Weba Chute Systems, manufacturer of custom-designed transfer point solutions for bulk materials handling, is embarking on a concerted campaign to educate customers as to the benefits of regular maintenance. “We undertake to monitor our Weba Chute Systems for a year from the date of installation in order to determine the wear rate and to ensure that the transfer point is performing optimally. Based on the information gathered during this period, we will present the customer in question with a detailed breakdown of maintenance costs to ensure this optimal performance well into the future,” Werner Baller, Managing Director of Weba Chute Systems, says.
“The problem we have encountered is that routine maintenance is not being carried out on Weba Chute Systems due to their sterling reputation for reliability and durability. However, normal wear and tear can lead to deflections in overall performance that, while seemingly minor at the time, such as a slight spillage, can amount to a significant loss of productivity over time. Such routine maintenance will constitute a negligible cost factor for a customer such as a mining operation, and will definitely reduce the cost-per-tonne. At the end of the day this saving will have a major impact on that customer’s bottom line.”
If a mine encounters a slight spillage with a chute system due to uneven wear and tear, and this is not attended to promptly, it can lead ultimately to the total destruction of the inner chute. Baller says this is very expensive to rectify as it essentially means the installation of a new transfer point. “However, proactive maintenance would have picked up such a slight spillage at an early stage and identified what, if any, replacement parts are required, with the necessary steps taken to prevent any major damage occurring.
“In this manner we are striving to ensure that our customers derive even greater benefit and productivity from their transfer points. This is particularly important to mining operations, which are facing increasing cost constraints and escalating production costs.”
Weba Chute Systems is ideally positioned to advise customers on their long-term maintenance requirements due to the company’s extensive installation and application experience with these transfer points, which have been installed in mining operations as far afield as Australia and the USA. “Our ultimate aim is to provide maintenance solutions and expertise to all our transfer points worldwide. This will constitute a win-win solution for everyone: for our customers in terms of the increased uptime, and for ourselves in terms of a lucrative new avenue of business,” Baller notes.
