Written by Mark S. Kuhar, Editor Rock Products
Overland belt conveyors have been widely used as a cost effective method to transport bulk materials. Allegheny Mineral–a leading supplier of aggregates to the Pennsylvania market– certainly understands these economics, and for the past 20 years, has been using a 3,100 ft. long, 42 inch conveyor to transport crushed limestone from an existing pit primary crusher to their existing processing plant and storage yard at their Slippery Rock Quarry in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Recently, work started on the development of a new quarry a mile south of the current screening facilities. This article discusses the planning and development of a new mile long, 42 inch, overland conveyor designed and built to support this additional operation.
“The Slippery Rock project had several unique and potentially difficult scenarios; including crossing a heavily traveled township road, multiple wetlands and a creek that is heavily used by fisherman, canoe/kayak enthusiast and outdoors-men,” said the company’s Jonothan Kolbe.
“After meeting with Industrial Resources’ engineering team, we decided to add them to our shortlist of engineering firms to provide design for the proposed mile long overland conveyor belt project,” Kolbe continued. “After further reviewing Industrial Resource’s portfolio and engineering experience they were selected to provide General Arrangement drawings as well as provide the turn-key fabrication, installation and construction for the overland conveyor.”
Industrial Resources, located in Fairmont, West Virginia, is a design build contractor that specializes in material handling equipment and has extensive experience both designing and constructing these types of conveyors for the mining industry.
Allegheny Mineral Corporation engaged Industrial Resources in the spring of 2015 to develop a preliminary engineering design report and to assist with the necessary planning to further define the proposed conveyor project.
Basic Engineering
Although this initial work was limited to the basic engineering to establish the alignment, size the mechanical components, set schedules, constructability, and cost estimates, its underpinning included all the past experience Industrial Resources acquired over the years designing and building similar installations.
Best-value solutions for each design and construction element were evaluated. This assured reliable results to support the additional work necessary for the project to move forward. It included the evaluation of two separate horizontal alignments, and provided the basis for Allegheny Mineral to select the route that was chosen and secure the necessary geotechnical studies and permits.
Conveyor Drive
Drive Tower
The route selected included 2,500 ft. of on grade conveyor and 1,400 ft. of elevated conveyor mounted on structure, one highway crossing and three wetland crossings that could not be disturbed.
The overland conveyor will transport 1,800 tons of material per hour at 500 ft. per minute. The conveyor is driven by a dual pulley drive on the return belt run using 700 HP in total. The high tensile fabric belt is rated at 1,250 P.I.W. The horizontal take-up provides 38 ft. of travel.
Using the preliminary design report to define the scope of the project, Allegheny Mineral solicited bids to purchase the structural and mechanical engineering, steel fabrication, equipment procurement, and field installation as one contract.
Contracting Strategy
This “Design Build” contracting strategy has significant benefits as compared to buying each of these items separately. It eliminates much of the owner’s risks during construction that can occur with multiple contracts, and rather than buying the individual components, guaranteed performance can be secured from a single source with full responsibility for all details.
In May 2016, Allegheny Minerals awarded the contract to Industrial Resources to provide the:
- Final design
- Equipment procurement
- Steel fabrication
- Construction of the conveyor
By early July 2016, field construction began on the foundations, and by early August 2016, steel erection began.
“Allegheny Mineral has been very happy with the Industrial Resource’s engineering and on-site construction team. “Both groups have been detail oriented and the conveyor was designed for long term use without the short cuts so often found in modern day fabrication,” said Kolbe. “Overall, Allegheny Mineral is very pleased with the performance of the Industrial Resource team. This project provides an example of how these types of large capital projects can be procured using the “Design Build” contracts.”
Setting Trusses
Trusses over creek
Industrial Resources | Design-Build Contractor
Industrial Resources, Inc. has been delivering material handling facilities to the mining industry for 70 years. Many of the projects were design build, in which performance was guaranteed.
In addition to having an engineering group and a construction division, Industrial Resources has their own AISC certified steel fabrication shop. Assuming full responsibility for a project from design, thru the fabrication, construction and commissioning, clearly places the responsibility of assuring performance on the contractor, relieving the owner of these responsibilities.
The project team included:
- Ken Ehrenberger, Senior Project Manager
- James F. Wally, P.E., Senior Design Manager
- Justin L. Leithauser, Senior Structural Engineer
- Shawn Stipes, Field Superintendent
This article was published in the July 2017 issue of Rock Products. You can find it here on page 18: Rock Products
Original article authored by:
- Raymond A. Perr, P.E., Marketing Director
- J. Boyd Rankin, P.E., Manager of Engineering
Want to talk with us about your overland conveyor project? Contact us today.