Vulkan Drive Tech is well-resourced to meet the needs of potential customers in the African mining sector. The company has a wide range of mining-specific fluid, flexible and rigid couplings for different applications in machinery.
The Engineering & Development Director, Josias Leal, from Vulkan Drive Tech, a division of the Vulkan Group, pronounces that the company is more committed than ever to addressing customer requirements in mining specific couplings in Africa. Hoping to see mining activity sustain its current momentum, he assures mining houses that the company is ready – sufficiently resourced with a wide range of industrial couplings, together with the necessary knowhow – to meet increased demand.
Mining-specific couplings
Vulkan Drive Tech has a wide range of couplings, which include fluid, flexible and rigid couplings, in addition to its braking systems line and backstops. Mining-specific, fluid and flexible couplings are used for industrial drives systems. It is noteworthy that flexible couplings enjoy wide usage in mining machinery.
- Fluid couplings
Leal explains that in mining, the applications of fluid couplings vary. However, their common usage is in big machines with huge inertias which need a soft start or might be subjected to variable conditions during operation. The machinery includes conveyors, crushers, mills, cooling towers, centrifuges, stackers and claimers, hoists and gantry cranes, just to cite a few.
Worth mentioning, the compact size of the fluid couplings ensures optimal convenience of the end-user in mind, mainly through the following benefits:
- Ease of replacing existing applications without the need for any modifications to the existing layout. This reduces project costs as a result of minimum downtime;
- Overload protection through limitation of maximum torque transmission during start up to the motor; and
- Smooth acceleration of the driven machinery ensures high productivity.
2. Flexible couplings
Equipped with specially designed elastic elements which work in compression, Torsional flexible couplings allow for maximum torque transfer, heat dissipation and product longevity. They are suitable for motion reversals and multidirectional flexibility in high and or low-speed shaft of machinery driven by electric motor with high misalignments.
The flexible coupling series is commonly used where there is need to absorb shock loads and torsional vibrations produced by driving or driven equipment in harsh environments, above and beyond compensating axial, radial and angular misalignments. Typical examples of in the flexible coupling series are Flexomax GSN and GSND couplings of Vulkan Drive Tech.
An advanced version of flexible couplings, highly flexible couplings transmit definite values with high elasticity. Suitable for torsional vibrations, they are specifically designed for mills, conveyor belts, fans and machinery with high inertia. They provide smooth engaging and disengaging of the motion, overload protection for driving and driven machinery.
Both flexible and highly flexible couplings allow for ease of installation and limited or minimal maintenance. Noteworthy, all products are available with customisable options to meet the requirements of restricted applications.
Tailor-made solutions: the differentiating factor
Relating to its approach to clients, where Vulkan Drive Tech’s couplings have become a reference point in mining and other industries, Leal says the company won’t reinvent the wheel in its approach. “Our differentiating factor, which has made Vulkan the go-to company in industrial couplings, is rooted in creating tailor-made solutions for clients. Clients supply their machine requirements, and we select a suitable product.”
Vulkan goes all-out to ensure that the customer gets the correct product, the engineering director explains: “Firstly, we check the complete specification available. If something is not clear, we organise meeting, conference, and/or go to the field to clarify it. After that, we prepare the drawing and send it to customer for approval.”
A great benefit about Vulkan’s couplings is that they are user-friendly such that clients are able to assemble inhouse, using their own team. In some cases, where clients require the supervision of assembly and startup, they can engage an Vulkan specialist or an accredited third-party service provider in their country.
Advising African mining houses, Vulkan stresses the importance of choosing couplings specific to their requirements. “Couplings is one of the most important part of your drive system. For this reason, it needs be very well selected to perform a function that goes beyond transmitting torque. A wrong specification can result in serious problems such as injuries to workers besides equipment downtime,” says Mr. Leal.
And on why they recommend Vulkan’s coupling as products of the first resort, he declares: “Vulkan has the right competence to guide your company to the best solution. We are consistently committed to the premier coupling quality.”
Constant innovation
Vulkan’s constantly innovating to deliver the best possible couplings to industry. There are a number of riveting innovations that would be of great interest to customers in African mining.
The company has launched couplings with new features as temperature control system, water filling fluid. In case of variable speed fluid coupling, the company can provide a complete monitoring system with different level of information to support our customer with real data to predictive maintenance.
The Vulkan Group has over 135 years of experience in designing, manufacturing and delivering mechanical power transmission solutions.
