Company Announcement - Material transfer problems can be addressed by considering basic chute specifications, says Mark Baller, managing director of Weba Chute Systems. “This necessitates a thorough knowledge of transfer point design as well as the ability to determine best practice for a specific application and the ability to customise each design accordingly.” The Weba Chute System takes all these factors into account. It is based on the lined ‘super tube’ or cascade system that results from those occasions when material runs on material. “Numerous successful installations of Weba Chute Systems have proved that the correct application of our scientific approach to the dynamics of bulk materials handling can completely eliminate the problems associated with conventional transfer chutes, resulting in significant cost savings,” Baller says.

To date, the company has engineered more than 4 000 transfer chutes, which are operating successfully throughout the global mining industry. “We consider a holistic design that not only focuses on the entry and exit points, but which also incorporates the control of the flow, volume and velocity of the material being transferred at all times,” Baller notes.

By custom designing each transfer point, individual Weba Chute Systems can be configured to control the direction, flow and velocity of the calculated volume and type of material processed in a particular application. “The end result is a transfer point that substantially reduces expenditure in minerals processing,” Baller says. This is achieved by increased productivity and adherence to environmental regulations, in addition to decreased replacement and maintenance costs.

“Conventional chute design is often associated with the uncontrolled discharge of bulk materials, which is linked to escalated maintenance and replacement costs. In addition, the presence of dust with conventional transfer points is an aggravating factor,” Baller says. Therefore stringent environmental regulations have to be put in place to control dust emissions.

System design is undertaken using sophisticated 3D computer software, in addition to the relevant data received from the client. Weba Chute Systems are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2008 accredited facility, which ensures quality manufacture. Performance is guaranteed in accordance with operational and application parameters, ensuring the provision of a chute solution that works for every application.