The electrodes are shipped from the plant to U.S. and international customers. The electrodes are made from several raw ingredient powders including petroleum coke and binders. For electrode production, the raw ingredients are fed to and blended in several heated rotary mixers. Each conveyor carries the hot mixture to one of several supply hoppers, which dispense the mixture to an extruder. The unit extrudes the mixture into the electrode shape required by a customer.
Sticky mixture gums up the works .
For years, the belt conveyors at each mixer discharge were maintenance and housekeeping nightmares. The hot, sticky mixture adhered to each belt, remaining on the belt's return side. When the return idlers dislodged some of the material, the sticky material spilled onto the floor beneath the conveyor. The buildup also destroyed the belt scrapers on each belt's carrying side and damaged the idlers on the return side. During every shift, an operator needed to check each scraper and return idler to find and repair or replace damaged components.