Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 6

The timing of Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 6 coincides with unsurpassed growth in the mining industry. The industrial growth and demand in China and India continues to add fuel to the overall growth of the world economy. In the two years since Bulk Material 5 was published, average coal prices have increased by 80% with metallurgical coal spot prices currently averaging $90 per ton. Copper prices have increased by 100% and are currently averaging more than $1.81 per pound. Prices for other minerals have also risen dramatically. Indications are that this is not to be a short-term upsurge as historically has been the case. Most experts are expecting stabilization of prices, but with small growth, for the next five to ten years.

As the mining industry continues to thrive, conveyors are also increasing in popularity for bulk materials handling. The desire and ability to move higher tonnages over routes that are more complicated are contributing to the use of conveying to replace other materials handling methods. High-speed conveyors traveling more than 1,500 feet per minute and capable of moving more than 20,000 tons per hour are replacing truck haulage in some waste-removal applications. Precise power distribution, along with advances in belting technology, continues to make conveying more amenable for longer belt routes.

In short, bulk materials handling by conveyors is riding high on the crest of the current mining boom. This compilation of papers from the 2006 SME symposium is must-have reading for the industry.