E-Plas champions mining’s quiet achievers

Mining is a complex operation — whether it be mining iron ore, bauxite, copper or gold — it involves many people, many processes and a great deal of equipment and heavy machinery to bring minerals from the ground to port and beyond.

Now that’s obvious, but what of the often unseen and unsung heroes that make these processes better? Materials that enhance performance, preserve expensive infrastructure, increase safety and ultimately pay for themselves through the benefits they bring.

Such is the case with engineering and performance plastics hidden away inside hoppers, chutes and rail cars, even lining giant front end loader buckets, trailers and heavy vehicles. Providing guarding to vehicles and machinery to protect users from harm. Self-lubricating, long wearing bearings and pads for cables and cranes that replace historically expensive metal parts. Purpose designed liners that speed up the process of unloading trailers and mineral transport vessels. The applications for these specialised plastics are many and they solve a myriad of common problems experienced along the mining journey.

What of these silent champions? Let us introduce the champion of premium linings, the most specified liners in mining and heavy industry worldwide, TIVAR UHMW-PE range by Mitsubishi Chemicals Advanced Materials (MCAM). E-Plas, as MCAM’s supplier partner, distributes these products Australia wide.

A distinct blue colour, TIVAR 88 and weldable TIVAR 88-2 are designed specifically to address issues faced in mining and bulk materials handling. Having excellent wear properties, it is noted for its performance in promoting bulk solids flow of cohesive or non-free flowing materials due to its low surface friction, enabling reduction or elimination of arching, ratholing and erratic material flow.

Cohesive, sticky materials like cement, coal, bauxite, synthetic gypsum, sand, iron, fly ash and clay are notorious for sticking and feeder plugging. They cause extreme surface wear. Both TIVAR 88 and TIVAR 88-2 provide exceptional abrasion resistance with an exceptionally low co-efficient of friction and slippery non-stick surface, bulk materials flow smoothly and discharge without hang-up. Their high flow properties eliminate materials hang up. Maintenance of hoppers and chutes is much safer, removing the need for human intervention in the cleaning process removing risk of injury. The liners self-clean.

An E-Plas project of note, GORO Nickel employed TIVAR 88 to line a series of newly constructed, dockside hoppers. The installation of the liner at build stage would guarantee ongoing wear protection to the metal structures for years to come and greatly improved turn around at port. An intelligent and cost-effective solution. The TIVAR UHMW-PE, along with being extremely durable, is also recyclable.

A great example of the benefits of TIVAR 88-2 in action can be seen in its very successful use in lining the hulls of self-unloading, minerals transport ships. Recent lining works were completed for well-known shipping company CSL by E-Plas and MCAM in Whyalla.

TIVAR 88-2 with its rapid release technology has been further modified to enhance flow and provides the added benefit of weldability. It can be fabricated and welded to provide a solution for nearly any application such as seamless Drop-in Liners and Framed-in Liners. TIVAR 88-2 liner can even be produced as a one-piece panel to eliminate seams enabling increased flow and a more consistent feed.

Another recent TIVAR 88-2 liner installation was in giant front bucket loaders used for bauxite in WA — the perfect liner choice for buckets due to its rapid release technology. E-Plas used 3000mm by 2000mm sheets in this application and has other sheet sizes and weld rods also available.

A significant amount of material has to be moved during the mining process, whether it’s using an excavator or carting loads of earth or valuable minerals by truck, and E-Plas TIVAR liners are out there working hard.

Part of the TIVAR UHMW-PE family engineered specifically for intense bulk materials management, QuickSilver Truck Lining System is another big player in the mining and bulk materials arena. It enables high turn-around hauling and tipping of almost any material. It is extremely durable and offers super slick release without any release additives. QuickSilver is a continuous liner available in classic grey and now in ultra tough QuickSilver Heavy Duty in hi-vis green, fully equipped to handle high repetition, extreme impact loads.

Other products of interest include Sustamid PD Grade Nylon that is used for pile driving applications, produced by world class German manufacturer Rochling. Sustamid 6G MO is a preferred material for drill rig wear pads and supplies outrigger pads in Sustamid Nylon and TIVAR ECO.

As well as the TIVAR UHMW-PE Linings Group, QuickSilver Truck Lining Systems by MCAM and Rochling Engineering plastics such as Sustamid Nylons, E-Plas’ product range includes Sustarin Acetal, Sustadur PETP, PEEK, PTFE, HDPE, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, Polyurethane, Bakelite and more.

For nearly 45 years, E-Plas has been providing solutions to the mining industry. Proudly Australian owned and ISO 9001 certified, E-Plas takes great pride in providing the highest level of service, ethics and integrity.

If your goal is to promote greater efficiency and reduce maintenance costs considerably whilst vastly increasing productivity and safety, E-Plas has exactly what you need.

E-Plas has decades of experience and expertise in the engineering and performance plastics industry and a comprehensive product range supported by strong national stock levels with branches across Australia.

E-Plas services all throughout Australia and globally upon request. The company also provides custom CNC manufacturing services to designs ranging from one-offs to major project work at its national headquarters in Ravenhall, Victoria.

E-Plas provides solutions through advanced plastics and its experienced team are ready to assist you, with just that.