INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND LOWER COSTS

THANKS TO STARCLEAN® SEAL AND PRIMARY SCRAPER

Challenge

A potash mine customer struggled with significant material and dust deposits around the conveyor belt system. Material that fell down and adhered to the transfer area caused consistent contamination that had to be cleaned thoroughly every two weeks. The resulting annual costs were in the low six-figure range. These necessary cleaning cycles often led to production stoppages, downtime, increased operating costs as well as wear and tear on the system. The dust deposits also posed a risk to occupational safety and the health of employees.

Solution

To address these challenges, the company installed our STARCLEAN® Seal and Spill-Ex sealing systems in the material transfer area, which almost entirely prevent the escape of material and dust. A STARCLEAN® primary scraper was also installed, which continuously cleans the conveyor belt of adhering material. These two solutions prevent the need for regular cleanings and significantly increase the system’s efficiency.

Advantages

The new systems offer important operational advantages: Maximized operating times: Without frequently scheduled cleaning downtime, the system can operate around the clock, resulting in higher productivity and better planability. Less wear: The primary scraper and chute seal reduce contact between the material and the system components to a minimum, decreasing wear and extending the service life of the system components. Improved occupational safety: Dust and material deposits are largely eliminated, which increases employees’ safety and health. “By retrofitting our conveyor system with the STARCLEAN® transfer seal and primary scraper, we drastically reduced the amount of required cleaning—an enormous gain in terms of operational efficiency, sustainability, and safety. The amortization period was just a few months.” Operations engineer