Superior Industries explains how performing regular maintenance can support a quarry’s operations.
There is a saying that the catalogue might sell the first product, but support sells the ones after.
This is why Superior Industries invests in workers like sales engineer Joe Gibson to help provide maintenance training.
For Gibson, it is as much about product support as it is about supporting the next generation of operators.
“What we’re seeing around the world is a changeover in the labour force, so we have a lot of older people retiring out of the labour force and a lot of newer young people transitioning into it,” he said.
“And with that, a lot of the technical information, things like how to train a belt and set-up cleaners isn’t being transferred well at the end-user level.
“We’ve been setting up training seminars and I’ll talk to them about belt cleaning, setting up a load point, things like that or go out into the field and talk next to their equipment.
“At Superior, we’re working to fill in those knowledge gaps at different locations.”
After starting as an engineer, Gibson has worked in and around the industry for 30 years. He has seen many approaches to maintenance, and has found a clear stand-out at Superior.
“I think that Superior really stands above everyone else on that aspect,” he said.
“We have all kinds of educational material, charts and graphs, and videos available to anyone to do their own in-house training as they see fit.”
AREAS OF INTEREST
Superior Industries sales engineers can offer customers a wide range of support for their machine maintenance needs.
The company trains its staff and customers to conduct conveyor site surveys to optimise their machines. One of the biggest mistakes Gibson sees is operators setting up their belt tracking incorrectly.
Some operators tend to steer the belt with the tail pulley instead of the idlers, which can damage the belt, the pulley, and the bearings.
“They don’t often realise they are doing it the wrong way until you explain why it should be done the way it should be done,” he said.
“Screw take-ups are designed to put tension in the belt, not steer the belt.
“They can tend to think it is the easiest and best way but in fact they’re doing more damage to their system in the long run,” Gibson said.
Customers can see rolling components and the downstream effects of issues in their set-up by performing a site survey and inspecting their machinery, like a conveyor set-up.
Superior Industries recommends using a site survey to assess any concerns across the three main areas of a conveyor: the tail and load zone, main flight, and discharge chute.
“A big part of what I try to impress on them is to find the root cause of the problem,” Gibson said.
“Whether that is belt damage, carryback, spillage, or refuge material … if it is belt damage, only a certain number of things can contact the belt and damage it.”
“The conveyor is a very big piece of equipment, and all the parts affect one another. It is best to go out and look for the problem … it is about trying to cure the disease rather than treat the symptom.”
It is important to check the tail and load zone for signs of dust liberation, spillage, and carryback. This zone also contains key conveyor parts, including the tail pulley and bearings and the skirting.
Surveying this area also enables customers to check the loading conditions, load support, dust containment, and the belt tracking and condition of the conveyor. The main flight encompasses the idlers, main structure, midstream pulley, and the mid-drive.
Inspecting the discharge area enables customers to monitor the head pulley and drive unit containing the gearbox and motor.
They can also monitor the discharge chute, snub pulley, and structure for any impact damage.
Gibson said Superior Industries can advise customers about what to do based on what they see in their site surveys.
“Look for the end result of the problem and then trace that back to what the possible causes could be,” Gibson said.
Gibson said any operator, from newcomers to industry veterans, could benefit from investing in maintenance.
“Sometimes you need a quick fix to get through to the end of the shift, but it is always good to have a plan in place to fix the root cause of the problem when they have time to do it.” •
For more information, visit superior-ind.com
