When it comes to spillage control in industries such as mining, often the costs involved to install the necessary spillage equipment can be seen as costly, and sometimes business owners would rather ‘save’ their money and find other alternatives. However, when spillage does occur the costs of cleaning up as well as lost profit soon begins to outweigh the costs of installing quality spillage control equipment.
“At Brelko we know the importance of quality, and we also know what your business needs in order to save costs in the long run,” explains Kenneth Padayachee, MD of Brelko Conveyor Products. “Quality is needed to ensure that the job is done correctly for a long period of time, and equipment, especially spillage control equipment, should not be overlooked because of it.”
Spillage control shouldn’t be overlooked
When material is loaded onto the conveyor belt, the basic principle is that it should stay on the belt to its final destination. However, when this material spills over and lands on the floor, this is seen as lost profit. Other materials and dirt also make their way off the conveyor belt to the floor which later creates build-up under the machinery and begins to impact the conveyor belt, damaging it and other machine parts. When this dirt makes its way into parts that make use of grease and oil, these parts can no longer work, and need to be replaced.
The additional costs that occur due to lost profit, the labour hired to dig out the build-up and the price of having to fix and replace damaged machinery and broken parts, are unforeseen and unnecessary costs.
How does spillage control work?
Brelko’s all in one spillage control point includes a Universal Feedboot that ensures that the materials stay on the conveyor belt when loaded. The Feedboot is also aligned with a Keyskirt to make sure that the materials stay on the conveyor. From here the conveyor passes along to the belt scrapers which scrapes the small wet or moist debris into the load and is not left on the conveyor. The tracking belt system is used to keep the conveyor aligned and centred until it reaches the other end where the ploughs scrape the inside of the belt.
“At Brelko we believe in total transfer spillage control, and it is because of our designs and our machinery that we know that this is achievable,” comments Padayachee.