Lighter Materials Improve Conveyor Belt Performance

Q: What characterizes the company’s offering and how have you adapted your products to the mining industry?

A: Kauman is a conveyor belt manufacturer that focuses on rubber belts. We work in the food, beverages, cement and mining sectors. In the latter, we work with Grupo México, a major player that operates copper mines in Sonora.

Over the years, we developed new components specific to the mining industry. Our key component is a type of textile, which we developed to be lighter and more resistant. Today, the mining industry looks to lighten the belts so it can move the same material volume while consuming less energy.

We value the feedback we get from our clients and their mines. Every conveyor belt has a different function. For instance, some mines require greater impact resistance, while in others material resilience is the main factor driving success. 

Q: What differentiates Kauman from the biggest companies in the sector?

A: Kauman is a small, family business. Our competitors are large companies that manufacture rubber themselves. What differentiates us is the close contact we have with our clients. We offer a more personal and customized service. Since we compete with giants, we need to be responsive and listen to our clients, while also creating more agile processes. Furthermore, we adapt easily to the industry’s needs and demands.

Field work is also important. We prioritize listening to our engineers and supervise the correct functioning of our conveyor belts. It is a business of trial-and-error but we work hard to be innovative.

Q: How does the company help its clients choose an optimal conveyor belt adapted to their needs?

A: Kauman always listens to its clients’ requests but we also suggest alternatives that we believe could better adapt to their needs. Sometimes, this involves more expensive belts because of the price of some added components. Nonetheless, the belt should not be valued on price alone but on durability too. Clients want to cut down material transportation costs, for example. If the conveyor belt is more resistant, the result will be better because it will function for a longer time.

Q: How are you positioned in the Mexican mining industry?

A: We have worked with Grupo México for many years, providing our conveyor belts to the Cananea mine. Kauman centralized its operations in Cananea because of this project. We see Mexico as a very important market with a great deal of potential. Working with Grupo México is a privilege that could open other doors in the mining industry going forward. The Spanish and the Mexican cultures are very similar. There are more things that unite us than that separate us, including the language. These factors help us to be successful in the local market.

Q: What innovations are you working on?

A: Our main objective is to produce our belts with lighter materials, using more resistant belts with metal cables integrated into the rubber. The idea is to increasingly substitute those metallic cables for lighter materials like fibers, which have the same durability but weigh less. That way, companies can substitute their heavy conveyor belts for much lighter versions without sacrificing functionality. Reducing weight means companies are reducing their energy consumption and cutting costs. We are also working on an artificial intelligence project together with other associations and companies. We hope to have a significant market impact with our next product launches.

Kauman is a European conveyor belt manufacturer. It has been active in the mining industry for 30 years but also operates in other sectors, such as cement, food, aviation and steel.