Hoppers are devices used for storing and dispensing flowable material and particulate matter. A hopper product is very common in mining, agricultural and food-processing industries. For example, a food-processing line would utilise a hopper for holding flour, seeds or grain and dispensing it into a package on command. In the mining sector, dirt, minerals and other mixtures are moved around a mine site via a chain of hoppers and conveyor machines that operate automatically. It is a vital piece of equipment for transporting mining products efficiently.
In the past, Industrial Plastics have fabricated custom hoppers for the mining sector. We design, fabricate and supply our products to many energy and agriculture-based companies and are always looking for future projects within the industry. Below is a hopper or ‘chute’ Industrial Plastics fabricated for a client in the mining industry. The application for this hopper is to transport a mining waste product called ‘slurry’ from a mine to an evaporation pond.
UHMWPE Liner for Mining Hoppers
Hoppers and chutes have a very tough life out on agricultural sites. In order to improve the service life of these products, Industrial Plastics use UHMWPE as a protective liner for the inside of these types of equipment. UHMWPE is an extremely tough and dense plastic due to its long molecular chains which all align in the same direction making this plastic 15 times more abrasion resistant than carbon steel. It also has the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic produced on the market. By lining our mining hoppers and chutes with this material, it provides significantly greater resistance to materials falling and sliding through the hopper lessening damage to the HDPE base. This increases its operational lifespan.
Contact Us
At Industrial Plastics, we are determined to innovate our approach to fabrication by employing the most efficient technology, guaranteeing we make the highest quality plastic products on the market. Our experienced team is always searching for ways to improve customizability through our advanced machinery and process knowledge. We understand how imperative plastic products are to many businesses. Backed by our ISO 9001 accreditation, you can put trust in Industrial Plastics fabrication. If you are in the market for your own mining hopper or chute, contact us via [email protected] or call 1300 465 888.