Cement Australia contacted H & B Mining following an internet search for conveyor diversion ploughs. Initial discussions outlined a need for a secondary circuit to divert excess water that had collected on the belt during the wet season prior to operation.

Further consultation outlined there were two complications inherent to the existing cement conveyor which almost rendered the project impossible. Firstly, access was only possible along one side of the conveyor, and secondly there was a fully braced truss.

A site visit to Gladstone, Queensland was necessary to confirm the location for the diversion plough and ensure that proposed structural modifications were possible.

H & B Mining’s engineers opted for a single actuator design along the walkway side of the conveyor and a revamp of the braced truss to allow the diverter chute to protrude through. A concrete bund designed to collect the excess water and waste material diverted off the belt was also included in the design. The bund was positioned directly beneath the conveyor gantry and designed to allow front end loader access to clean out the waste material. This was constructed prior to the installation of the diversion plough components.

Following a lengthy design phase the diversion plough components were fabricated at the H & B Welshpool workshop before being shipped to Queensland for installation.

The install offered up further stumbling blocks as the cement plant opted to install the diversion plough components intermittently on a weekly one day shut. Following a six week period of one day shut downs, the plough was finally in place, commissioned and functioning well.

View the commissioning phase (prior to final belt seal adjustment) of the diversion plough here.