The Flyingbelt is a remarkable example of engineering prowess and a more cost-effective, efficient and environmentally-friendly conveying solution compared to conventional truck transportation. In Brazil, one started running in July 2016 after a successful collaboration between Sempertrans and Agudio (a brand of Leitner SpA).
To watch the Sempertrans conveyor belt in motion on the 7.2 km long structure, we recommend this You Tube video.
For the expansion of its Barroso cement plant in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Lafarge-Holcim was seeking an innovative conveyor solution which would withstand a demanding production capacity without wreaking havoc on the surroundings. The Flyingbelt is a conveying system suspended on four track ropes. Standing on a ropeway 7.2 km long and up to 36 m high, this unique installation transports 1,500 tph of limestone and clay from the quarry to Lafarge-Holcim’s cement plant, while crossing valleys and a dense vegetation without ever touching the ground. It is the longest Flyingbelt in the world and a more cost-effective, efficient and environmentally-friendly conveying solution compared to conventional truck transportation.
Relying on its long-standing technical expertise and product flexibility, LafargeHolcim and Agudio chose Sempertrans as their partner of choice to develop a custom conveyor belt for this outstanding project. It involved the construction of a loading and unloading station, designed by Agudio, and a single 15-kilometre-long belt tailored by Sempertrans to meet the specific performance, cost and environment-conscious requirements of the customer.
Sempertrans’ Metaltrans belt is the perfect solution for the unusual structure. It has a unique steel carcass construction with a low elastic modulus which allows for optimum elongation. This feature ensures that the belt is supple and can stretch out enough to fit the deformation imposed by the very small radius curves on the pylon stations supporting the Flyingbelt. Sempertrans is the only conveyor belt manufacturer in the world producing such a complex belt.
