WEBA CHUTE SYSTEMS SECURES CONTRACT TO SUPPLY CHUTES TO SIBANYE-STILLWATER’S MARIKANA OPERATION

Weba Chutes Systems, a leading local manufacturer of custom engineered chute systems, has secured a contract to supply four chutes to Sibanye-Stillwater's Marikana operation in South Africa. These systems will replace existing conventional chutes that have been underperforming and failing to meet the required standards set by Sibanye-Stillwater.

TACKLING STICKY SITUATIONS : DESIGNING TRANSFER POINTS MINERALS PROCESSING PLANTS

Handling sticky material in mining and minerals processing plants can be a complex challenge. These materials can cause blockages, equipment wear and increased maintenance requirements, leading to reduced efficiency and increased operational costs.

This is according to Alwin Nienaber, Technical Director at Weba Chute Systems, who says that designing transfer points to effectively handle sticky materials is crucial for optimising material flow and minimizing downtime.

Optimizing Transfer Chute Design: A Key Solution to Controlling Coal Dust in Conveyor Systems

Controlling coal dust in conveyor systems and transfer points is not just an issue of health and safety, but also has a significant impact on operational efficiency and cost of ownership. Transfer points are often the main source of coal dust generation, but process plant owners often overlook the potential to optimize the design and positioning of transfer chutes.

CAREFUL CHUTE DESIGN CAN CUT COAL DUST GENERATION

Visual inspection of a transfer chute underway.

The generation of coal dust around conveyer systems and transfer points is a problem for operators of coal mines, coal plants and similar facilities. Coal dust is a contributor to lung disease and it therefore poses a threat to not only workers in these facilities but even to residents of neighbouring communities.

CHUTES ARE KEY LINKS IN PLANT OPERATIONS

When a new plant is being planned, considerable care needs to be taken in the design and placement of the transfer chutes, argues Mark Baller, managing director of Weba Chute Systems.

“In our experience, there has been considerable disruption caused to plant operations by transfer chutes which are not optimally designed or properly located in the flowsheet,” says Baller.

MORE WEBA CHUTES FOR EXPANDING ZIMBABWE MINE

The expansion of an underground crusher station at a platinum mine in Zimbabwe has required South Africa-based Weba Chute Systems to provide 10 more of its custom engineered transfer chutes.

Overseeing the contract for Weba Chute Systems is project manager Ted Cruikshank, who explains that the design, manufacture and delivery of the units is already 80% complete.

Ship loading Transfer Chutes

Ship loading represents major challenges, since the material must be delivered to the vessel’s hold from a boom conveyor, often at heights of 20 metres or more above the hold floor, causing high material velocity and hazardous dust.
Another challenge is achieving fast, high-capacity loading, while at the same time minimising dust pollution and preventing both material degradation and material segregation.