The operational continuity of a mining site depends on multiple factors. Among them, the maintenance strategy plays a critical role in reducing unplanned downtime and protecting asset availability.
For critical equipment such as conveyor belts, pulleys, chutes, transfer points, and processing equipment, waiting for a failure to occur is not a viable strategy. A preventive maintenance plan helps identify and address deterioration before it results in functional failure or an unplanned shutdown.
Critical Equipment: Where to Focus
Not all equipment has the same operational impact. Therefore, an effective maintenance plan begins by identifying the assets whose failure could have the greatest effect on safety, production, maintenance costs, and operational continuity. These include:
- Conveyor belts.
- Pulleys and drive systems.
- Chutes and transfer points.
- Equipment and surfaces exposed to abrasion, impact, corrosion, or material buildup.
These assets require regular condition monitoring and maintenance strategies aligned with their operating conditions to reduce the risk of unplanned downtime.
Key Considerations for Developing a Preventive Maintenance Plan
An effective plan is not based solely on scheduling maintenance work. It requires a technical approach that considers:
- Asset criticality assessment: Rank equipment according to the potential impact of failure on safety, production, maintenance costs, and operational continuity.
- Failure mode and wear assessment: Identify the mechanisms responsible for deterioration, including abrasion, impact, corrosion, material buildup, and misalignment.
- Condition monitoring and intervention limits: Establish inspection methods, baseline conditions, wear limits, and clear criteria for initiating maintenance work.
- Inspection and maintenance intervals: Define frequencies based on operating conditions, duty cycle, wear rate, and equipment history.
- Selection and execution of the repair: Select solutions suited to the substrate, wear mechanism, and service conditions, and schedule their application during planned maintenance windows.
The Preventive Role of Repair and Wear-Protection Solutions
One of the main challenges in preventive maintenance is selecting systems that allow worn areas to be protected or rebuilt before the damage progresses to functional failure.
High-adhesion repair and wear-protection systems can be applied to critical surfaces during planned maintenance, provided that the substrate condition, surface preparation requirements, and operating conditions are properly evaluated.
At Bertech, FLEXSOL® cold-applied polyurethane elastomer systems are intended for applications requiring flexibility, while DURAFAST® two-component epoxy systems are used on rigid substrates exposed to abrasion and impact. Product selection must be based on the substrate, wear mechanism, and actual service conditions.
These systems can be applied on site to protect or rebuild areas exposed to wear. Depending on the selected product and application conditions, they can support shorter return-to-service times, reduce downtime, and improve maintenance efficiency. Cure and return-to-service times must always be confirmed in the corresponding technical documentation.
In an environment where every operating hour matters, shifting from a predominantly reactive approach to a preventive maintenance strategy can reduce unplanned downtime and improve asset availability.
A preventive maintenance plan supported by condition monitoring, defined intervention criteria, suitable repair solutions, and technical expertise helps protect critical equipment and maintain operational continuity.
For more information about our repair and wear-protection solutions or technical advice for your operation, please complete the form by clicking the “Contact Us” button. You can also email us at:
- Chile: contacto@bertech.cl
- Brazil: comercialbrasil@bertech.cl
- Other countries: internationalsales@bertech.cl