RopeCon transports limestone across Guatemalan treetops

The cement company produces 2.2 million tpy of cement for the local market. The limestone needed for this process is mined in a quarry located approximately 200 m lower than the cement plant. RopeCon^® was chosen to help the company cover approximately 1.6 km of this terrain, including a vertical rise of almost 200 m.

RopeCon is a product developed by Australian ropeway manufacturer Doppelmayr. It combines the technology of a belt conveyor with that of a cable car. The use of this system allows for the transportation of the limestone across the difficult terrain in a straight line. A gradient of 22° is reached at the steepest point of the terrain. No additional cleats were required to tackle the gradient, due to the fact that the belt is fitted with axles with running wheels at regular intervals.

In addition, only four towers are required across the length of the system, meaning that the amount of space required on the ground was reduced to a minimum. Thus, the need to interfere with vegetation was limited to a small number of points and the track is not an insurmountable obstacle for wildlife or humans.

The system is currently in operation. Material is loaded via a feeder conveyor and unloading is carried out at the unloading station via a housed-in chute. 2100 tph of limestone and marl is transported to cover the demand of the cement production.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/23112018/ropecon-transports-limestone-across-guatemalan-treetops/