COVER STORY
Using the best of both worlds to create something bulletproof Transmin’s low profile feeders combine the benefits of belt feeders and apron feeders to give Australian mining companies enhanced flexibility. WHEN AN ORE HANDLING FACILITY in the Pilbara was undergoing a major upgrade, it reached out to conveyor manufacturer Transmin for help. As part of the upgrade, a mobile reclaim hopper was to be installed at the tail end of the operations to recover dead material within the stockyard. It needed a hopper that was safe, user friendly, versatile, and didn’t need constant supervision. The hopper handles up to 2500 tonnes per hour of iron ore and is capable of being loaded by front end loaders on opposing hopper side edges at the same time. Transmin designed, fabricated, assembled, and commissioned the reclaim hopper to the clients’ specifications, using its low-profile feeder (LPF) technology to reduce maintenance downtime and increase safety at the site. Damian Thorpe, Transmin’s Product Manager – Feeders, explains the LPF is a hybrid between a belt feeder and an
apron feeder, using the benefits of both. “Apron feeders need a dribble conveyor underneath due to how the pans work. Often, there will be some leakage that needs to be cleaned up as a result. Using a belt eliminates this material leakage entirely,” he says. “Transmin developed the technology over 15 years ago and has developed it through ongoing research and development to rightly claim the LPF as the most significant innovation in the heavy-duty feeder space for over 50 years. “One of its main benefits is to allow a reduction in the overall height of the plant. Lower buildings reduce the structural requirements, keep civil costs lower, reduce the weight required, provide less wind loading and keep capital expenditure costs lower.” According to Thorpe, with the right configuration an LPF occupies up to 40 per cent less vertical height than a belt or apron feeder, with the possibility of being even lower if needed.
One of the main benefits of the LPF is a reduction in the overall height of the plant.
10 І Australian Bulk Handling Review: September/October 2021
Transmin’s LPFs use two strands of chain to drive the system, eliminating potential belt tracking issues. As a result, the direction of the belt can be easily reversed. They are also relatively customisable, using a modularised design to speed up manufacturing and allows for both horizontal and inclined positioning. Belt widths can be customised, with options between 800 millimetres to four metres. Transmin can also include preferred componentry such as belt scrapers/cleaners, motors, and gearboxes. Thorpe says one customer wanted to replace a conveyor on their site with an LPF, as it required significantly less maintenance. “We’ve designed the LPF to be durable, and that’s where it shines. It has a longer duration between major maintenance than most alternatives,” he says. “Because there is a modular design, a lot of the componentry can be rotated
