Mike Gawinski,President of Rulmeca Corporation, said “Hutchinson Salt operates an underground mine and loading facility in Hutchinson, Kanas where millions of tons of salt have been mined, stored, and shipped throughout the U.S. Midwest since 1923.

Rulmeca manufactures and services internally-powered hermetically-sealed Motorized Pulleys to drive belt conveyors where old-fashioned exposed drive systems do not stand a chance in harsh, corrosive, and abrasive environments, such as salt mines.

Rulmeca Motorized Pulleys have been installed at salt mines, phosphate mines, and iron mines throughout Europe and the United States since the 1950s.  This video highlights ‘The Rulmeca Advantage,’ the company’s problem-solving capabilities and willingness to partner with customers to achieve their desired results.”

Jim Barta, General Manager of Hutchinson Salt Mine, said, “Salt is notorious for its corrosive properties. Reliability is a crucial part of the Hutchinson operation because allowing trains and trucks to wait to be loaded is not acceptable. The facility mines hundreds of thousands of tons of salt each year and ships it via three miles of conveyors from the mine face 650 feet below ground to outbound trains and trucks seven days a week during the busy season.

Hutchinson approached Rulmeca in 2013 to help upgrade the old conveyor drives in the storage shed, requesting a 40 HP shed feed conveyor drive and a 20 HP shed takeaway conveyor drive. Rulmeca evaluated the conveyors and recommended a unique dual drive system which has been very effective.”

Gawinski said, “Rohrer’s Quarry is in Eastern Pennsylvania, where rock has been extracted, crushed, and shipped to build roads, bridges, and buildings in the Eastern U.S. for more than 50 years.”

Tim Rohrer, General Manager of Rohrer’s Quarry, said, “When our quarry decided to install a 1,000-foot-long belt conveyor in the pit we contacted Rulmeca Corporation for a drive because the Motorized Pulley we purchased in the 1990s had yielded a long trouble-free life of service. Although we requested a single 300 HP drive for the conveyor with a 400 foot per minute belt speed, Rulmeca recommended two 150 HP Motorized Pulleys with a belt speed of 600 foot per minute.

That dual drive idea reduced total belt tension from 27,000 pounds to 17,000 pounds, reduced the initial cost of the belt, and extended its service life.  Rohrer’s Quarry is very satisfied with Rulmeca’s product and service.”