CEN DEC
19
COMPANY
PROFILE
“The range is now complete by incorporating a steel inner tube coupled with a modified and
castellated HDPE tube. This ensures that TOP return rollers are now up to 50% lighter than
similar rollers of the same length. The end result is that the company can provide a complete
set of TOP rollers for belts of up to 1400mm in width.”
An advantage of the Rulmeca range of TOP rollers is its wear resistance, which guarantees a
longer operating lifespan, while minimising maintenance requirements for the entire plant.
Craig says, “The HDPE tube will not cause unnecessary wear-and-tear to the conveyor, as a
result of its high resistance to chemical agents.
“What’s more, the range of TOP rollers are rust resistant, and capable of operating in
temperatures ranging between -25
o
C and 50
o
C, making it suitable for numerous applications,
including: quarrying; manufacturing; ports; harbours and general industry. The TOP roller
complements the existing range of SUPREME HDPE idlers, which are used in heavier duty
applications such as coal, platinum and gold mining.”
The company continues to gain consistent market share through its range of uni-directional
anti-runback conveyor rollers, designed to prevent an inclined conveyor running backwards
in the event of a belt break. Standard steel and HDPE rollers are fitted with bearings that
enable them to turn in both directions. The Melco anti-runback roller is fitted with a patented
mechanism that allows the roller to turn in a single direction.
Gavin says that the anti-runback roller has been particularly popular in platinum, gold, coal
and copper mining applications in African countries, as well as in Australia. “The product is
appealing to engineers because of the inherent safety features of the anti-run back rollers,
and because incline conveyors fitted with the product may experience less downtime in the
event of a belt snap.”
In the event of a belt snap, he claims that the Melco anti-runback roller reacts instantly:
“We have received positive feedback from numerous mining customers, that the anti-runback
rollers, if installed in the correct pattern and quantity as recommended by the supplier, bring
the snapped belt to a standstill within a short distance.”
The Melco anti-runback roller looks identical to the company’s range of standard steel and
HDPE rollers and is identifiable only by a plastic directional arrow disc on each side of the
roller. The company, in conjunction with the supplier of the patented mechanism, assists its
customers in determining the exact ratio of standard to anti-runback rollers required for their
specific application.
“Each conveyor belt is specific to its operating environment and, using the technical details
of the conveyor belt, we are able to recommend exactly how many anti-runback rollers are
required,” he assures.
Owing to their identical physical dimensions, standard steel and HDPE rollers (Ø25mm,
Ø30mm and Ø40mm shafts) can be replaced with the equivalent anti-runback rollers with
minimal effort. “The rolls can be interchanged with ease. The anti-runback rollers will last
as long as the standard rollers fitted on the conveyor, thereby providing peace of mind with
regards to durability and reliability,” he says.
Anti-Runback HDPE roller.
The Melco range of anti-runback rollers have
been installed at numerous mines and plants
in South Africa, Canada and Australia, since
first being introduced to the market in 2007.
Gavin says that demand for the range is
steadily rising across the rapidly developing
African mining sector too.
Despite their numerous advantages, Gavin
says that Melco anti-runback rollers are
more capital intensive than their standard
counterparts. “The uni-directional mechanism
fitted into the anti-runback roller is expensive
and therefore adds to the overall costs
associated with the installation or upgrade of
a conveyor belt. However, the engineers who
have installed the them agree that the extra
cost is justified when weighed up against
the safety and operational benefits that the
product provides.”
Gavin stresses that overall lifecycle costing
should be taken into account when making a
final purchasing decision: “Long and steeply
inclined conveyors that carry heavy loads could
be more prone to snapping. In applications
such as this, it is important to weigh the initial
and more expensive once-off cost against
a failure further down the line, which could
result in possible injuries to personnel, weeks
of lost production and additional repair costs.”
Given the company’s measurable and
consistent success throughout the duration
of 2013, Gavin concludes by adding that
Melco will be looking to expand its market
share across all materials handling sectors in
southern, East and West Africa throughout the
remainder of 2013 and beyond.
a successful
year for Melco
