RAM Enterprise, Inc. will soon begin the process of installing over 84 miles of conveyor belt for Atlas Energy Solutions’ “Dune Express” project after 5 years of engineering and planning.  The Dune Express will convey sand from the Atlas Energy Solutions sand mine in Kermit, TX to the northern Delaware Basin in New Mexico.  Once operational at the end of 2024, the Dune Express will reduce the miles driven by frac sand delivery trucks, reducing carbon emissions and saving lives by reducing traffic accidents and enhancing the safety of public roads. 

The Dune Express is an overland conveyor system that will cover 42 miles in 4 single conveyor flights. One flight will set a new world record of 16.4 miles without a mid-drive.  RAM will utilize six different splicing and flaking yards to splice the Continental Steel Cord belt into continuous lengths of up to 52,000 feet (9.8 miles).  Once the structural installation is completed, RAM will string the continuous belt lengths onto the system with the use of high-powered winders designed and built by Shaw Almex.  RAM Enterprise will have over 26 employees on site through February of 2024 for the initial splice work, and return in late spring 2024 to complete the vulcanization and installation of the steel cord belting on the system. 

RAM Enterprise worked extensively with Atlas Energy Solutions and Shaw Almex to design custom vulcanization presses with a longer splice area to ensure a final splice with the strength to withstand the operational and start-up tensions present in such a colossal system.  Shaw Almex provided exceptional engineering support, using Navisworks to plan and layout the splicing and flaking areas, design and fabrication of two custom belt turnover devices and the high-power winders.  RAM and Shaw Almex will be using a groundbreaking splice preparation technology that is projected to save hundreds of hours over the 216 splices.

“As the largest conveyor belt installation in our 32-year history, this project symbolizes the growth from a small town belt splice company to a global player in the belting industry” says Tim Horn, President of RAM Enterprise. “I’m incredibly proud of all our employees that helped RAM grow to the point where we could achieve such a monumental project.”

Once completed, the Dune Express will remove numerous sand delivery trucks from the dangerous Permian roadways, increasing the safety of the local communities, eliminating millions of truck miles and the resulting accidents, injuries and fatalities.  RAM Enterprise is honored to partner with Atlas Energy Solutions to bring such an important advancement in sand delivery to the industry.

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RAM Enterprise provides specialized industrial services as well as manufactures and distributes products to the bulk material handling industry. Those specialized services include turn-key general contracting solutions, underground services, process piping, concrete foundations and flat work, structural steel erection, complete conveyor installation and commissioning, coatings and rubber lining, process equipment installation and commissioning, and electrical services. With hundreds of customers worldwide, RAM is the safest and most trusted material handling company in the industry.

Contact:

Laura Hoggan

Marketing Director

775-401-4393

lhoggan@ram-enterprise.com