What MINExpo delivered in conveying, material handling

MINExpo International 2021 came and went, with 21,000 people from around the world reportedly in attendance at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The three-day event also attracted 1,300 exhibiting companies that were eager to showcase their newest equipment at a major industry trade show for the first time in 18 months. A variety of new and enhanced equipment options in conveying and material handling were promoted at the show, including developments from manufacturers targeting aggregate producers.

Drum motor enhancement

The GrizzlyDrive oil cooler is for conditioning and circulation. Photo: P&Q Staff

One of the 1,300 MINExpo exhibitors was VDG (Van der Graaf), which displayed the new oil-cooling system on its GrizzlyDrive drum motor.

According to VDG, heat not only affects the longevity of motors and gearboxes, but the lubrication of oil. The company says a VDG motor powers its new oil cooler, which has its own enclosure with heat exchange as part of the system. The heat exchange VDG selected is ideal for dusty applications, the company says.

“We’re bringing the oil out, cooling, conditioning and returning it,” says Matt Lepp, heavy industry drive specialist at VDG.

Oil lubricates all shaft bearings, the gearbox, stator bearings and backstop bearings, providing what Lepp describes as the ultimate in lubrication.

Pulley options

Luff’s direct bond ceramic lagging was on display at MINExpo. Photo: P&Q Staff

Luff Industries, meanwhile, exhibited direct bond ceramic lagging at MINExpo following a 2020 agreement allowing the company to be an exclusive supplier in North America.

According to Luff, direct bond ceramic lagging consists of ceramic tiles that are epoxied directly onto a pulley shell. Luff’s Roy Wilks says tile coverage with direct bond ceramic lagging is about 85 percent, so users will experience optimum wear abrasion protection, as well as traction.

“When you have a conveyor pulley, traditionally you’ll have rubber lagging on it to avoid wear from abrasion,” says Wilks, Canadian sales manager at Luff. “Or, if you want to have traction on a dry pulley, for example, traditionally you’ll have, say, a rubber product, maybe in a diamond pattern. You could have ceramic embedded in rubber.”

PPI showcased ContinuWing tech that’s new this year. Photo: P&Q Staff

PPI (Precision Pulley & Idler) also showcased pulley technology at MINExpo in its ContinuWing, which is brand new for 2021. With ContinuWing, PPI replaced round contact bars with chromium carbide as a means to deliver the ultimate in wear resistance – extending life expectancy and reducing maintenance.

“We’re seeing life expectancy of three to four times the traditional AR-type of products we’ve seen in the industry,” says Mike Roozeboom, industry product manager at PPI.

New in pumps

The Godwin Dri-Prime HL300M pump was also present at MINExpo. It’s one of the newer items Xylem offers, filling a gap in the company’s product portfolio.

According to Xylem’s Kenneth Albaugh, the HL300M offers a flow rate of about 4,000 gallons per minute and 425 ft. of head.

The HL300M as seen in Xylem’s booth at MINExpo. Photo: P&Q Staff

“It’s a really good spot for a quarry to dewater,” says Albaugh, director of sales at Xylem.

The HL300M can be powered either electrically or with diesel. It can automatically prime up to 28 ft. of suction lift from dry. Automatic or manual starting and stopping is available through an integral mounted control panel or optional wireless remote access. High discharge pressure, dry running and portability make the HL300M an ideal choice for mining, Xylem adds.

Long-distance solutions

Beumer Group, which offers a variety of conveying technologies, was yet another MINExpo exhibitor. The company offers overland and pipe conveyors, and it utilized the trade show to share details about those. Beumer Group, however, also promoted its capabilities in ship loading.

For efficiency loading, Beumer Group offers ship loaders with fixed booms and extendable telescopic belt conveyors. To supplement these, the company says users can procure bulk loading heads that can be used to load bulk materials into silo vehicles quickly and without dust.

Associate editor Carly McFadden contributed to this article.