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38 MODERN QUARRYING January - February 2017
EQUIPMENT, PRODUCTS
& SERVICES
OptimumWeba transfer point design
Unimpeded material flow with optimum belt presentation is critical
in any materials handling system on a mine. Yet despite this, insuffi-
cient attention is often paid to transfer point design.
Mark Baller, MD of Weba Chute Systems explains that the com-
pany custom engineers each transfer point and in this manner is
able to provide a chute system designed to take specific operating
parameters into account. “These parameters can include anything
from a need to control belt presentation to reducing spillage, dust
and noise, and importantly, to control flow so that wear is minimised.”
Essentially the Weba Chute System uses a streamlined scien-
tific approach to the dynamics of bulk materials handling taking
all aspects such as belt speed, belt width, material size, shape and
throughput in account. Each solution is custom designed to control
the direction, flow and velocity of a calculated volume and type of
material in each individual application.
The design process is considered the most important stage of
any project at Weba Chute Systems. Once the data received from the
customer has been verified, extensive use is made of sophisticated
3D computer software to arrive at what is considered the optimum
design for the application in question.
Manufacturing of the system is undertaken at the company’s
Wadeville premises where plasma cutting equipment is used to
ensure that the highest levels of accuracy and tolerances are met.
Engineering expertise, extensive practical experience and the use of
quality manufacturing procedures result in all Weba Chute Systems
being supplied with performance guarantees in accordance with
pre-set parameters specific to each application.
At present there are more than 4 000 custom-designed Weba
Chute Systems operating successfully worldwide.
Namibia is currently in the grip of a drought which has been
declared the severest in over a quarter of a century. The pro-
longed shortage of water has also begun to impact mining
operations in the country and necessitated an increased
focus on ensuring water capacity in all reservoirs including
return water ponds.
Integrated Pump Rental has developed a reputation for
the effective removal of built-up silt from dams and ponds
in the mining industry and recently sent a team with a
SlurrySucker Maxi to assist a uranium mine in Namibia. The
company’s SlurrySucker Dredge Unit is capable of extract-
ing high tonnages due to the design and engineering of the
dredge head, and is considered one of the most effective
manners in which to clean out reservoirs.
MD of Integrated Pump Rental Lee Vine says that the
primary advantage offered by the SlurrySucker is that the
dredging operation can be performed without any down-
stream processes having to be halted.“This accounts for the
popularity we are seeing with this locally-manufactured
unit. Other traditional methodologies used to dredge water
storage ponds necessitate that the pond be taken off line
and this shutdown can be costly in terms of production.”
The return water pond on the mine has a ph of 10 and
this high alkalinity level necessitated that modifications be
made to the SlurrySucker unit to enable it to perform in this
application. Vine says that the company is often called upon
to customise equipment to facilitate operation in excep-
tionally harsh conditions.
The SlurrySucker handled this application with ease,
discharging slurry at 250 m3/hour into the thickener which
in turn resulted in 70 dry t/hour of sediment. Sediment can
typically be sent to the tailings or remined while the clean
desludged recycled water is returned to the return water
pond.
Engineering expertise, extensive practical experience and the use of quality manufacturing
procedures result in all Weba Chute Systems being supplied with performance guarantees
in accordance with pre-set parameters specific to each application.
SlurrySucker sets the benchmark
The SlurrySucker Dredge
Unit is capable of extracting
high tonnages due to the
design and engineering of
the dredge head.