Monthly Archives: May 2021

Client Focus

WEG SOFT STARTER UPGRADES MILL OPERATION AT SA PLANT

When a process plant in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province needed an improved starting method for its rod mill, Zest WEG was able to supply its WEG SSW7000 medium voltage soft starter.

The plant had recently upgraded to a 450kW, 8 pole, 6600V WEG W50 motor, which was started by a direct online starter. 

According to Fritz Hoogenboezem, branch manager at Zest WEG Middelburg, the soft starter was imported into South Africa from WEG’s Brazil factory in time for the plant’s scheduled shutdown, and was installed by local systems integrator Umagezana Engineering. 

“By avoiding the sudden in-rush of current when the motor is switched on, the soft starter reduces both the mechanical stress on equipment and the peak load drawn from the national power grid,” says Hoogenboezem. 

There is a direct financial benefit to be derived by the customer if their peak consumption reduces to a lower peak demand value. This is because exceeding the maximum demand – as can occur when a large motor starts up – leads to costly penalties being applied by the power utility. The in-rush current to start a heavy-duty load can, in those first few milliseconds, be seven to ten times higher than the level at which the motor is specified. 

“By exceeding the maximum demand, the plant could pay much more than necessary for its power consumption, not just for that month but for 12 months afterwards,” he says. 

The installation of the soft starter was a complex task, according to Umagezana Engineering director Ernest Bean. Once they removed the direct online starter, it was clear that the cable lengths would not fit directly onto the new soft starter. 

“This required changes to be made with the motor control centre (MCC) on the high voltage side,” says Bean. “The different cable lengths meant that cables had to be re-terminated to ensure safe and compliant operation; nine cores or phases were terminated.”

Another challenge was that the door to move the equipment in and out was not wide enough. This required specialised rigging to be carefully planned and conducted, as the WEG SSW7000 soft starter weighs almost a tonne. 

Once the new equipment was installed and connected, Zest WEG’s qualified drives and automation technician Reiner Gundlach assisted with the cold and hot commissioning. Extensive tests were run in accordance with WEG’s detailed OEM specifications, laying the technical foundation for the optimal performance and lifespan of the equipment.

“As a sophisticated medium voltage item, there are numerous aspects that need checking and testing,” says Hoogenboezem. “The results are then communicated with WEG as part of our rigorous quality management procedures.”

Bean highlights that, as a technician in the field, he was impressed by the smart use of fibre optics between the control section and the high voltage operational side. In particular, the functionality test in the soft starter’s software is able to test each individual fibre optic cable using a control voltage of 230 volts, before the system is opened to the full 6600 volts used for operations.

“Among the other benefits of the soft starter is its monitoring functionality, which allows the plant management to closely track the interaction between the motor, the soft starter and the plant PLC,” he says. “Management can at any time log into the PLC and use that interface – together with the soft starter – to view important information such as tonnages processed, and the number and duration of stoppages.”

Umagezana Engineering was appointed by Zest WEG as a distributor for the WEG low voltage switchgear range in January 2021. Its whole team has also recently completed the required MV training for high voltage terminations and cable joints, which was done through a specialist firm accredited by the Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA).

Client Focus

WALKING THE JOURNEY OF AUTOMATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Mine automation not only holds great potential in Southern African, but it is already seen by many mines as an essential element of their future productivity and commercial sustainability. 

According to Simon Andrews, managing director at Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology Southern Africa, his company has long been applying the world’s most advanced technologies on the sub-continent, with local skills underpinning its success.

“Our differentiator is that we can take state-of-the-art technology – the result of our global investment in research and development – and apply it to the needs of our local customers in their own backyards,” says Andrews. 

He disputes the view that the latest technologies are not applicable in Africa due to factors like skills deficits or infrastructure shortages. Rather, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has been leveraging local expertise through an ongoing process of upskilling and change management. 

“Automation is a journey that our customers embark upon over a period of time,” he says. “We support this process through our range of intelligent mining equipment, and through resources like our Fleet Data Management (FDM) system.”

The FDM allows mines to analyse operational data from Sandvik machines, such as pressures, run rates, hours worked and buckets loaded. This information can be used by management to improve the effectiveness of equipment, and to advance toward semi-automation and later full automation. 

The regional jurisdiction of Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology Southern Africa comprises South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar and Angola. Andrews highlights that automation has been an important focus of recent contracts in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe – with intelligent models of equipment such as load-haul dumpers (LHDs), articulated dump trucks (ADTs), twin-boom drill rigs and roof bolters on the order lists. The automated applications range from platinum to copper and diamonds. 

He emphasises that the key to progress is close partnership between the technology provider and the mine. This, he says, ensures that technology is applied in a relevant and manageable way that suits each customer’s particular needs and capabilities.

“The capital outlay for automation-ready equipment is an important consideration for any mine, but the real ingredient for future success is the long-term commitment to rolling out the automation process,” he says. “This needs the support of the mine’s head office, its management and its operators on the ground.”

It is clear that mines see this route as increasingly necessary, with more interest forthcoming from the market. The ‘wait and see’ approach is waning, says Andrews, in favour of those who want to experience the benefits that technology offers. 

“Before, we had many mines saying they wanted to talk to us when every aspect of the automation process could be clearly demonstrated in practice,” he says. “Now, they are asking us to work with them to overcome the challenges as they arise. There are more customers wanting to take this journey with us.”

It’s all about the relationship between the customer and OEM, to make the automation process work, he concludes. 

Client Focus

TRAFO DISTRIBUTES WORLD-LEADING TEMPERATURE CONTROL RELAYS

Italy-based temperature control relay specialist TECSYSTEM has appointed Trafo Power Solutions – a leading local supplier of dry-type transformers – as its distributor in sub-Saharan Africa.

TECSYSTEM has, for over 40 years, been developing and manufacturing electronic and electromechanical devices for controlling temperature on equipment such as transformers, motors, generators and variable speed drives.

“We have been using temperature control relays from TECSYSTEM on our dry-type transformers for many years,” said David Claassen, managing director of Trafo Power Solutions. “The quality of this product makes the company one of the global leaders in this specialised field.”

Andrea Lorusso, sales area manager at TECSYSTEM, says the company is pleased to have the expertise and network of Trafo Power Solutions to give the South African market easier access to its products.

“Trafo Power Solutions understands their operating environment well, and also appreciates the value that our technologies can add to the market,” says Fabrizio Giavenni, sales & marketing manager. “As we continuously develop our product range, customers in South Africa can look forward to more exciting innovations.”

The synergy between the two companies is based on the fact that Trafo Power Solutions equips all of its cast-resin transformers with heat sensors that link to a temperature control system. Wherever there is an unusual temperature rise in a transformer, it is vital that the equipment can automatically generate an alert so that the problem can be investigated and solved, emphasises Claassen. 

“Customers purchasing dry-type transformers are often supplied with a temperature control relay as a separate item – almost as an optional extra,” he says. “This is not our approach; rather, we consider the control and protection requirements as an integral part of the overall scope of designing a transformer.”

Trafo Power Solutions designs a dedicated control and protection panel – which includes a TECSYSTEM relay – to suit the customer’s specific transformer. It is then a simple matter of cabling up the main supply, without having to deal with the complexity of linking up the control unit. 

“This is part of our philosophy of providing a full solution to the customer, not just products,” he says. “We are assisted in this by TECSYSTEM’s wide variety of highly reliable control relays, which ranges from hard-wired configurations to protocols such as SCADA and ethernet.”

The company will also be supplying TECSYSTEM’s air-forced (AF) fan cooling systems for cast resin transformers, says Claassen, with control systems designed and installed by Trafo Power Solutions. These fans are installed on the transformer feet, in a set of three fans on each side of the transformer, directly under the windings. 

“They are typically used for additional protection rather than continuous operation,” he notes. “The fans provide efficient and prompt cooling if and when the transformer temperature exceeds a pre-determined value.” 

The company’s regular use of TECSYSTEM products puts Trafo Power Solutions in an ideal position to assist the market in making effective use of these technologies. There are also adequate stocks held in South Africa to allow for easy availability and quick access to the required products. 

“Our facilities are equipped with the required equipment to test products before shipment to customers, as well as to pre-programme the units according to the planned application,” says Claassen. 

The programming is done on a dedicated simulation desk which is able to replicate the conditions in which the relay is required to operate. This simplifies the job for the customer, who then has only to follow a wiring diagram when installing the relay.  

“We can also play a valuable remote trouble-shooting role for customers throughout Africa who need to update parameters in a relay, for instance,” he says. “With our equipment and expertise, we can ‘mimic’ the unit on our side and then assist them over the phone.”

According to Giavenni, the first micro-processor unit was developed  in 1984 specifically to protect the cast resin transformers from temperature overloads. Continuous research and development by TECSYSTEM has seen ongoing product improvements ensuring reliability.

“Quality is an important cornerstone of our production and all our products comply with the latest technical specifications and ratings. Our R&D department conducts both  preliminary and routine testing from the initial engineering phase right through to production,” he says.

Client Focus

GRUNDFOS SAVES ENERGY FOR GROUNDWATER PUMPING

With greater volumes of groundwater being pumped to meet rising global demand, energy efficient pumping technology is increasingly vital for utilities and companies aiming to reduce energy bills and meet carbon reduction targets. 

Groundwater provides drinking water to at least 50% of the global population and accounts for 43% of all irrigation water, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization. 

“There are cities and even countries that depend entirely on groundwater for their water needs,” says Feroz Khan Mohammed Jaffer, Grundfos regional market development manager for groundwater. “This means a lot of energy is consumed extracting groundwater every day.”

Mohammed maintains that any initiative to reduce this power consumption will assist in decreasing the carbon footprint of the groundwater being used. 

As a company that is constantly innovating to makes its pumps more energy efficient, Grundfos has recently taken another step significant step forward with its SPE range of groundwater pumps. The new range was released to the global market recently in an online virtual launch. 

“The efficiency and reliability of the Grundfos SPE range makes it a best-in-class groundwater pumping system,” Mohammed says. “Lower running costs and lower maintenance costs mean even more economical cost of ownership for municipalities, utilities and other users.”

Kim Jensen, Grundfos senior vice president for water utility solutions and marketing, highlights that the company cares about water and the climate. With its understanding of local regulations and international standards, Grundfos has long been a trusted partner in the market. 

“It’s the first time we have introduced permanent magnet (PM) motors to our submersible pumps,” says Jensen. “This allows customers to save on energy consumption and to conduct smarter asset management.”

The inclusion of PM motors in the Grundfos SPE pumps means significant energy savings into the future, according to Jakob Overgaard, Grundfos global chief product manager for water utility and submersibles.

“Our field trials show that customers have experienced energy savings of 20 to 30% and even more,” says Overgaard. “This means a payback time as short as one to two years.”

Grundfos has extensive experience in the use of permanent magnets in its smaller solar pumps, where this technology has been employed for 20 years already, says Mohammed. The company’s SQF solar pumps have been well proven in community water supply, for instance, including remote villages where grid power is not available. This range only goes up to 1,4 kW, however the Grundfos SPE range extends from 7,5 kW to 45 kW.

“There is a significant efficiency gain in the SPE range, with a 90% plus motor efficiency in the PM motor compared to the 80% plus of the standard asynchronous motor,” he says. “Remember that this comparison is between Grundfos asynchronous motors, so the gain would be even more when compared to other asynchronous motors in the market.”

As solar power becomes more popular as a renewable power source in remote areas, the efficiency of the Grundfos SPE range brings further savings in the number of solar panels required and the space necessary for solar facilities, he says.

The Grundfos SPE pumps are available in nine nominal flow rates – SPE 17 to SPE 215 – allowing a maximum flow rate of 300 cubic metres per hour and a maximum head of 670 metres. There are three material variants for different applications – SS304 for drinking water, SS316 for slightly aggressive water; and SS904L for aggressive water. The pumps can withstand liquid temperatures of up to 60⁰C.

“The SPE system includes a variable frequency drive (VFD) for operating the PM motor, adjusting the speed of the motor to control its performance and run it at close to its best efficiency point,” Mohammed says. “This optimises not only the energy consumption but also the reliability.”

VFDs also allow for smooth start-up and slow-down, reducing motor stress and protecting against over-load or under-load, as well as over-voltage or under-voltage. 

Client Focus

CONCOR TO CONSTRUCT IKUSASA OFFICE BLOCK AT OXFORD PARKS

Concor has been awarded the contract to construct the new Ikusasa office block at Oxford Parks in Rosebank. Work started on the building, which will house Anglo Global Shared Services (AGSS), at the beginning of March 2021 and is scheduled for completion in January 2022. 

The four storey building will be constructed on three basement levels of approximately 10 326 m2 and will have four office levels totalling approximately 7 555m2 GLA. It is anticipated that some 814 ton of rebar and some 8 707 m3 of concrete will be used in the construction of Ikusasa. 

Martin Muller, contract manager at Concor, says that the company is excited to continue constructing within the Oxford Parks precinct. “Our involvement with this exciting development goes back to the construction of the first building which today houses BPSA,” he says. 

The Oxford Parks BPSA building received industry recognition at Construction World’s 2019 Best Projects when Concor scooped the winning place in the Building Contractors category, and the project also received a Special Mention in the AfriSam Innovation Award for Sustainable Construction.

Following on this, at Construction World’s 2020 Best Projects, the Oxford Parks precinct featured again with Concor being recognised as the winner in the Building Contractors category; this time for Building 2 – Life Healthcare’s new 10 000 m2 head office, Building 3 – a 4 000 m2 multi-tenanted building housing inter alia Metier Private Equity and G+D Currency Technology and Building 5 – 3 400 m2 offices for Arup and Sony Music.

Most recently, Concor completed the Radisson RED hotel which is also part of this exciting new precinct in Rosebank, and is due to be opened in June 2022. 

Client Focus

DEPTH OF ENGINEERING CAPACITY UNDERPINS MINING

Engineering remains the backbone of mining, and is a focus that Murray & Roberts Cementation continues to prioritise through its extensive capabilities in engineering services. 

“More than ever, our customers are looking to us for engineering excellence that will underpin their safety, productivity and profitability,” says Hercilus Harmse, engineering services executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation. “This means retaining a formidable base of local expertise, a well-resourced engineering facility and a range of specialised offerings.”

Located at the company’s 57 hectare Bentley Park premises near Carletonville, south-west of Johannesburg, is some 9,690 m2 of covered workshop space – constantly busy with a variety of engineering activities. The engineering personnel numbers almost 70 permanent, qualified technical staff, with more contractors brought in as work requires, says Harmse. The workshops link with the Murray & Roberts Training Academy, situated on the same site, to further develop hands-on artisan and technical skills.

“Key at our Bentley Park facility is our rebuild and refurbishment workshop for trackless mining equipment,” he says. “We can completely refurbish equipment such as load haul dumpers, drill rigs and utility vehicles from a range of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).”

This work is conducted on equipment in Murray & Roberts Cementation’s own large fleet, as well as on behalf of mining customers. During 2020, over 30 full rebuilds were conducted for customers, complete with on-site commissioning. 

“Our long history in the sector gives us a depth of knowledge and systems that comply with the necessary ISO certifications, as well as the stringent specifications of OEMs,” he says. “We work closely with OEMs to ensure quality assurance and quality control in line with customers’ expectations and codes of practice.”

The capability includes a fabrication facility for light, medium and heavy steel structures. The company’s fabrication and boilermaking expertise is applied in a number of applications, allowing complete new frames for LHDs and drill rigs to be built from scratch.

“This local refurbishment and fabrication capability is part of our wider contribution to the skills base of the South African economy, which we must nurture in pursuit of inclusive economic growth,” says Harmse. “This local content is today a more formalised requirement in the Mining Charter, but we have been working this way for many decades.”

Murray & Roberts Cementation’s specialised rigging team also plays a vital role in heavy rigging and installations, especially with regard to winders and winder ropes. Providing a scarce skill-set to mines in various countries, the team tackles the roping up of new winders, replacements, tensioning, servicing and remedial rope repairs among its tasks. 

“In response to our own needs – as well as those of our mining customers – we are also active in container conversions for specialised purposes,” he says. “We convert these 6 metre or 12 metre containers into change-houses, laundries, offices, pumping stations or storage facilities, to name just a few uses.”

The technical capability at Bentley Park covers the full scope of trades and skills involved in producing these structures – from metal work and racking to electrical wiring and plumbing.

“Our in-house capacity and experience in delivering this range of engineering services ensures customers of a cost-effective solution and rapid response times, while not compromising on quality,” he concludes.

Client Focus

SANDVIK’S TOP HAMMER XL BREAKS NEW GROUND

The Top Hammer XL, released by Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, is a drilling innovation that challenges traditional down-the-hole (DTH) drilling on surface mines and large quarries.

It offers a faster, fuel efficient and cost effective method to drill holes from 140 from 178 mm in diameter – considerably expanding the hole size range of previous top hammer drills. The system comprises the new Pantera™ DP1600i drill rig, the new RD1840C rock drill and new LT90 rock tools. 

Chris van Tonder, product master at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, says these three components – the rig, rock drill and tools – have been redesigned and mutually optimised to work together seamlessly for exceptional drilling results. 

“The proven carrier provides a solid base for the powerful rock drill, which generates an optimum pulse for the effective tooling system. This, in turn, transfers the high-energy shock wave to the rock, with minimum losses,” he explains 

The performance of the Sandvik Top Hammer XL system has been proven in several field tests, where it has drilled over 100,000 meters in challenging rock conditions. The results showed a 50% reduction in fuel consumption, 25% lower total drilling costs and a 15% increase in productivity compared with the DTH drilling method.

The Pantera™ DP1600i is the newest member of the Pantera™ DPi series family of intelligent top hammer drill rigs, achieving high penetration rates and offering advanced automation options for databased fleet management and optimised drilling performance. It is designed for large hole size drilling, and brings its practical intelligence and support for higher-level automation solutions.

With its 49kW of drilling power, the new RD1840C rock drill is also built for large hole drilling, boasting a robust design and well-balanced long piston percussion package for demanding conditions. Its new layout of pressure accumulators maximises efficiency and minimises hose vibrations. The Sandvik RockPulse™ tool stress monitoring system will be available as an additional option on the drill later in 2021. 

Developed to match the other components in the Top Hammer XL system, the LT90 rock tools consist of a shank adapter, MF tube rods and drill bits, offering the best possible drilling dynamics and rock breaking efficiency. The tools increase productivity, improve hole straightness and provide great coupling characteristics and a long service life.

Client Focus

MINE ADDS ANOTHER SYKES TO SOLVE FLOODING

When heavy rains flooded a Northern Cape mine recently, it was the tried-and-tested Sykes XH150 dewatering pump from Integrated Pump Rental that once again came to the rescue. 

The mine, which already had one of these units in operation, signed a long-term contract for a second unit – replacing a competitor’s product on site. In response to the rains, the pump was required to dewater a flooded area at a 100 metre static head pumping a distance of 1,8 km though a 250 mm pipeline. 

“The ingress of water into the mine could cause major issues, so effective and efficient dewatering is critical to ensure productivity and safety,” says Andre Strydom, rental development manager at Integrated Pump Rental. “The Sykes XH150 has an established reputation as a hardworking, reliable dewatering pump, which is a key reason why many customers in the mining sector specify this pump for challenging dewatering applications.”

Known for its rapid response to urgent calls from customers, Integrated Pump Rental was able to deliver technical assistance and ensure an appropriate pump solution for the application. Both Sykes dewatering pumps provided to the mine are mounted on a double-axle, heavy-duty site trailers, allowing for rapid transportation to site and quick installation. 

“The Sykes XH150 pump offers automatic priming and solids handling capability,” says Strydom. “It also has one of the best shaft stiffness ratios of any automatic priming pump on the market.”

The pump can be primed with long suction hoses and can manage suction lifts of up to nine metres. Low fuel consumption is another important benefit, adding to the pump’s cost effectiveness when used for dewatering over extended periods of time. 

“The pump’s ability to operate in ‘snore’ conditions accommodates applications where suction levels fluctuate,” he says. “It can also run dry for extended periods, thanks to the oil bath mechanical seal assembly.”

Client Focus

SA CEMENT PRODUCERS ENGAGING FOR SUSTAINABILITY

The cement industry in South Africa continues to engage government to create conditions that will sustain the sector’s local production capacity and grow market demand.

Speaking online at the Cemtech International Cement Conference, AfriSam marketing and sales executive Richard Tomes noted that the rise in cement imports and the application of the carbon tax were among the key issues under discussion. He said that the local industry was making steady progress in its climate mitigation journey, and that South Africa was among the leading countries in driving down the carbon footprint in the cement and concrete industry. 

He highlighted that cement imports were on the increase again, having peaked in 2014 at about 1,2 million tonnes. Importers were generally from countries which did not have a carbon tax like that which was recently applied by the South African government to local producers. Neither did the importers contribute in terms of Social and Labour Plan initiatives, as they did not conduct any mining activities locally, as well as other projects related to the upliftment of local communities. 

“When you have a situation where importers of cement are not subject to these added costs, it poses a threat to the viability of the local industry, and will ultimately have a negative implication on the levels of employment and social transformation,” he said. 

These imbalances were exacerbating the stresses arising from the country’s longest ever business cycle contraction, which had seen infrastructure spending decline and had driven some large construction companies into business rescue. The Covid-19 pandemic had then accelerated this downward trajectory, leading to dire conditions in the large civils and building industries.  

“It has become increasingly difficult to maintain profitability in an environment of surplus cement capacity and declining infrastructure spending by government,” he said. “The sector’s total installed capacity is currently about 20 million tonnes, with demand at only around 13 million tonnes.”

Despite the poor performance of the economy, Tomes noted that the South African cement sector was continuing to improve its climate mitigation performance in terms of carbon footprint. The local industry was a global leader in developing blended cement technology, making use of waste products such as ground granulated blast furnace slag and pulverised fly ash to extend and enhance its cements.

“This has allowed companies like AfriSam, for example, to achieve average emission levels in its cement production of 574 g/kg – which is well below the global average of 890 g/kg,” he said.

Client Focus

DUAL POWER IN CRUSHERS SHOWS ITS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

The age of the dual power, or bi-power, mobile crushers and screens is here – allowing contractors, quarries and mines to reduce operational costs and increase equipment availability while enjoying the versatility of being able to run their crushers and screens on any remote location.

According to Charl Marais, sales manager at Pilot Crushtec, the bi-power feature is yet another market-leading innovation by Metso, which was also a pioneer in the concept of mobile crushing and screening equipment. 

“Having listened to its market and developed mobile crushers, Metso also heard the call for its crushers to be driven by both on-board diesel generators or using a ‘’plug and play’’ option to connect to grid electricity,” says Marais. 

“Although bi-powered options are not new to Metso’s fleet on some of their mobile units, Pilot Crushtec now encourages these features, which are available to its customers locally, and we are seeing clear signs of interest in the market.”

He highlights the significant reduction in operating costs that can be achieved by running a mobile crusher on grid electricity. 

Firstly, there are savings in diesel fuel, which is the biggest contributor to higher operating costs, as well as significant savings in diesel engine maintenance and servicing costs. Mobile units can be driven from an external power supply with the cost of electricity from a central grid generally much lower than the cost of diesel generated electricity per kW. 

“Secondly, there is better availability of the mobile crusher or screen, as less time is required for scheduled servicing on hybrid mobile machines,” he says. 

Other advantages of running mobile crushers and screens off electric power is the elimination of CO2 gas emissions and reduction in engine noise which is especially important when operating in urban areas. Considering the carbon footprint impact, fewer diesel engine services also equate to reduced lubricant usage and fewer consumable parts. These hybrid machines also use less hydraulic oil as drives have been replaced by electric motors.

“The necessary servicing of the mobile crusher and screen diesel engine would typically reduce equipment availability by a further 10 %,” he says. 

This raises the performance of the machine substantially, improving its cost effectiveness over the duration of a crushing contract. The additional 10% uptime that can be achieved with a hybrid machine allows the customer to service a contract within time constraints. At the same time, the dual power option equips the machines to be applied on contracts in remote areas where grid power is unavailable.

“The versatility of the bi-power units that run either off the electrical grid or off a diesel engine allows them to be used in various contract structures,” he says. “So this feature makes long term sense even when they are being purchased initially for a short term contract.”

Recent changes in South Africa’s power generation landscape are also turning the spotlight on the value of dual power units. To address the shortage of electricity in the country, large power consumers like mines are looking at generating their own energy from renewable sources. As mines also usually require crushing facilities, this has started opening doors for Metso’s hybrid innovation.

“We have already engaged with mines who are considering constructing their own solar plants to generate electricity, which could then, of course, drive a bi-power mobile crusher,” he says. “This option would make sense not only from a cost perspective, but would also reduce the mine’s carbon footprint – an issue of growing concern in the mining sector.”

He notes that the cost effectiveness of using grid or local electricity sources – instead of diesel – improves with the size of the crushing machine, with substantial efficiency gains being made in applications where throughputs are 500 tph or more. Various items in Metso’s mobile product range are already available with the dual power feature, says Marais. 

“In the mobile jaw crusher range, the  LT120E, LT130E, LT106E*, LT150E*, LT160E*, LT200E* come with dual power options,” he says. “While in the mobile impactor range the LT1213E*, LT1213SE*, LT1315E*, LT1418E*, LT1620E*and LT7150E* come with dual power options. Dual power options are available in the following mobile cone crusher units – the LT330D, LT200HPSE* and LT330GPSE*. Lastly in the mobile screen range the ST2.4E, ST2.8E, ST3.5E,ST3.8E, ST4.8E and ST4.10E come with dual power options.”

Marais concludes by point out that Pilot Crushtec is South Africa’s leading supplier of mobile and semi-mobile crushing and screening equipment, and is the official Metso distributor for sub-Saharan Africa.