12 Oct 2022
Hewitt Robins has recently supplied two extra heavy-duty Vibrating Feeders to one of the world’s biggest copper ore mines.
Codelco Chuquicamata, a Chilean state enterprise, is situated in Calama, Chile and is the largest open pit copper ore mine in the world. The site is located at 2,850m (9,350ft) above sea level, and most of the plant was installed between the 1950s and ’70s.
Codelco Chuquicamata has had twelve Hewitt Robins 72’’ x 120’’ heavy duty Vibrating Feeders in operation at the mine since the 1960s. These feeders had been handling around 1000tph of minus 250mm Copper Ore with all of the feeders installed underneath a primary bunker.
Hewitt Robins was awarded a contract to supply two replacement vibrating feeders. A site visit was carried out to discuss the history of these machines and understand what improvements could be offered to the customer.
Hewitt Robins designed and manufactured two replacement 72 x 120 vibrating Feeders, which improved bearing life, allowed for easier maintenance, and gave the customer a fully dust encapsulated solution. These Hewitt Robins LPE14 72 x 120 Feeders offer onboard drive motors for easy installation and more vibration to achieve an increased feeding capacity.
The vibrating feeders came complete with 20mm thick Hardox 500 Liners over the bottom and sides of the pan section. The mechanical heavy-duty vibrating unit has two eccentric shafts, which are geared together and come complete with four 140mm bearings.
The feeder frame has a solid top dust cover with a feed chute entrance and is sealed between the feed points, and discharge ends using flexible dust sealing rubber, so the dust is totally enclosed. Each feeder also comes complete with two x 15kw on board drive motors, and variable speed drives to control the feed rates.
For more information about our Vibrating Equipment requirements then visit the website by clicking here and don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to see pictures from this event.
Alternatively, you can contact a member of our team on +44(0) 1530 272799 or email sales@hr-int.co.uk
