A look at the design and maintenance of mechanical conveyors for this vital American mining region. By Dan Baxter Several factors play into the safety, reliability, and maintenance requirements of mechanical conveying systems. And while all mining and mineral processing operations are more demanding of their mechanical conveying equipment, handling iron ore and taconite in the Iron Range requires special…
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Drum motors take a grizzly bitE for greater safety, efficiency
Van der Graaf will be the first to tell you that the typical drum motor design is nearing 40 years in use for powering conveyor belts across North America. But let NAM – and the VDG team – reintroduce you to this efficiency-saving, safer and more productive generation drum motor design. Edited by Donna Schmidt The conveyor drive versus the…
Read MoreMotor and drive trends: A conversation
North American Mining talked with Bosch Rexroth-Hägglunds Large Hydraulic Drives Sales and Operations Manager Brian Howell for his take on the factors that are moving the needle for the motors and drive market, including sustainability. Edited by Donna Schmidt Sustainability: it is a magic word of sorts in mining when we begin to talk about what’s important for the future.…
Read MoreBringing the mine to the city
It feels like other mining-rich regions in the world are sprinting past U.S. operations in terms of automation in the world of load and haul, and it’s not our imagination. In this North American Mining magazine exclusive, Komatsu Autonomous Systems Vice President Anthony “Cookie” Cook talks more about progress, obstacles to advancement and Komatsu’s position in it all. Edited by…
Read MoreKicking the tires
Load and haul means more than just hardware, capacities and cycles. NAM recently talked to the team at BKT about the tires that make the entire load and haul fleet move – and how to keep them moving. Edited by Donna Schmidt Making the most of your load and haul fleet, and keeping haul roads they operate on optimally designed…
Read MoreWelcome to the 2024 West Virginia Coal Show
It’s arrived. The countdown clock on the show web site has reached zero. After nearly a year of planning, the inaugural West Virginia Coal Show is a reality. Being held in conjunction with the 50th West Virginia Coal Association Symposium, both promise to energize and excite – even for those who couldn’t make it here to join us. As we…
Read MoreDriving electrification
What challenges does electrification pose to vehicle drive systems? North American Mining spoke to experts at drivetrain specialists, Dana Inc., and mining OEM, Liebherr Mining, to find out. By Jonathan Rowland Electrification of mining vehicles is gathering momentum and represents a “significant shift in the industry,” according to Richard Kraemer, Trolley/Battery Sales Support Manager at Liebherr Mining. “Even as diesel-electric…
Read MoreThe coal truth
Slurry pumps are a non-negotiable for coal operations and facilities, but processing heavy media creates challenges unlike most other commodities. Schurco Slurry’s Nick Shur outlines why. When discussing energy production, coal remains a significant player and the most reliable source of energy in the market. Coal-fired power plants account for a large portion of the energy supplied around the world.…
Read MoreLet’s talk about slurry pump wear
Handling slurry inevitably exposes equipment to wear. The question is thus how to manage and minimize that wear. North American Mining spoke to four experts about issues in slurry pump wear protection. By Jonathan Rowland Introduction: the three types of wear There are three main categories of wear to which a slurry pump may be exposed: abrasion, corrosion and erosion.…
Read More2024 West Virginia Coal Show registration now open
Don’t miss out on this first-ever show in the heart of Appalachian coal country. Excitement is building for the 2024 West Virginia Coal Show. Are you in? Make it official! Register today. Admission is free for all of those who pre-register – and to be qualified for door prizes. So don’t wait! On-site registration the days of the show will…
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