PLANT AND EQUIPMENT • mechanism located below the rollers. This makes the cradle lighter allowing it to react more quickly to movements of the conveyor belt and eliminates protruding adjustment bolts on older models.
“ Even before the end of the initial four week testing phase at RBCT, the Apex Trough Tracker had proven its value by performing exceptionally well in keeping the belt aligned,” says Strydom.“ The RBCT team were so impressed with the performance that they placed an order for additional units.”
Another important benefit of the equipment is its adjustable wing rolls which allows for a range of adjustment from 10 degrees to 60 degrees, making it a versatile retrofit to any conveyor belt. When adjusted to the lowest level the unit is almost flat making storage, handling and installation much safer and quicker – especially when working with heavier belts – as the tracker can be easily slid under the belt.
“ When working with belt widths of between 2.1 metre and 3 metre, the installation process of a conventional tracker may need special lifting equipment, which is not always available at short notice,” he says.“ The adjustable wing rolls of the Apex Trough Tracker make for faster installation, so conveyor system uptime is optimised.”
At RBCT, the installation process took a little over an hour, he says, compared to a typical installation time in the industry of between two to three hours. Ease of maintenance has also been improved by the new Apex Trough Tracker design.
“ The maintenance technicians can now simply drop the wing rolls down, slide the tracker out and install the new unit in the same way before adjusting the wing rolls to their operating angles,” he says.
The installation at RBCT also demonstrated a further advantage with the new design. Previously it had been necessary to create space in the conveyor hoods or guards to allow for the adjusting rod protruding from the wing rolls. This required permission from the relevant safety personnel as well as some additional metalwork – all of which extended the installation time.
“ In our latest design, the cradle no longer requires that section – so it allows a more universal installation ability as there are no restrictions to consider,” says Fitt.
Tru-Trac’ s ongoing innovation continues to enhance the performance of the Apex Trough Tracker, according to Fitt. The company is currently commissioning its own unique in-house injection moulded rubber lagging system. In addition to better turnaround times and quality control, this will also allow design improvements to the lagging itself, to deliver better grip and faster reaction times.
“ The performance of our latest Apex Trough Tracker at RBCT has definitely opened doors for us,” Fitt says.“ It has given us a strong reference point to showcase our capability on high-speed hightonnage conveyors in international markets – both in coal and hard-rock applications.” •
Source: supplied by Tru-Trac Rollers( Pty) Ltd
www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • May 2025 • 35