Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/610317
Benefi ts of Overland Conveyors OPERATIONS C onveyors cover a lot of ground…no pun intend- ed. There are many dif- ferent types of conveyors that perform different tasks in a quarry, but they all move material from one place to another. Convey- ors can stack material; bring it up out of a pit or underground opera- tion; cross over or under a roadway, railway, or river; or travel the length of the pit fl oor. Of all the different types, overland conveyor can have the biggest impact on an aggregate operation. "Typically, overland conveying is the alternative to haul truck operation," says Alan Schmidgall, inside sales manager for Superior Industries. "Basically, an aggregate operation has a mine face and a processing plant, but the face is al- ways moving as the rock is blasted and picked up. As the crushing gets farther away from the plant, the ma- terial has to be transported from the blast site to the processing plant." Some operations use haul trucks or loaders to transport material from one place to another, but many use overland conveyors. The overland conveyor is capable of moving mate- rial much quicker, easier, and more effi ciently than mobile equipment, and greatly reduces the amount of time, money, and manpower required. "Overland conveyors move materi- al for much less money than loaders do," says Jay Mills, site superinten- dent at Staker Parson's Reynolds Pit #2 in West Valley City, Utah. "They're cheaper to run, and move material faster and more effi ciently. Using a loader to move material cost us about 75 to 80 cents a ton. Once we put in the overland conveyor, it cut the cost down to about 12 to 13 cents a ton. That's a huge savings." Robert Hostettler, plant manager at CalPortland's Santosh Facility in Scappoose, Ore., says overland conveyors allow operations to keep closely connected with the mining portion of the operation as it moves further away from the processing plant. "Extending the pit line makes it possible to maintain a minimal haul distance between the material extraction point and the feed hop- per," he says. "The distance can be decreased by adding more overland conveyors, thus minimizing the haul." In addition to cost savings, overland conveyors don't require as much maintenance and have a much smaller impact on the environment when compared to mobile equip- ment. There are fewer items that can break or need repair on a convey- or, since they are most commonly comprised of motor(s), gearbox(es), one head pulley, one tail pulley, a take-up, idlers, bearings, and a belt. Plus, the conveyor is powered by an electric motor or motors, which means fewer emissions, little fuel consumption, and less noise. This is good for the environment and helps maintain a good relationship with neighbors as well, making it a win- win situation for everyone. AGGREGATES MANAGER Overland conveyors provide an economical and effi cient way to move material from one place to another quickly and smoothly, making it one of the best investments an aggregate operation can make. In the traditional sense, the overland conveyor is much more economical than haul trucks. It offers a more stable, lower cost-per-ton option to carry material the same distance as a haul truck. It also requires less maintenance because there are fewer parts to break or wear out. Sometimes material must be moved across a roadway or railroad within a quarry. Rather than risk the safety of equipment and operators travelling back and forth, an overland conveyor provides the perfect solution. This overland conveyor goes up on one side of a high- way, spans it, and goes back down on the other side. Where it crosses over the roadway, the conveyor is contained so that any material spilled during transport is captured to prevent it from falling on vehicles below. 1 Overland conveyors 4 Crosses over obstacles