Fenner Conveyors has delivered its highest ever strength rated conveyor belt from the company’s steel cord factory in Kwinana, Western Australia.
Possessing a breaking strength of 6300 kN/m, the custom-designed belting was successfully delivered to New South Wales gold mine in October 2024.
Fenner Conveyors plant manager Nick Annetta said manufacturing of the ST6300 conveyor belt includes a steel cord carcass with FireBoss K cover protection for flame resistance. It will be installed on an existing conveyor onsite, which has been operating with this strength rating of belting – but through other conveyor belt suppliers.
“The system is critical to the gold mining operation. As with all our clients, we have taken every care to ensure a high performing and fit-for-purpose solution, which we know will perform,” Annetta said.
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The conveyor belt will be installed on a critical system for the underground gold mining operation. Designed with a high strength rating, the conveyor belt will provide operational reliability and support lowering asset lifecycle costs.
Manager of technical and R&D Christopher Ball said prior to this the highest strength conveyor belt made at Fenner Conveyors’ Kwinana factory was rated to 5600 kN/m – a total length just shy of 4km.
“We typically receive requests within the 2000 to 4000 strength rating range, however this gold mine required a higher rated specification custom-designed for this unique system,” Ball said.
“The equipment in our Kwinana factory is designed to make belts with this strength rating – in fact, our equipment can produce conveyor belt with a breaking strength of up to 10,000kN/m.
“Our manufacturing and engineering teams have the expertise to execute, but this is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to deliver to this specification. With a 41.3mm engineered thickness it’s also one of the thickest belts we’ve ever made.”