When Ludman Industries was founded in 1968, it began as a component supplier for Allis Chalmers Compactors. The company seized the opportunity to continue the legacy when Allis Chalmers sold it the product line in 1986. Since then, Ludman has become the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that is synonymous with roll compaction and granular potash. Serving the Canadian potash industry propelled it to decades of building robust machines with rugged designs. Its identity of focusing on service and parts continues to this day.
Due to increased competition in the potash market, miners are looking to Ludman for ways to increase production and lower their cost per tonne with existing operations. Getting more production out of the compactors is easy; just increase the thickness of the flake. However, this effort could lower the production of the plant. If cake hardness is sacrificed for capacity, more material will be recycled, and overall production could drop.
The relationship between compactor roll speed and plant production forms a parabolic curve. The ability to vary roll speed allows an operation to find the point at which plant production is maximized. While the gains may be modest, they directly enhance the profitability of the operation. Ludman Industries normally recommends Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) for compactors and can retrofit existing operations. Variable speed also allows for roll timing and many other benefits if the compactor is equipped with independent drives. Roll timing aligns the peaks and valleys of the opposing roll corrugations which produces a sine wave cake of uniform thickness. Cake with uniform thickness produces less fines because of its equal uniform hardness. Ludman Industries offers rebuilt, or replacement rolls with a proprietary De-Aeration Pattern machined into the surface to allow air to escape during the compaction process. The principle is akin to how the treads of an auto tire create a path for water to pass when driving in wet conditions. Force feeders also work well with some minerals to increase cake hardness.
Production can be increased by reducing equipment downtime. The expert maintainers who can detect pending equipment failure by sound or touch are retiring at a rate much faster than they can be replaced. Equipment instrumentation is offered by Ludman, allowing plants to move from reactive to predictive maintenance. Ludman also offers a consigned inventory program where they store, assemble, and maintain spare inventory in a climate-controlled environment.
Ludman’s customer-centric approach, commitment to innovation, and reliability has led to a proven track record.
Ludman’s advantage is that we have an established reputation for over 55 years, and over 100 if you count Allis Chalmers’ legacy. Ludman’s design is original to the industry and continues to evolve amid automation featured today. They have had great success, leading for many years, and continue to transform the industry with significant projects in process today. Ludman is poised to be on the cutting edge of Canadian potash into the future.
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