As the mining industry continues to thrive, conveyors are also increasing in popularity for bulk materials handling. The desire and ability to move higher tonnages over routes that are more complicated are contributing to the use of conveying to replace other materials handling methods. High-speed conveyors traveling more than 1,500 feet per minute and capable of moving more than 20,000 tons per hour are replacing truck haulage in some waste-removal applications. Precise power distribution, along with advances in belting technology, continues to make conveying more amenable for longer belt routes.
In short, bulk materials handling by conveyors is riding high on the crest of the current mining boom. This compilation of papers from the 2006 SME symposium is must-have reading for the industry.
