A major expansion at Newmont Mining Corporation’s Mineria Yanacocha Gold Mine in Peru included an innovative idler design developed by Martin Engineering in conveyor transfer areas. The mine’s high-capacity conveyor system faces continuous loads and heavy impact from 8-inch lumps of copper ore.

To withstand this impact, Martin Engineering designed a special belt support system composed of Martin^® Trac-Mount™ Idlers and Martin^® Slider Cradles. The unique feature is that the support system is designed to slide in and out for service on the I-beam cross members of the conveyor structure. This ensures the conveyors’ load zones have a rugged, reinforced structure to withstand loading forces, and allows the installation of the support cradles on the conveyor structure without use of a crane.

This unique design developed by Martin Engineering also makes it possible to service the belt support system during brief outages from the mine’s 24/7 operating schedule.