Oscillating systems technology manufacturer OST-Africa’s range of materials handling, screen and transmission products includes a spillage solution designed to prevent production losses across diverse sectors.

“This [cost-effective] spillage system, which encompasses various products that operate together to form one highly-efficient system, has important benefits over conventional systems that are labour intensive, costly to operate and require additional equipment,” says OST-Africa MD Nolene Streicher.

“Advantages of the OST system include simple installation, modular components for extended service life of the system, reduced maintenance and a low cost solution to spillage problems.”

OST-Africa – part of engineering solutions group Invicta Holdings – says its spillage system comprises a dynamic impact bed, the high-impact torsion (HIT) system, the skirt clamp and skirt wing, impact zone panels, chute vibrators, duff feeders, primary and secondary belt scrapers and the bias plough.

The dynamic impact bed is a shock absorbing trough that is mounted underneath a conveyor belt. It is installed at transfer points where fine or course heavy material is being transferred and where there is a build-up of materials in the transfer chute. The HIT system combines a heavy-duty idler frame with a HIT arm system to absorb the impact of material which falls onto the belt.

The skirt clamp, which is the conveyor system’s spillage controller, ensures that positive pressure is always applied to the side wall. The skirt wing is designed to support a conveyor belt between the idler and frames when sagging occurs, in order to prevent overflow spillage.

Impact zone panels are used at high-impact points in transfer chutes which are continually put under high stress and therefore have the highest maintenance requirements. These panels absorb impacts and high-wear-resistant liners ensure efficient operation and extended service life.

Chute vibrators prevent material blockage in a chute. Duff feeders, which accommodate the removal of dry or wet material from underneath belt scrapers down to collection points, also allow access for easy maintenance of conveyor rollers and belt scrapers.

The primary belt scraper blade tip is kept in positive contact with the belt surface, while the secondary belt scraper is segmented from all scraper components, for extended service life. The bias plough prevents duff that remains on the belt from damaging the return pulley.

OST-Africa’s materials handling product portfolio also includes the grizzly feeder system which is custom made to suit each application. This mobile feeder system, which constantly controls the feed of product onto conveyor belts at a rate of up to 80 t/h, can be quickly and easily dismantled and relocated when necessary. This system, which ensures optimum production, reduced wear and low maintenance, is also designed for no spillage.

Electrical panels for these feeders are fitted with manual and automatic switches, frequency inverters, overload switches, flexible vibration cables and a step-down transformer.

The bulk handling systems are supported by OST-Africa’s specialised design and installation team, which ensures that these custom-built systems meet exact requirements in any application.