Increasing Uptime

We have just wrapped up a design project to eliminate a client’s raw mill feed chute plugging issue. Our client’s VRM inlet chute is fed by two conveyors (limestone and additives). The feed material is often sticky and, as a result, their feed chute regularly experienced material build up and plugging. Industrial Ally’s feed chute design improvement work started with a laser scan of the existing area to ensure the new chute and ancillaries would integrate quickly and effectively into the existing space. The new feed chute design incorporated replaceable wear liners with rounded corners, large maintenance access doors, electric heating of slide surfaces, an adjustable material deflector, and appropriately mounted air cannons. The new chute was installed during a recent, and planned, shutdown. The improved feed chute has eliminated an issue that had been the source of persistent mill production interruptions over its lifecycle.