The Redi-Lagg-R rubber lagging and Redi-Lagg-C ceramic lagging are the first two weld-on products in the company’s product line, company chief operating officer Kevin Maloy told International Longwall News.

“Both are steel-back lagging sections that can be welded directly to the pulley face by the mine site maintenance crew,” he said, an advantage for virtually all operations seen through time savings.

Additionally, both weld to the pulley face rather than other products. When attaching to other products the welding must be cured before moving again, making for production downtime. By welding to the pulley face, this downtime is minimised. “It can be run immediately. Once the lagging installation is completed, the conveyor can be immediately energized,” Maloy said.

The laggings, when applied for underground use, are best used with development section conveyors, for emergency repairs, or pulleys that require lagging on a short turnaround, Maloy said, adding that surface mines, preparation facilities and the aggregate sector are also users of the product.

The Redi-Lagg-R is available in a standard material strip length of 72 inches that can be cut down on-site. Its thickness ranges from ½ inch to ¾ inch and is available in a diamond pattern and Smooth 40 and 60 Durometer in both thicknesses.

The Redi-Lagg-C, which uses the same technology as the company’s Combi-Lagg ceramic pulley aging, has a lifespan of 4 to 8 times more than lagging products constructed of rubber, Maloy said.

While the coal industry can easily apply either product to their needs, Maloy noted the difference between the two materials. “The applications of the product are for drive traction [and] abrasion resistance for protection of pulleys in areas subject to high wear. The more abusive the abrasion, the more suited the ceramic lagging will be to the conditions because it is much more abrasion resistant.”

Expedience of installation, the ability to start up without delays and the quality of the lagging materials for drive traction and wear resistance are all central benefits of the Redi-Lagg-R and Redi-Lagg-C, according to Maloy.

While Richwood has been taking orders on the ceramic product for some time now, he noted user feedback played a large role in the research and development of both.

“It’s a product we developed by specific customer request that grew from our other lagging product, our Combi-Lagg,” he said, adding that the ceramic Redi-Lagg-C too the place of prior weld-on rubber lagging products.

Maloy said that quality was a central focus of the development of both products, and said the company is confident in their performance. “It’s the highest level of drive traction and the highest level of abrasion resistance combined.”

“Everyone’s always looking for products that will give them extended service life, a better availability on the conveyors, less downtime, less main required, and that is where we focus our product design and manufacturing efforts,” said Maloy. “We try to make sure that we are delivering the very best long-term payback for our customers.”