MINE HOISTS
hoist is often the default selection. However, there is a proven alternative that deserves serious consideration when the application is favourable. FKC- Lake Shore has delivered multiple successful installations, and the business case can be compelling: lower upfront capital cost compared with a traditional hoist, reduced operating and maintenance costs, and the potential to reduce shaft diameter depending on the mine plan and intended use.”
Vertical conveyors are relatively simple systems that mines can adapt and maintain with proper training, procedures, and OEM support. The surface structure houses the controls, motors, gear reducers, and transfers to the downstream conveyance system, while the underground structure supports the loading sections, pulleys, and belt take-ups. Inside the shaft, the system requires only the suspended sidewall corrugated belting. By eliminating mechanical components inside the shaft, vertical conveyors can reduce installation time, lower project cost, and limit personnel exposure during installation and maintenance. For mine operators, that combination supports safer execution, improved reliability, and a stronger bottom line.
Compared with a conventional hoisting system, vertical conveyance does not require shaft steel or guide rails for material movement. It also eliminates hoist ropes that require tensioning, inspection, and replacement. Fewer wear components and reduced shaft infrastructure translate into lower maintenance demand over time, helping protect system integrity and availability throughout the life of the asset.
“ Every installation starts with understanding the operating conditions that influence design and performance,” Phillips said.“ There is a balance between depth and throughput when establishing system limits. Material sizing, consistency, loading conditions, and downstream handling requirements are also critical. Through our design process, we evaluate these factors to determine whether vertical conveyance is the right alternative for material handling. Our largest installation is a 200 t / h system lifting material vertically through a shaft at a depth of 400 m.”
He added:“ Depth is not always the determining limitation. While depth affects the total belt weight required to lift ore from mine level, material sizing and consistency can be equally important to system planning. In some cases, incorporating primary crushing into the process can create substantial long-term savings.”
Phillips said FKC- Lake Shore has multiple potential vertical conveyor projects at the conceptual and bidding stages across the globe, with the majority in mining.
“ We have supplied numerous systems for tunnelling projects and have completed upgrades over time as systems are moved from site to site and adapted for projectspecific requirements. We are currently evaluating a complete system rehabilitation for a customer, which would be the second refurbishment of a system originally commissioned in the early 1990s.”
Vertical conveyor systems can be designed with modularity in mind. With the right engineering support, redesign or retrofit work can allow systems to be reused across multiple sites over their service life. FKC- Lake Shore’ s in-house engineering team helps customers adapt these systems to reduce material handling costs, extend asset life, and support projects where mine life, capital allocation, or infrastructure constraints require a more flexible solution.
As mines advance deeper and demand for production capacity increases, FKC- Lake Shore can engineer systems around the limitations that may occur with belting by configuring conveyors in series for increased depth or in parallel for increased throughput. For mines with existing infrastructure, vertical conveyors may also be installed underground and connected through conventional belting to an existing hoist, creating a practical path to expand capacity without replacing the entire material handling system.
Phillips:“ For the right application, vertical conveyance is proven, practical, and commercially attractive. It can reduce capex required to connect underground production to the market, shorten the path to startup, and help miners respond more quickly to commodity cycles and market demand.”
On the tradeoff with conventional hoisting, Phillips stated:“ Because we supply the complete suite of hoist solutions for production, service, emergency hoisting, and vertical conveyance, we can give customers an informed, balanced comparison. Our goal is not to force one technology into every application; it is to help the customer select the solution that best supports their production model, capital strategy, safety requirements, and long-term operating cost.”
He added that potential vertical conveyor projects are primarily in metal and nonmetal operations, including gold, copper, silver, and limestone in the US, Canada, and Latin America. FKC- Lake Shore has also provided vertical conveyor solutions in the Middle East and has conceptual options under review for projects throughout Africa. Phillips anticipates that some current studies will proceed to secondary engineering in the near future.
He added:“ One of FKC- Lake Shore’ s strongest advantages is that we can execute the full hoist system development and build in-house within our facilities. We work with trusted partners that provide safe, reliable products for the systems we install, but the customer benefits from a single accountable team and one project manager overseeing design, procurement, fabrication, and installation coordination. When time is money, that level of integration helps prevent downstream delays, communication gaps, and project bottlenecks. We are capable of executing the largest projects in the market while still providing the flexibility and responsiveness of a dedicated, customer-focused OEM.”
Phillips continues:“ We design and build the entire system, including the control packages. All systems are pre-commissioned before they leave our facility, so when equipment arrives at the mine site, our team is connecting pretested components and moving directly into the commissioning process. We complete as much of the work off-site as possible to reduce schedule risk in the field. Structures and mechanical components are preassembled at our fabrication facility for pre-fit verification, minimising field modifications and simplifying installation. That approach reduces cost, protects schedule, and gives the customer greater confidence before the system ever reaches site.”
FKC- Lake Shore has installed systems in several countries and can partner with mining operators to identify qualified local contractors for onsite installation support. This approach strengthens long-term serviceability, improves response time for maintenance, and helps overcome geographic constraints by building local support around an OEM-engineered system.
It remains particularly strong in the US coal sector, with recent capital installations supporting some of the largest new underground operations in the country. With service and slope hoists installed at Warrior Met Coal’ s Blue Creek No. 1 mine in Alabama and Allegheny Met’ s Longview Mine in West Virginia, the company says it continues to deliver reliable systems that move personnel, equipment, and material underground safely and efficiently.“ For mining companies evaluating their next hoisting or vertical conveyance investment, FKC- Lake Shore offers the OEM experience, integrated execution, and proven field performance needed to turn complex mine access and material handling challenges into dependable operating systems built to service the needs of the operation for its lifetime.”
SIEMAG TECBERG sees sustained growth in Kazakhstan and India
The SIEMAG TECBERG group supports customers in the raw materials and transport infrastructure sectors worldwide with energy-efficient, intelligent hoisting
24 International Mining | AUGUST 2026