Wesley Weinrauch and BeltVision as a Frontline Technology

Wesley (Wes) Weinrauch at Lanigan is no ordinary belt patroller. With his work tablet or phone, he monitors the belt splices of 12 of the 52 conveyors at Lanigan using Nutrien’s BeltVision solution. BeltVision is an application that utilizes artificial intelligence (computer vision) to recognize and analyze belt splices. This technology helps prevent splice failures through early detection and minimizing the risks associated with belt failures and unscheduled downtimes.

“Initially, I thought BeltVision could help make our job easier and save time, "says Wes, referring to the BeltVision system before the pilot. The system is also implemented at other Potash, Nitrogen, and Phosphate sites.

With the ability to inspect splices in an average of a minute, Wes can efficiently prioritize and plan his inspection routine for other parts of the belt without BeltVision. This aligns with Lanigan’s goal of no belt downtime. Exposure to dust and risks associated with splice inspections has decreased as Wes now spends less time physically at the conveyor belts.

"At the end of my shift, one day, I opened the BeltVision platform to look at one of the conveyors that was being worked on. I checked the GIF video, which updates every few seconds, and noticed a belt misalignment. I called the supervisor, Robin, so we could examine the belts together and he could make a timely decision regarding the urgency of repair "says Wes. “Even though we were several kilometers away from each other and the belts, the live display enabled them to decide repairs and prevent any downtime."

To increase inspection coverage of the belts, all the belt construction and operation supervisors are added to BeltVision and now have access to daily belt reports. Thanks to BeltVision's benefits and Wes's expertise, there are plans to expand the technology to other conveyor systems.

"Reality has surpassed my initial expectations with BeltVision. The belts move quickly, and having an image and a GIF video showing the state of the belts at any time has significantly improved my work," Wes remarks. By leveraging BeltVision, Wes ensures efficient inspection and maintenance, contributing to the overall productivity and safety at Lanigan.