THINK CLEAN^®: How Can I Lighten Your Load?

Thanks for checking out the first-ever blog by one of the oldest characters in the bulk material handling industry. I got a call from Ed Peterson recently, the Chairman of Martin Engineering, known to be a very hands-on type of manager. He congratulated me on being named a runner-up for the International Mining Hall of Fame, after seeing an article in the March 26 issue of Coal Zoom that described my 50+ years working with miners, quarrymen and material processors of all kinds to make bulk handling cleaner, safer and more productive.

But Ed also had a request. He wanted me to think about an informal way to share some of the experiences I’ve had after calling on thousands of customers in dozens of different countries. Some of those experiences have been very rewarding. Others, not so much. A few have been downright comical, and nearly all are memorable for one reason or another. So we arrived at the idea of this monthly blog, which gives me the opportunity to revisit my basic beliefs about bulk material handling, discuss common obstacles (and some uncommon ones) and describe some of the solutions we’ve developed to address the issues faced by conveyor users across a wide range of industries and applications.

When I first joined Martin Engineering in 1963, it occurred to me that many of the problems we encountered were the result of fugitive material – that is, carryback, spillage or dust that escapes from conveyors to increase cleanup and maintenance expenses, shorten equipment life, increase the risk of injury and otherwise damage an operation’s efficiency. I coined the term “durt” to describe this fugitive material – not to be confused with “dirt,” a common reference to everyday soil. And that’s where my half-century quest began to spread the gospel of proper design and hardware to improve belt conveyors and the operations that depend on them. Ever since those early days, I have felt that if belt conveyors are to run longer, safer and more efficiently, we had to find ways to eliminate “durt,” so I researched customer operations, developed new technologies and did my best to apply innovative solutions.

Some of those solutions resulted in new products, as my colleagues and I pioneered and patented a number of designs, always making sure that they were engineered to withstand operations when conditions are in their worst state, that they were easy to maintain by relatively untrained personnel and that they provided benefits which paid back the cost of the new components many times over.

We approached the problem from all angles, calling on conveyor engineers, corporate executives and plant operations personnel to demonstrate how changes in equipment and practices would improve results. During my visits with conveyor designers and end users, I would often leave behind notes and sketches, all signed with a quick self-portrait. This caricature eventually became adopted as “TC,” a widely-recognized trademark for Martin Engineering. The name “TC” was selected as a shortened form of THINK CLEAN^®, Martin Engineering’s philosophy for improving material handling.

So now you know how we arrived at the title of this blog, and in the coming months I plan to relate some stories (humorous and otherwise), share some of the “ah-ha moments” and generally reminisce about where I’ve been, what I’ve seen and what I’ve learned. The theme will remain pretty much the same throughout: sharing a message that’s always in the interest of helping the bulk material handling industries – from the mine or quarry to the process plant and on to the end-user – achieve the benefits of operations that are cleaner, safer and more productive. 

I hope you’ll stop by regularly to visit with me. You know how old guys love to tell stories, and I’m no exception. I may not be crawling around in underground mines any more, but I still take immense pleasure in helping people. If you’ve talked to me in person or on the phone, you’ve probably heard me say: “How can I lighten your load?”

About The Author

Dick Stahura Sr.

As a 17-year-old high schooler in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Dick had worked for a short time in a coal mine. He developed a real fondness for miners and their culture and a deep respect for the dangers of their work. Those early experiences left an indelible mark on him and motivated Dick to try to make bulk-materials handling cleaner and safer. A physics and math major at St. Francis College in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Dick was a whiz at creating and designing engineering products and had done post-graduate work in mining engineering. A self-described class clown, Dick has always used his gregarious nature and flair for amusing others as a way to connect with customers. With a reputation as a colorful character, he became known for his signature denim bib overalls, an outfit he still sports on many occasions today.