Coal is a valuable bulk commodity. As such, mine operators need to move large volumes to reap profits. They rely heavily on bulk materials handling systems, such as conveyor systems, to move raw coal from the face underground to the prep plant. Prep plants and coal storage facilities at surface mines depend on similar networks to load trains and transport refuse. In addition to meeting the needs of moving more and more product to market, management usually asks mine and plant managers to hold costs to a minimum. In many cases, this request amounts to a trade off between initial investment and operating costs. A large component of the operating cost is maintenance. Often times, the managers also turn to vendors who have responded with improvements based on equipment with better technology.
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