Large gear solutions for the mining industry
Mining operations depend on continuous, high-load equipment that runs around the clock in some of the harshest environments on earth. Ball mills, SAG mills, rod mills, and conveyor drives require large ring gears, pinions, and gearboxes that can sustain peak torque over very long service intervals without failure. An unplanned stoppage in a mill drive can cost a mining operation millions in lost production.
P. van der Wegen Gears is one of the few manufacturers in the world capable of producing ring gears in the size range required for large mining mills. We produce external gears up to 16,500 mm in diameter with a maximum piece weight of 250 tonnes.
Ring gears for ball mills and SAG mills
We produce large ring gears using three manufacturing routes depending on the diameter, material requirements, and lead time: fabricated girth gears in steel using our unique welding process, casted gears in steel with a maximum hardness of HB 350, and casted gears in ductile iron for applications where damping properties are a priority. Each route has specific advantages and our engineering team advises on the best choice for the application.
Pinions for mill drives
Every ring gear needs a matching pinion. We produce hardened and ground pinions in high-tensile alloy steel to match the ring gear geometry, ensuring the tooth contact and load distribution are optimised for the specific mill configuration. Pinion shafts are produced from certified forged bar with full material traceability.
Conveyor and kiln drive gearboxes
In addition to mill gears, we supply custom gearboxes for conveyor drives, kiln drives, and other heavy mining equipment. Each gearbox is engineered to the duty cycle and load conditions of the specific application.
Documentation for mining clients
Every component delivered to mining clients is accompanied by full documentation including dimensional reports, material certificates, NDT reports, and installation manuals. For mining applications, this traceability is part of our standard delivery package.