Another cablebelt rope ships

We saw the shipment of another pair of 60mm diameter ropes for the Cablebelt installation in Nova Scotia.

It is always a big event when two 100-ton reels leave our plant and this shipment was no exception. Maneuvering the reels around the plant is very difficult and special lifting equipment was required. Very few crane rental companies have the cranes that are needed, but we were fortunate to get the job done in time for the critical installation window at the mine site. Special trucks were also required to get the reels to the rail siding in Montreal prior to their journey out to the east coast. Great interest was generated as these two huge reels made their way down the highway from our plant in Pointe Claire.

The mine delivers coal to the surface from 5 miles under the Atlantic Ocean. The operating conditions in the mine are very difficult and the rope suffers extreme corrosion from the salt-water conditions and wear from constant bending around the sheaves. As a result of these conditions, the ropes that we supplied early in 1997 now have to be replaced. Our work at the mine doesn't end with the shipment of the ropes, however. One of our splicers will be on site to supervise the operation, which transforms these long lengths of rope into one continuous loop that is then used to drive the conveyor belt.

Congratulations to all involved in making this mammoth project run smoothly.

Steve Wood