Many industrial facilities, mines and power stations rely too much on dust suppression and extraction systems, when the real answer is to improve the flow of material through well designed chutes.

This is the considered opinion of Weba Chute Systems technical director Alwin Nienaber, based on decades of experience in this field.

With costs under pressure, many mines choose the least expensive transfer point without considering that it will result in a higher total cost of ownership. "Although Weba Chute Systems appear to be simple and straightforward to manufacture, these custom designed transfer solutions require many hours to engineer.

For long the most neglected part of any materials handling systems, the transfer chute is increasingly being recognised as a key piece of equipment that can enhance productivity and save mines - and other operations which move bulk materials - significant amounts of money if correctly designed, manufactured, installed and maintained.

After having endured poor demand for new chute installations in the immediate aftermath of the onset of the COVID pandemic, Wadeville-based Weba Chute Systems has seen its order book recover strongly in recent months. While much of the new business is coming from South Africa's mining sector, significant orders have also been received from mines in neighbouring states.

Although there are several "look-alike" transfer chutes on the market, Weba Chute Systems' exacting original equipment manufacturer (OEM) requirements ensure that mined material and industrial materials move smoothly.

We have turned the design engineering, and manufacturing of transfer chutes into a science through years of focussed dedication.

In a compact and congested transfer point area in a Limpopo platinum mine’s screening house, Weba Chute Systems recently applied its transfer point experience to smooth out the operation.

According to Hilton Buys, regional manager at Weba Chute Systems, there had been an ongoing issue with fines spillage and skew belt loading from two conventional chutes.

As part of our corporate social investment strategy, we at WEBA are passionate about investing in the communities where we have our chutes. We are especially excited about empowering the girl child which uplifts communities.

Empowering the girl child to us means, that we believe every girl should be educated, empowered, healthy and free from violence and discrimination.

The handling of bulk materials is frequently plagued by the issue of airborne dust. Increased conveyor belt wear, along with the ensuing downtime and productivity losses, are brought on by a failure to regulate dust.

Larger materials will bounce and roll if a transfer point is not designed correctly, which will lead to belt wear.

Weba Chute Systems’ commitment to transformation, skills development and corporate social investment is rooted in the company’s understanding that the business is not separate from society, but inextricably bound to the fortunes of its employees and the communities in which it operates.

Unimpeded material flow with optimum belt presentation is critical in any materials handling system on a mine. Yet despite this insufficient attention is often paid to transfer point design.

Weba Chute Systems custom engineers each transfer point and in this manner, we are able to provide a chute system designed to take specific operating parameters into account.