Custom Alimak Elevator Installed in Polyhalite Mine

A custom Alimak industrial elevator has been installed in the WoodSmith polyhalite mine in the North York Moors, United Kingdom. The mine extracts mineral from polyhalite, which is found deep underground and used as an agricultural fertiliser.

A solution was needed to transport up to 18 mine workers from ground level to 370 m below ground as efficiently as possible. The shaft size was very limited, allowing a maximum elevator width of only 1.56 m. Alimak’s design engineers developed a custom “double deck” rack and pinion elevator, which comprised of two elevator cars, interconnected one above the other. Each elevator measured 1.56 m wide x 1.04 m long x 2.17 m high, with each car able to hold a maximum of nine passengers.

The elevator shaft was steel lined, which presented a challenge in finding the safest way to install the mast connections as the usual option of welding was not possible. Alimak worked with Hilti to develop a new solution, involving the use of friction welded studs, which were fired into the elevator shaft using a spring-loaded gun.

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