Johannesburg-based materials handling consulting company Conveyor Watch specialises in the evaluation of conveyor systems, providing its services on site to operations across Southern Africa.

Its team of experts have a wealth of experience in the materials handling arena, offering its clients “a real solution and not just another report to file”, says Conveyor Watch.

Founded by Athol Surtees, Conveyor Watch has investigated more than 1 000 conveyor systems since being established in 1993 and has worked with State-owned power utility Eskom and mining companies Anglo American, Exxaro, Assmang, Palabora Copper and Namakwa Sands.

In 2017, Surtees handed over the reins of the company to Henk Brink, owner of materials handling consultancy firm Cedotech and a director of the Conveyor Manufacturers Association. Surtees is still involved with the company as a consulting engineer, while expert technician Glenn Williams executes belt scans and performance tests.

The company’s service offering includes condition monitoring of steel cord conveyor belts, dynamic performance testing and audits, and failure analysis on existing conveyor systems.

Through its condition monitoring service, Conveyor Watch examines the condition of the steel cords within a steel cord reinforced conveyor belt. Following a visual inspection of the belt by an expert technician,
a professional engineer consolidates the results into a comprehensive report for the client. The report prioritises any corrective measures required.

“We also offer a comprehensive design audit which determines the influence of damaged belt incidents on the overall performance and safety of the conveyor,” adds Conveyor Watch.

Further, the company applies dynamic performance testing in design verifications, hand-over certifications, conveyor system upgrade feasibilities and preventive maintenance planning. The pertinent conveyor parameters are measured by installing equipment to capture power, torque, current, voltage and belt speed readings. The collated information is presented to the client in a report compiled by a conveyor design specialist.

With regard to failure analysis, the company performs trouble-shooting by combining the results of the condition and performance reports with a design audit. This process identifies and differentiates between cause and effect of electrical-, mechanical- or belting-related failures.