Custom-engineered chute solutions

The in-house engineering capability and expertise of a leading chute designer and manufacturer were recently demonstrated in a specialised chute application for a local platinum mining customer. Working in conjunction with a hydraulics specialist, a chute solution was developed for an application where low-grade ore on a conveyor had to be rapidly diverted to a secondary stockpile. The test project involved two chutes, a high-pressure actuator and a high-speed trolley mechanism, to meet the mine’s material grade requirements.

Weba Chute Systems technical director Alwin Nienaber highlights that the company has a dedicated focus on transfer points and that its practical experience and proprietary knowledge allows the company to custom engineer its solutions based on the specific and exacting requirements of each application.

“Underpinning this strength is our highly specialised and experienced design and engineering team, equipped with the latest tools to keep the company at the leading edge of technology,” says Nienaber.

By sharing performance feedback from the field, the company’s drawing office and design team works to continuously improve transfer point solutions. The engineering process also demands a close working relationship with each customer.

Designs are developed using the latest three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) software and  discrete element modelling is used as a verification tool to simulate and prove the functionality of the design.

The company uses three-dimensional scanning to accurately measure the operating environment for each chute and its state-of-the-art equipment allows for scans to be performed in a much shorter time period than was previously possible. Processing of the point cloud for CAD operability can also be performed much more efficiently with the latest technologies, helping to ensure even more efficient design work.