Approved by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration, the heaters help improve mine productivity by keeping belts rolling even when cold and ice threaten to freeze the belt. The units are stainless steel, don’t retain heat when shut down, and instantly shut off when the belt slows.

Irwin Mine and Tunneling sales vice president Pat Rengers said the Thermo-Tech belt heaters are available in a variety of designs and sizes to suit specific situations and have the flexibility to be installed either atop the belt or under it.

“These economical belt heaters are ideal for any mining environment because they’re unaffected by material falling from the belt's underside and eliminate material slideback, drive roll slippage, and buildup on idler rolls and scrapers,” he said. “They also prevent freezing of clam shells and sliding gates.”

In addition to a full line of belt heaters, winders and clamps, which Irwin said it has offered for more than 25 years, the company also supplies electric tensioning products, portable conveyor systems, feeder breakers, personnel carriers and filtration and ventilation systems.