SPACE-age technology is being adopted by mining engineers in a move which will reduce machinery downtime and improve efficiency and safety. But while the ceramic-like tiles attached to the Space Shuttle stops it from burning up on re-entry into the earth's atmosphere, the 5,832 inch-square tiles "glued" on both the front and back of 60-inch conveyor drive drums being installed later this year in Daw Mill's No 2 south intake drift are designed to double the required friction and almost eliminate wear. The conveyor drive, now being delivered to the Warwickshire mine after completing compatibility trials at manufacturers Continental Conveyor, will be so robust that apart from the occasional bearing change, the tile-lagged drum is expected to outlast the life of the mine.
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