User report Robust plastic energy chain for 550 metres of travel in bulk handling

• What was needed: E4/4 energy chain; chainflex cables such as the chainflex CF35 motor cable
• Requirements: Long service life over a travel distance of 550m; temperatures below -30°C, snow, ice, dust
• Industry: Bulk handling
• Success for the customer: Energy chain and cables work reliably even in the aggressive environmental conditions. Despite over a metre of snow and temperatures below -35°C after commissioning, the solution works faultlessly.

Takonite is an iron-bearing, flint-like rock that was named after the Taconic Mountains in the United States. It is a Precambrian sedimentary rock that belongs to the banded ores due to the typical alternation between iron-bearing layers and layers of clay shale or chert. The very finely distributed iron content in the form of magnetite is between 25 and 30%. The largest deposits in the world are located in the Mesabi Range in Minnesota. Once taconite has been mined, it is transported on long conveyor belts for storage.
This was also the case at the North Shore Mine in Minnesota, for which a reliable energy supply system had to be found for several hundred metres of travel. In addition to the travel distance, the ambient conditions on site posed a second major challenge when realising the cable routing. In sub-zero temperatures below -30°C as well as ice and snow, the routing and internal cables had to function without any problems.

The operator of the North Shore Mine relies on an E4/4 energy chain system for long travels of the 5050 series for the cable guidance on the conveyor belt. The roller chain links in particular make the E4/4 a true specialist for the 550m long roller track. In addition, special chainflex cables are used for moving applications in the energy chain, such as the chainflex CF35.UL motor cable and seven other customised cables. However, the energy chain and cables not only prove themselves on the travel, but also under the sometimes aggressive environmental conditions. Since installation, over a metre of snow has already fallen and temperatures have dropped to -35°C. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, the solution runs absolutely faultlessly. This is partly due to the extensive laboratory tests that are regularly carried out on e-chains and chainflex cables in the company's own laboratory in Cologne. Extreme temperature tests in the climate chamber simulate temperatures of up to -40°C and check the function.
The operator of the North Shore Mine had already had very good experiences with plastic energy chains in the plant in the past. The advantages of the system compared to the previously installed festooning systems are not only the price but also the absolute corrosion resistance, durability, safety and the small space requirement. We also offer comprehensive technical support and free project planning.