new RadarEye compliments the camera-monitor system by emitting audible tones should someone or something appear in close proximity to the vehicle.The combined systems provide the driver with extra sight when needed and when an object or person enters the danger zone, the RadarEye sounds an audible alarm, then selects and activates the required camera. This is presented on the monitor by showing an overlay of a green, yellow and red signal zones. The audible urgency increases as the person or object moves through to the red zone. Everything that appears within this zone is brought into sight to prevent personal injury and /or material damage. The radar unit and the camera(s) can be programmed and configured through the monitor. The detection radius is adjustable from 6.5 to 65.5 feet and is divided into five equal zones. The operator can view the monitor to confirm the radar unit is working properly. A signal will show when a defect appears. 

For more information contact Orlaco

Twin crusher

The Turbo 128 V-Twin VSI Crusher manufactured by CEMCO is one of the larger vertical shaft impact crushers in the market. The crusher is ideally suited for the production of 1 ½-inch aggregate rock. Additionally, the Turbo 128 is fully customizable to enable production of several types of aggregate materials, opening it up for use in a variety of industries including mining, energy production and recycling. Driven by a dual-drive, optimally balanced V-Twin motor design, the machine offers greater power input and higher product output. It’s available with up to 900 horsepower, weighs approximately 42,000 pounds, and offers production capabilities up to 1,000 tph. Featuring advanced internal components and operation on the principles of centrifugal force, materials enter the crusher through the wear-resistant adjustable feed tube and drops onto an impeller table. At speeds up to 1,000 rpm, centrifugal force directs the material from the impellor and casts it against a stationary, abrasive resistant anvil. The material shatters along natural impact points, resulting in uniform, cube-shaped material with minimal slivered, “slabby” product. The machine also features heavy-duty self-aligning spherical roller bearings, allowing it to handle dynamic loads up to 366,000-pounds.

For more information contact CEMCO