Falconbridge, Ltd. Timmins, Ontario

This stationary chute (top of photo) is protected against sliding abrasion by a Durex rubber/ceramic lining system installed on the bottom and halfway up the sides. Material from the chute falls onto the steel panels of the vibrating feeder unit (bottom of photo), which discharges onto a conveyor leading to the primary crushing plant.

Durex "partnering" boosts productivity at Kidd Creek

The Kidd Creek Division of Falconbridge, Ltd. has mined copper, lead/zinc, and silver in northern Ontario since 1964. Today, Kidd Creek mines 7,000 feet deep to supply the milling operation with 9,000 tons of product per day.

A critical part of the Kidd Creek mining, milling, and smelting operations is the "partnering" relationship between Kidd Creek managers and Durex: the regional Durex dealer, plus Durex engineering, manufacturing, customer service, and outside material suppliers. All of these people are dedicated to achieving less downtime and greater productivity throughout the Kidd Creek Division.

For example, the very sharp, abrasive material mined by Kidd Creek is especially tough on screens, lining systems, and wear parts. On one circuit, the competitors lining system, manufactured steel panels with ceramic flakes embedded in vulcanized rubber, kept washing out after a short wear life of less than 6 to 10 months. Kidd Creek personnel experimented with chrome white iron and chrome carbide overlay liners and raised the wear life to 11 months. When Durex was asked to evaluate the situation, Durex recommended a superior rubber/ceramic liner designed by embedding ceramic cylinders in a rubber matrix. This allowed am improved method of applying the strength of ceramic in the flexability of rubber. Kidd Creek maintenance supervisors checked the data and agreed to give rubber/ceramic a try. The wear life of the new lining system is now 18 to 24 months.