Best known for its work in dry bulk materials handling, Weba Chute Systems has successfully applied its depth of expertise to resolve transfer point challenges in the wet plant of an iron ore mine in Sierra Leone.

Lost production is a major direct cost that quarries and mines contend with when a conveyor system goes down. Some of the most common conveyor issues include belt misalignment, material carryback and rip events, amongst others. Drawing on decades of field experience, Tru-Trac’s Douglas van der Westhuizen and Guy Fitt outline some of the best-practice maintenance approaches to keeping conveyors at peak performance.

Across the mining industry, a notable trend has emerged where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractors and mine operators are increasingly calling on Weba Chute Systems to assist in resolving process flow issues that impact plant performance. These challenges typically arise when new or existing screens, crushers or feeders underperform due to inefficient material transfer between stages in the processing circuit.

Conveyor systems are the backbone of material handling in mines, quarries and bulk processing plants. They move massive volumes of material across long distances and through complex circuits, linking each stage of production. When they operate reliably, they underpin productivity. When they falter, the knock-on effects can halt operations and drive up costs within minutes. Issues such as spillage, carryback, misalignment, premature belt wear and safety incidents can escalate quickly and recovering from them is seldom straightforward.

As the industrial sector undergoes rapid digital transformation, conveyor systems - once regarded as passive infrastructure - are emerging as intelligent data sources. Shaun Blumberg, COO of Tru-Trac, notes that at the centre of this shift is the belt scale.