The Types of Materials Transferred

We are proud to offer mines a chute system that can move just about any material. Some of the most commonly transferred materials include coal, iron ore, manganese, diamonds, gold, chrome and platinum. Our chutes are also effectively used on production plants. Along with manufacturing effective chute systems, we also have liner systems available.

About the Weba Chute Development and Manufacturing Process

All throughout the world, there are roughly 4000 Weba Chute installations. Our complete transfer point is more than capable of handling the transfer of massive amounts of all kinds of materials. With our innovative technology, we’ve assisted mines of all kinds to speed up the work they do while also reducing the possibility of downtime. At the moment, we have fully operational offices in South Africa, South America, the United States of America, and Australia. Our customised perfect transfer point chute solutions are a global enterprise and are more than suitable for numerous mining companies.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing the best customised chutes from the most durable materials. During the design process, we stick to one basic principle based on the conveyed material making an impact on a surface which is already covered with material. The chutes are designed to take full control over the direction, flow, and the velocity of the amount of material being processed as well as the type of material.

Each transfer chute and the associated system has been designed for the specific customer needs. We take into account the belt width, the material size, the belt speed and the shape and throughput of each system, as it is ordered by our clients. We try to understand our client’s needs before we begin the manufacturing process, in order to ensure that you are left with a system that delivers.

Our entire process, and especially the approach, to the chutes we make are properly streamlined according to a well-planned, scientific approach. We understand that our chutes are used to transfer bulk materials and so we have designed the system in such a way that is able to provide a number of benefits.

It is at the customisation phase of the design process that we focus on creating systems capable of giving mines a number of advantages along with better transfer systems, longer belt life and overall higher throughputs. All in all, the final design will follow through on the promises we make.

During the manufacturing procedures, we strictly follow safe engineering principles while also using the most modern software available. Once all the planning is complete and we have the full picture of our clients needs, the Weba Chute system is manufactured at a South African based facility, one that is ISO 9001:2015 accredited.

We can guarantee that the chute will perform as expected and it is guaranteed to function in accordance with all of the operational and application parameters. This means that the system is truly ready for the job.

Regardless of the continent our chute will be used on or the material it is transferring, the Weba Chute System is always effective. The knowledge and the years of experience of our team guarantees it!

Why use a Weba Chute?

Properly constructed, complete transfer points can quickly damage productivity and lead to an increase in costs. Fully understanding the cost of ownership for each process and the machine needed for the successful operation of a mine, along with knowing the lasting effects of having a badly designed transfer chute, is of the utmost importance for any mine.

When you have opted for a poorly designed transfer chute, something that can easily happen if you are unsure about your selection or if you have not done your research, you can expect to have blockages which can lead to downtime due to damaged belts and damage on other elements of the chute. Even the slightest bit of downtime can lead to millions of Rands lost, both through the lack of work being done and due to the additional costs incurred through maintenance. The best way to decide whether or not you need a Weba Chute, starts by first having a look at the current chute system that you are using.

By comparing the two chutes, you will quickly see that the Weba Chute offers a lot of benefits.

The return on investment that you can expect from your Weba Chute is noticeable anywhere from between 9 and 19 months after the system has been installed. But within 3 months you will already start to see the financial benefits.

Apart from saving costs related to maintenance and break downs, you can also expect the Weba Chute to have an amazingly long life span, while they are also sustainable.

Another big benefit of the Weba Chute system is that it is able to drastically reduce dust. Dust reduction is becoming an important concern on most mines as there is always a certain amount of danger when employees are often exposed to excessive amounts of dust. With the custom Weba Chute transfer system, the dust that is often present during the transfer of materials is limited. Not only do we install the chute but we also identify the source of the dust and then create the kind of system that will minimise dust. When this is done, you won’t have much need for an extraction system that could be eating up capital as well as energy.

About the True Cost of Substandard: An Interview with Mark Baller

Mark Baller, managing director of transfer chute experts, Weba Chute Systems, explains the importance of the effect a chute’s performance has on the life of conveyor belts and how the design of such chutes saves costs for customers and complies better with occupational health and safety regulations.

The level of performance of a mine’s transfer points contributes to some of its highest maintenance costs, but many engineers often do not consider transfer systems as critical elements of the minerals processing systems.

This is the view of Mark Baller, managing director of transfer chute expert, Weba Chute Systems, who believes that transfer points should be accorded the same importance as other minerals processing machinery. The effect of the chute’s performance on the life conveyor belts which can account for up to 60% of the capital cost of a bulk materials handling plant deserves attention.

“The cost of replacing a conveyor belt not to mention the downtime associated with belt maintenance and replacement makes it worth looking more closely at any measures that will extend the conveyor’s life,” says Baller. “Typically, conveyors such as feeders, crushers, hoppers and screens are selected to match certain operational requirements, but there is little emphasis on the design of the chutes that transfer materials between elements.”

This is a mistake as chutes are essential elements in a bulk solids handling plant, and are also subject to operational characteristics and physical constraints. “Among the most common problems on transfer chutes are spillage, blockages and high levels of wear on the receiving belt due to major differences between the material velocity and the belt velocity,” he says. “There is also a potential misalignment problem of the receiving conveyor belt which is caused by uneven loading from the transfer chute.”

Transfer Chute Design and End User Costs

Key to solving these challenges is good design, Baller emphasises. While conventional chute design often allows the uncontrolled discharge of bulk materials, he considers that a holistic design is necessary focusing not only on the entry and exit points, but also controlling the flow, volume and velocity of the material being transferred. “Each transfer point therefore needs to be custom designed, to control the direction, flow and velocity of the material,” he says. “Weba Chute Systems bases its designs on the ‘supertube’ effect, which often employs a cascade lining system allowing 95% of material to run on other material at all times. This may also be achieved using conventional lining systems.”

Complete Transfer Point for All Mines

With our chutes currently being used in South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Russia, Germany and Mauritius, to name just a few countries in which we operate, we know that our solutions are just what every mine needs. So why waste time and effort with an inferior mine transfer point when you can have a Weba Chute? Allow us to make your mining efforts more efficient and less worrisome.