Conveyor belt maker Semperit takes to the sky

Vienna – Semperit has introduced a “completely new system” for bulk transportation over long distances using a combination of ropeway and conveyor belt technolgies.

The ‘Agudio Flyingbelt’ was developed jointly by group business Sempertrans and Italian ropeway manufacturer Leitner/ Agudio, said a 1 July announcement by Semperit.

The 7km elevated belt – the longest such system in the world – is transporting 1,500 tonnes of limestone per hour at a height of up to 36 metres, according to Semperit.

"The Sempertrans conveyor belt not only overcomes - at great height - terrain that can only be accessed with difficulty, it also transports material efficiently and in an environmentally-friendly way. More than 40 truck journeys every hour are saved", comments Thomas Fahnemann, CEO of Semperit Group.

Produced by Sempertrans in France, the belt will enable LafargeHolcim to reduce electricity consumption to around one third of that required by a conventional ropeway systems, said the Austrian company.

New applications for the elevated belt system are in the pipeline, including in areas other than the core mining segment, said Semperit.