Project Overview
At a large hard rock quarry in Victoria, sticky fines in the extracted ore were causing significant material build up inside the vibrating feeder floors positioned below surge bins. The feeders discharge material from the chute above at a relatively slow controlled rate onto conveyor belts, but due to the ore’s high moisture and fine content, it tended to cake and adhere to the steel liner surfaces of the feeder floor.
This build up added unnecessary weight, dampened the vibration effect of the feeders, and reduced the efficiency and consistency of material flow, leading to maintenance issues and production inefficiencies. A long-term solution was needed to improve flow performance without significantly compromising wear life.
Challenge
In the quarrying industry, sticky, high-fines ore presents a frequent challenge, especially in low-flow areas like surge bins and feeder hoppers. When material adheres to liner surfaces, it can disrupt the operation of vibrating feeders, increasing wear, clogging risk, and energy use. While steel liners are common, they often don’t provide enough slip to prevent this build-up, especially in wet or slow-feed environments.
Solution: Reg-slide UHMWPE Wear Liners
To resolve the issue, the quarry installed Reg-slide UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) liners in the floor and sides of the vibrating feeders. Reglin supplied the UHMWPE panels as full sheets which were then cut and bolted into position by Maintenance staff on site, replacing the traditional steel liner surface.
Reg-slide UHMWPE was chosen for its:
- Exceptionally low coefficient of friction, allowing sticky fines to release easily
- Good wear resistance, suitable for the low impact application, even under vibration
- Lightweight and easy-to-install design, reducing installation time for on site staff
This liner material choice significantly reduced caking inside the feeder.
Outcome
The quarry reported immediate performance improvements:
- No more ore buildup on the feeder floor, even during slow-feed conditions
- Improved vibration efficiency, as feeder weight stayed consistent
- Cleaner discharge, reducing downstream material handling issues
- Reduced maintenance, with fewer shutdowns to clean or clear blocked feeders
The new liners maintained material flow and uptime, supporting continuous plant operation and reducing the risk of manual intervention and safety exposure.
Conclusion
By installing Reg-slide UHMWPE liners in vibrating feeders below surge bins, this Victorian quarry resolved a persistent flow issue caused by sticky ore. The liners’ low-friction surface and durable wear properties allowed for cleaner material release, better vibration performance, and greater operational efficiency.
Reglin’s Reg-slide UHMWPE proved to be an ideal liner solution for quarry applications where material hang-up and flow restriction are common concerns.
Contact Reglin today to explore how Reg-slide liners can help improve performance in your feed systems.