Trelleborg’s engineered products operation has supplied “a lower cost, long lasting rubber lifter bar solution” to Australia’s largest open pit gold mine for one of their ball mills. A valuable alternative to traditionally used composite steel, they offer a number of significant benefits such as a longer life and reduced downtime. Trelleborg has provided rubber lifter bars in special grade compound – 1605AM to replace the existing composite steel solution which lines the mine’s grinding mills. These special grade rubber lifter bars have achieved the same life expectancy as composite steel, and also provide reduced power draw, noise pollution and weight, which decreases the impact on rotating components and makes the bars easier to handle.

Downtime is a significant issue faced by the mining industry, and the mining and material processing industry is always looking for ways to enhance availability of the mills that grind and blend materials. Trelleborg’s rubber lifter bars “offer increased operational efficiencies, significantly reduced downtime, simple wear monitoring and life predictability. In addition, when compared with steel, a rubber solution also provides superior resistance to the severe impact, high temperature and abrasion caused by the comminution of the ore within the mine’s grinding mill, lengthening its life.” Composite steel is currently the traditional material of choice for primary and some secondary milling applications and until now has provided a whole-life performance that alternatives could not. However, the development of Trelleborg’s special grade rubber compound and various face angles to suit any application, offer greater value and performance versus composite steel lifter bars.

Trelleborg’s expertise in the use of polymers and polymer composites means that it is at the forefront of efficient and effective mill lining solutions. By optimizing design and specialized rubber compound selection for all milling wear protection applications, including lifter bars, Trelleborg can provide longer lasting, higher performance solutions. Trelleborg offers a wide range of rubber lifter bars and plates for ball mills, rod mills and drum scrubbers. The standard rubber lifter sizes range from 50 mm-250 mm wide and 50 mm-300 mm in height, and come complete with aluminium and steel tracks, with different face angles to suit the milling or scrubbing application. Trelleborg also provides a wide range of shell plates, grate plates, head plates and filling segments, including the backing rubber to protect the mother plate of the mill.