Trelleborg develops chute lining system to reduce blockages in mining

Trelleborg, Sweden — Trelleborg has introduced a chute lining system designed to reduce material blockages and maintenance downtime in mining operations, using a rubber-based design to improve material flow.

The Flexi-Guard system uses “self-energised rubber fingers” that vibrate as material passes through the chute, said Trelleborg 10 March.

The process helps prevent the build-up of wet or sticky ores and maintain continuous flow, according to the company.

According to Trelleborg, material accumulation in chutes can lead to downtime and safety risks, and the new the system is designed to “keep material moving” without manual intervention.

The design also targets maintenance efficiency, with rubber panels mounted on steel hangers that can be installed using a mallet and removed by pulling a corner of the panel.

The “tool-free” approach is intended to reduce maintenance time and improve worker safety.

Flexi-Guard is available in standard rubber and a composite version with ceramic facing for more abrasive applications.