Monthly Archives: July 2022

Client Focus

BOOYCO PDS GLOBAL GROWTH UNDERPINNED BY COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS

While global adoption of Proximity Detection Systems (PDS) – also known as Collision Prevention Systems (CPS) – is likely to accelerate in the near future, it is important to understand that scoping, implementing, integrating and maintaining such systems can be complex. 

Anton Lourens, CEO of Booyco Electronics.
Anton Lourens, CEO of Booyco Electronics.

Booyco Electronics, an acknowledged leader in the field, has been developing PDS since 2006 and CEO Anton Lourens says he is heartened by the growing acceptance in the international mining sector that there is the need to understand what any particular technology does and does not do prior to making decisions to implement CPS. 

Strategically, Booyco Electronics broadened its global reach through collaboration agreements with selected technology integrators. Doing this, Lourens says, has created the optimal channel to customers in regions where we do not have our own infrastructure, and assures customers that PDS solutions will be rolled out effectively. 

“Our technology partners understand the safety and other benefits of Booyco Electronics’ PDS solutions. Most importantly they bring their insights into the local conditions in which our equipment can be applied; giving mining operations essentially the best of both worlds,” he says. “Through this approach we have been making inroads and expect to continue to do so.” The company now has collaborations with several technology specialists worldwide including Insucam, Ramjack, RCT, Tecwise and Wenco. 

Global adoption of Proximity Detection Systems (PDS) – also known as Collision Prevention Systems (CPS) – is likely to accelerate in the near future.
Global adoption of Proximity Detection Systems (PDS) – also known as Collision Prevention Systems (CPS) – is likely to accelerate in the near future.

Lourens says that when considering the implementation of a PDS solution the first step is conducting a detailed risk assessment, irrespective of whether it is an underground or openpit operation, but he is quick to caution that it is especially risky for an operation to rush into a PDS installation after a safety incident that has led to a partial or total mine shutdown, whether for regulatory or operational reasons. “Being hasty can be counter-productive, and for a PDS installation to be successful it is essential that it meets the specifications identified in the risk assessment,” he says. 

“This calls for a collaborative project approach, with all stakeholders participating including the customer, the PDS supplier and a competent  systems integrator. This should be for both the selection and implementation of a PDS or CPS solution,” he says. ”This early engagement should include mine management and personnel, trainers, OEMS, suppliers and integrators. They all need to understand why the PDS solution is being considered and the implications and benefits.” 

The core function of PDS and CPS technology is detecting and avoiding collisions.
The core function of PDS and CPS technology is detecting and avoiding collisions.
The data generated from PDS and CPS technology facilitates insight into a mining operation’s interaction.
The data generated from PDS and CPS technology facilitates insight into a mining operation’s interaction.
All stakeholders need to understand why the PDS solution is being considered and the implications and benefits.
All stakeholders need to understand why the PDS solution is being considered and the implications and benefits.

Commenting on stakeholders, Lourens says that TMM operators are key participants in the process, and during the implementation stage it is critical that equipment installation teams engage one-on-one with operators, addressing technical questions. Training of operators is also vital to ensure that they understand how the PDS equipment works and how to care for it. 

While its core function is detecting and avoiding collisions, PDS and CPS technology allows use of the data it generates, and the Booyco Electronics Asset Management Systems (BEAMS) software suite is a central information hub which facilitates insight into a mining operation’s interaction. Analysing this data provides information about unsafe patterns of behaviour allowing this to be identified and appropriate interventions implemented, enhancing safety. 

Client Focus

EXPERTISE, INVENTORY UNDERPIN RELIABILITY AT PILOT CRUSHTEC

Pilot Crushtec is known for being there when the customer calls, and for providing the expertise and the spares that each job requires. 

“Our reliability, skill and experience are key reasons why Southern Africa’s top crushing contractors rely on us,” says Pilot Crushtec director of sales and marketing Francois Marais. “For more than 20 years, we have built this capability with a passionate focus on superior service levels.”

Francois Marais, director of sales and marketing at Pilot Crushtec.
Francois Marais, director of sales and marketing at Pilot Crushtec.

This includes R250 million in critical spares and wear items in the company’s inventory, ensuring that customers get the components they need in good time. It also comes from a strong talent pipeline that is continuously sourcing and selecting the best technical expertise, and nurturing technicians until they are ready to serve customers on site. 

“We take our technical trainees through four years of practical experience in our workshops, choosing the best to stay on with us,” says Marais. “This ensures that by the time they go to customers on-site, we have full confidence in their ability.”

He highlights that the service division has a key role in enabling customers to get optimal value from their machines, maximising output each day and minimising downtime as well as always trying to reduce the operating costs per tonne of material produced. They help customers to plan and predict spares requirement, using their in-depth knowledge of the machines in a range of working conditions. 

Pilot Crushtec carries a range of genuine OEM parts that are reliable, improve efficiency and ensure the safety of your equipment.
Pilot Crushtec carries a range of genuine OEM parts that are reliable, improve efficiency and ensure the safety of your equipment.

Pilot Crushtec’s solid commitment to service excellence has already been recognised on the global stage. As the local distributor for Metso, it was awarded the title of ‘Best New Services Distributor’ by this leading global company after just 16 months as its distributor in Southern Africa. Metso praised the way that Pilot Crushtec focused not only on the sale of new machines, but on its stockholding and availability of spare parts, combined with training and expertise. 

“Customers realise that when they acquire our products, they also buy themselves peace of mind,” he says. “We support them in a holistic way, so that they can get on with performing their contracts and building their reputation; only with this high level of aftermarket service can they earn their customers’ trust and win the repeat business that underpins sustainable brands.”

He notes that regular contact and communication with customers also helps to understand the conditions of each project, giving Pilot Crushtec the necessary insights to be an effective technical partner to its customers. This assists in predicting the likely requirement for wear parts, as well as informing product selection in the longer term.

Client Focus

IPR TO THE RESCUE IN WATER CONTAMINATION EMERGENCY

A quick response recently saved the day for an IPR customer, who needed an urgent contaminated water bypass. 

“We immediately sent a pump rental quote following the customer’s call, and specified four Sykes CP150 medium head dewatering pumps,” says Andre Strydom, rental development manager at IPR. “These were delivered and commissioned on site the next day, with 1,500 m of 150 mm lay-flat hose and all other necessary equipment.”

Time was of the essence, as these pumps had to provide four bypass water lines for a contaminated water source which could not be released into the river system. The four Sykes pumps easily maintained a constant flow rate of 190 m³ per hour over a distance of 700 m. They ran on a 24-hour basis to ensure a constant water flow through the four pipelines.

Strydom says the Sykes CP150 dewatering pumps were ideal for the job. They offer a maximum head of 60 m with a flow rate of 172 litres per second. It is also capable of handling solids with particle sizes of up to 77 mm.

“The Sykes CP150 units also feature sophisticated automatic priming capabilities,” he says. “These are based on a Venturi system that can deliver suction lifts of up to nine metres.”

The robust construction of the pumps ensures optimum reliability and long life. Importantly, they can run dry for extended periods of time without damage. The pumps also boast low fuel usage and lower maintenance costs, and can operate in ‘snore’ conditions.

“The Sykes CP models – or the contractors’ range – are designed to meet the heavy duty demands of the construction, mining and rental industries,” he says. “With pump efficiencies up to 83%, they provide faster and more efficient pumping, resulting in savings to the end user.”

There was more to come from the same customer. Just a month later, they called again after detecting further contamination of more dams. Once again, there was no time to lose. Urgent pumping was required to control the risk of contaminated discharge. 

“This time, the need was for four high head Sykes XH150 rental pumps,” says Strydom. “They were delivered on the same day, with 2,800 m of lay-flat hose with clamps and straight connectors.”

Each of these Sykes extra high head pumps delivered a flow of 220 mᵌ/h over 1,200 m. He highlights that the pumps can be primed with long suction hoses and can manage suction lifts of up to nine metres.

The Sykes XH150 dewatering pumps, offering a maximum head of 170 m with a maximum flow rate of 140 litres per second and capable of handling solids with particle sizes of up to 43 mm, were more than suitable for the task.  

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

The large fuel tanks on the Sykes range of dewatering pumps facilitate continuous pumping for more than 24 hours, which according to Strydom makes refuelling that much easier as this only needs to be done once in a 24 hour cycle. 

Client Focus

DRY-TYPE TRANSFORMERS PROVE WORTH IN BOOMING DATA CENTRES

The growth of data centres in South Africa has been rapid in recent years, with exacting requirements related to safety and reliability being placed on all relevant equipment. This has created special opportunities for the application of dry-type transformers. 

According to Trafo Power Solutions managing director David Claassen, there is a significant amount of data space currently being constructed in South Africa. Alongside the issue of data security, says Claassen, the top priority in these facilities is uptime – as a data centre can simply never be offline. 

“The volume of equipment in these large server rooms creates considerable heat and therefore requires extensive cooling facilities – all leading to high levels of energy demand,” says Claassen. “Transformers therefore play an important role in these operations, and they must function to the highest levels of safety and reliability.”

He notes that South Africa faces a significant additional challenge, with unreliable electricity supply from the national utility. This requires backup power facilities to be installed, so that 100% uptime can be guaranteed.

“Even aside from the power supply issues, data centres must deliver a constant service without interruption, so redundancy capacity is required should any of the system components go down,” he says. “This redundancy can effectively double the design capacity of these centres.”

In these applications, dry-type transformers are well suited in terms of safety and risk, he explains. As the units are cooled by air and not oil, there is zero risk of fire and no chance of oil leakage. These transformers have an F1 fire rating, demonstrating their resistance to flammability; they are designed to be flame-retardant, and do not generate harmful emissions. 

By not having oil as a coolant, the maintenance of dry-type transformers is also reduced substantially. Oil-cooled transformers, by contrast, experience frequent oil temperature variations as load rises and drops. This variation creates opportunities for moisture ingress, making regular oil sampling and testing vital. If this is not conducted regularly, performance becomes unreliable. 

“Dry-type transformers can be installed inside or outside of a building or substation, with no special fire protection systems needed,” he says. “As oil testing is not required, dry-type transformers need very little maintenance – adding to their cost-effectiveness.”

He explains that data centres have high levels of non-linear loading, so these transformers must be designed for a high K-factor of typically around 13. The quick pace of construction of these facilities also often favours a modular approach, to which the dry-type transformer lends itself well.

“Modular substations can be rapidly manufactured, and dry-type transformers can be readily incorporated without the need for any special fire suppression,” says Claassen. “Another important factor is efficiency, as large data centres could consume as much power as a mining operation.” 

Trafo Power Solutions designs and manufactures dry-type transformers that comply with the highest efficiency standards and lowest loss levels recognised internationally – in line with data centres’ efforts to achieve the lowest possible energy consumption. 

Client Focus

ZEST WEG DEVELOPS ROBUST LOCAL SUPPLY CHAIN

Zest WEG, the South African subsidiary of Brazilian motor and controls manufacturer WEG, has progressively increased its level of local manufacturing over the past decade and now boasts six manufacturing sites – four in the Gauteng region and two in Cape Town.

A key aspect of this manufacturing drive has been the development of local suppliers by Zest WEG; an effort which has met with considerable success. “Building up our local supply chain is important, of course, in terms of meeting targets for black empowerment stipulated by the government and the mining industry, which is one of our main markets. Having said this, local sourcing is a value that is built into WEG’s culture globally and is nothing new for us,” says Eduardo Werninghaus, newly appoint Group CEO of Zest WEG.

Werninghaus notes that WEG started up in 1961 in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina which was then very undeveloped with the local economy relying primarily on agriculture. “WEG really had no choice but to develop local suppliers, given the distance of its factory from Brazil’s main industrial centres. This programme met with such success – and made such economic sense – that it has now become the standard practice for WEG companies around the globe.”

Commenting on the benefits of local sourcing, Werninghaus says that it gives Zest WEG enhanced control over the production process and helps keep down costs. It also allows short delivery times, as there is less reliance on global markets for parts and componentry, a huge advantage currently given the constraints of the global supply chain. He adds that it has also made a major contribution to Zest WEG achieving its current Level 1 B-BBEE status.

Zest WEG gives considerable assistance to emerging companies that it brings into its supply chain, upgrading their skills so that they are able to produce to the demanding standards of the WEG Group. “We’re a very aggressive company when it comes to manufacturing and very focused on efficiency and productivity. This same culture has been successfully instilled into our South African operations, including our local suppliers,” he says.

Zest WEG panels manufacturing facility in Robertsham.
Zest WEG panels manufacturing facility in Robertsham.
The Zest WEG Cape Town facility focused on panel production.
The Zest WEG Cape Town facility focused on panel production.
Zest WEG generator manufacturing facility in Cape Town.
Zest WEG generator manufacturing facility in Cape Town.
Zest WEG local transformer manufacturing facility in Wadeville.
Zest WEG local transformer manufacturing facility in Wadeville.
Zest WEG Heidelberg facility for manufacturing E-houses.
Zest WEG Heidelberg facility for manufacturing E-houses.
Zest WEG manufacturing facility for large transformers in Heidelberg.
Zest WEG manufacturing facility for large transformers in Heidelberg.

In Gauteng Zest WEG has two transformer factories. One is in Wadeville and the other in Heidelberg. Also in Gauteng, Zest WEG – through its WEG Automation division (previously Shaw Controls) – produces a wide range of electrical panels in Robertsham and E-Houses and other electrical enclosures in Heidelberg. In Cape Town, the company has two production facilities, one producing engineered gensets and the other focused on panel production.

Discussing how far local manufacture has advanced, Werninghaus says that the transformers can have more than 90% local content and panels and E-Houses close to 70% depending on the specifications. 

“It’s virtually impossible to get to 100 % local content on any of the product lines we manufacture in South Africa, as there will always be certain things that have to be imported due to technical and economic reasons,” he comments. “Nevertheless, we are constantly looking for opportunities to replace imported componentry with locally produced parts so our level of local content will certainly increase further with time.”

Client Focus

BOREHOLES PUT EDUCATION BACK ON TRACK FOR PHALABORWA SCHOOLS

Three primary schools in Limpopo province can now focus on learning, after proper running water facilities were installed thanks to corporate action.

Murray & Roberts Cementation, in collaboration with its client Palabora Mining Company (PMC), sponsored the drilling and equipping of boreholes at each school. The St Patrick Mathibela, Makhushane and Bollanoto primary schools in Makhushane village near Phalaborwa had long been without reliable water supply. According to Fred Durand, senior project manager at Murray & Roberts Cementation, the company had approached the client to assist. 

Fred Durand, senior project manager at Murray & Roberts Cementation, during the handover ceremony.
Fred Durand, senior project manager at Murray & Roberts Cementation, during the handover ceremony.

“In partnership with our client, we were pleased to support this borehole project,” said Durand. “It has given these schools’ learners safe drinking water, flushing toilets and irrigation for their garden, which supplies vegetables for the school’s feeding scheme.”

At the handover ceremony in mid-June, Durand says Murray & Roberts Cementation appreciated the opportunity to participate in this valuable initiative. He emphasises the importance of education in creating a future for these young learners. 

“This initiative is part of our alignment with the corporate citizenship commitment of all companies in the Murray & Roberts group,” he says. “We support a socially responsive culture, and participate wherever we can in the economic development and sustainable growth of communities in which we operate.”

All stakeholders celebrated the handover by Murray & Roberts Cementation, in collaboration with Palabora Mining Company (PMC), of boreholes for three schools near Phalaborwa in Limpopo province.
All stakeholders celebrated the handover by Murray & Roberts Cementation, in collaboration with Palabora Mining Company (PMC), of boreholes for three schools near Phalaborwa in Limpopo province.

PMC’s manager for transformation, stakeholder engagement and communications, Abby Ledwaba, applauded Murray & Roberts Cementation’s willingness to contribute to the mine’s efforts to develop local communities. 

“As PMC, we always believe in giving back to the community and that is what we have been doing,” said Ledwaba. The borehole installation is expected to keep working reliably for at least 15 years, keeping the schools well supplied with fresh water.

Client Focus

HIGH TECH LAUNCHES FROM SEW-EURODRIVE AT ELECTRA MINING 

Visitors to this year’s Electra Mining Africa exhibition in Johannesburg will be spoilt for choice as SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa unleashes more technology to drive productivity and efficiency.

Addressing growing demand for reduced total cost of ownership (TCO), SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa will launch its DriveRadar® solution for remote condition monitoring and maintenance forecasting. An extensive package of sensors captures all operationally relevant physical parameters including vibration behaviour, oil level, oil temperature, ambient temperature and input speed. 

Gear unit data is digitally recorded and automatically assessed. Results can be used to evaluate the unit’s condition and predict future changes in condition, providing a firm basis for predictive maintenance. 

Also on the Electra Mining Africa launch pad is the single-stage M1 series industrial gearbox, for high speed and high power applications – relevant to pumping duties in mining as one example. 

Jonathan McKey national sales and marketing manager at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa.
Jonathan McKey national sales and marketing manager at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa.

“We will be demonstrating our girth gear capability, with a 3,5 metre diameter static model specially imported for the show,” says Jonathan McKey, national sales and marketing manager at SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa. “Visitors can experience how the model reflects both the mill and kiln application.” 

Four of these girth gears have already been supplied to a large mining operation in Limpopo province. At the SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa stand will also be the company’s purpose-built gearbox solution for air-cooled condensers (ACCs) used for driving fans in power stations. 

“Our SEW MACCs will be locally assembled, which differentiates us from competitors,” he says. “No-one else stocks these components, and we will be able to slash the lead times of other OEMs by a multitude of weeks.”

McKey says the new Aeroton production facility could deliver at a rate of three units a week. High efficiency IE3 SEW electric motors will also be on show, as examples of the extensive range from 0,75 to 335 kW rating. 

“An important benefit of our electric motors is that SEW-EURODRIVE designs and supplies the add-ons, such as encoders and braking systems,” he says. “Customers can source add-on accessories from us, which ensures them of world class quality and accountability.”

The new range of SEW-EURODRIVE's MoviGear®.
The new range of SEW-EURODRIVE’s MoviGear®.
A rendering of SEW-EURODRIVE's segmented girth gears with flange and tangent plated.
A rendering of SEW-EURODRIVE’s segmented girth gears with flange and tangent plated.
Maxolution®'s automated guided vehicles.
Maxolution®’s automated guided vehicles.
In contrast to competitors, the SEW-EURODRIVE electric motor casing design features a detachable foot, allowing only this to be replace should it break.
In contrast to competitors, the SEW-EURODRIVE electric motor casing design features a detachable foot, allowing only this to be replace should it break.

He notes that customers will also appreciate the different ways that SEW-EURODRIVE strives to reduce total cost of ownership on its motors. For instance, in contrast to competitors, the motor casing design features a detachable foot. If this is broken, it can be easily replaced, rather than forfeiting the whole casing or motor.

The MOVIGEAR® mechatronic drive system will also be there, comprising motor, gearbox and VSD. This is designed for flexible use across various communication infrastructures, making it ideal for decentralised applications in the field. MOVIGEAR® is especially tailored for efficient use in the general materials handling sector.

Customers will be exposed to SEW’s new electronic drive – the MOVI-C® – which will soon be one of the key product lines to be locally assembled. This suite of modular products will allow SEW-EURODRIVE to offer better-than-ever capabilities to control the speed, acceleration, position and torque of multiple motor-driven axes of control systems.

“Another exciting innovation is our automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs), which we will also want to exhibit at Electra Mining Africa,” says McKey. “These are valuable assets in any automated process, and they are typically used for logistics and in the automotive industry.”

He says they can be programmed by a SEW mechatronics engineer to perform many different tasks of a frequent and repetitive nature. These AGVs will be able to be locally assembled, supplied and supported from the new Aeroton factory, he explains. 

Client Focus

NEW LOKOTRACK LT200HPX INCREASES CAPACITY BY UP TO 30%

Leveraging the new Lokotrack® LT200HPX™ mobile cone crusher’s two-deck pre-screen, contractors are not only able to increase their material throughput by up to 30%, but also reduce unnecessary wear and energy costs by limiting the amount of fine material that reports to the crushing chamber. 

The LT200HPX is equipped with a two deck pre-screen and wide feeding and production conveyors to significantly increase production capacity.
The LT200HPX is equipped with a two deck pre-screen and wide feeding and production conveyors to significantly increase production capacity.

Ideal for secondary and tertiary hard rock crushing, the Lokotrack® LT200HPX™ features the proven Metso Outotec Nordberg® HP200™ cone crusher unit, which is renowned for its high productivity, low operating costs and long service life. With over 10,000 units sold globally, the Nordberg® HP200™ has over the years established itself as Metso Outotec’s most popular cone crusher. 

The Lokotrack® LT200HPX™ is perfect for producing aggregates for road construction and railroad ballast, as well as asphalt and concrete fractions.
The Lokotrack® LT200HPX™ is perfect for producing aggregates for road construction and railroad ballast, as well as asphalt and concrete fractions.

When designing the Lokotrack® LT200HPX™, Metso Outotec paid particular attention to increased productivity, which largely hinges on the machine’s two-deck pre-screen, as well as the wide feeding and production conveyors, resulting in up to 30% more capacity. 

The LT200HPX™ features an efficient Nordberg® HP200™ cone crusher unit, which is designed for high productivity, low operating and wear costs and long service life, providing superior end-product quality.
The LT200HPX™ features an efficient Nordberg® HP200™ cone crusher unit, which is designed for high productivity, low operating and wear costs and long service life, providing superior end-product quality.

“In many instances, the crusher is fed with a high proportion of fine material, which needlessly passes through the crushing chamber, resulting in reduced throughput and increased wear and energy consumption. With the 1.2 mm x 1.8 m two-deck pre-screen, the fine material in the feed can bypass the crusher and go straight to the stockpile or further in the process. This not only increases overall output, but also decreases wear and packing in the crushing chamber and can enhance product quality,” explains Francois Marais, sales and marketing director at Pilot Crushtec. 

The standard H12-10 main conveyor’s adjustable discharge height (2,900 mm / 3,900 mm) allows the LT200HPX™ to be combined easily with other machines in the train. It can also be lowered to ground level for easy maintenance.  

The small feed can bypass the crusher and go straight to the product pile or further in the process, increasing overall output, decreasing wearing and enhancing product quality.
The small feed can bypass the crusher and go straight to the product pile or further in the process, increasing overall output, decreasing wearing and enhancing product quality.

Further optimisation of crushing results is achieved through Metso Outotec’s IC™ process control system. The user interface enables single-button start and stop and features built-in troubleshooting as well as various parameter selections. It also allows for connection between all Lokotrack® crushers and screens in the same process. 

With efficiency in mind, the Lokotrack® LT200HPX™ comes with a CAT® engine and direct v-belt crusher drive, ensuring optimum fuel efficiency. Direct drive for crusher with purposely designed gearbox and hydraulic clutch increases machine reliability. 

Client Focus

SANDVIK TO SHOWCASE THE ‘FUTURE OF MINING’ AT ELECTRA MINING

Natalie Santiero, marketing manager southern Africa at Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions.
Natalie Santiero, marketing manager southern Africa at Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions.

Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions will have a major presence at this year’s Electra Mining Africa exhibition, with its 385 m2 indoor stand introducing a ground-breaking battery electric vehicle (BEV) to the African mining market. In addition, Virtual Reality (VR) and simulator technology will be employed to give visitors to the stand a highly interactive experience and there will also be live demonstrations of Sandvik’s Eclipse fire suppression system, which can be fitted to the company’s drill rigs, trucks and loaders.

“The theme of our stand this year will be the ‘Future of Mining’ and will highlight the many ways in which Sandvik can assist customers to move into the world of the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR),” says Natalie Santiero, marketing manager for southern Africa at Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions. “We will also demonstrate how our products can contribute to a sustainable, Net Zero future. The mining industry is moving very rapidly along this path and we’re very much a part of the evolution.”

The Sandvik BEV to be introduced, which will be the biggest piece of equipment on the stand, will be the 65-tonne payload TH665B.
The Sandvik BEV to be introduced, which will be the biggest piece of equipment on the stand, will be the 65-tonne payload TH665B.

The BEV to be introduced, which will be the biggest piece of equipment on the stand, will be the 65-tonne payload TH665B. As the largest capacity battery electric truck, this is the flagship of Sandvik’s fast-expanding fleet of BEVs. The machine is at an advanced stage of development with factory testing completed and full-scale trials on a gold mine in Australia due to start later this year.

“The truck we’ll be displaying and launching at Electra Mining Africa is, in fact, the machine that will be trialled in Australia,” says Santiero. “Its appearance at the show will represent its African debut. We see the TH665B as being a critical development, given the determination of many mines to move towards emission-free equipment. It is perfectly paired with our 18-tonne capacity battery electric LH581B underground loader, which was officially launched last year. A South African gold mine has already ordered the LH518B, with delivery expected shortly.”

The My Sandvik customer portal enables the purchase of thousands of products, keeping track of the fleet’s data and managing the business directly online.
The My Sandvik customer portal enables the purchase of thousands of products, keeping track of the fleet’s data and managing the business directly online.
The 800i series comes with Sandvik’s new generation Automation and Connectivity System (ACS) which continuously monitors and optimises crusher performance and controls.
The 800i series comes with Sandvik’s new generation Automation and Connectivity System (ACS) which continuously monitors and optimises crusher performance and controls.
The Digital Driller enables comprehensive operator training and learning of the rig's control system in a realistic environment identical to the real rig.
The Digital Driller enables comprehensive operator training and learning of the rig’s control system in a realistic environment identical to the real rig.
The Rotary Blasthole Drill Selector app provides a list of recommended drill rigs based upon basic site conditions and production requirement information.
The Rotary Blasthole Drill Selector app provides a list of recommended drill rigs based upon basic site conditions and production requirement information.
The Service Hero game puts customers into the shoes of one of Sandvik's remote monitoring specialists.
The Service Hero game puts customers into the shoes of one of Sandvik’s remote monitoring specialists.

Sandvik Rock Processing will be showcasing the 800i series of connected cone crushers through a live demonstration of remotely connected units via the digital service SAM. The 800i series comes with Sandvik’s new generation Automation and Connectivity System (ACS), which continuously monitors and optimises crusher performance and controls the complete lubrication system, increasing uptime and reliability.

The My Sandvik portal customer portal, which will also feature on the stand, she adds, provides customers with access to information about their fleet, access bulletins and electronic manuals and allows them to request quotations and place orders anytime they need directly online.

Training, of course, is a major challenge for many mines and Sandvik will have its Digital Driller™, a compact and flexible solution to safely train operators on the company’s drills, at the show. It allows operators to learn their trade with a realistic simulator which optimises the transition to the real machine. 

Also in the digital space, Sandvik’s AutoMine® VR training simulator will be demonstrated. “This delivers a realistic AutoMine® experience for training,” says Santiero. “Visitors to the stand will be able to put on goggles and manipulate hand-held controls to experience and interact with a 3D virtual reality environment to master the complete process of the AutoMine® system start-up procedure without the need for machine or production area allocations.

Apps are an ever-present aspect of modern life and Sandvik’s Rotary Blasthole Drill Selector app will feature on the stand. It provides users with a list of recommended drill rigs based upon basic site conditions and production requirement information.

Santiero believes that a visit to the Sandvik stand should certainly have a light-hearted element to it and says that the company will be running its Service Hero game at the show. “This puts you into the shoes of one of our remote monitoring specialists,” she says. “You can see your machinery moving through the mine and the Service Hero will give alerts of any deviation from the norm. You have to act as one of our specialists and rectify the situation. It’s great fun and we think it will be a big hit with visitors.”

“Newtrax, which has been part of the Sandvik family since 2019, will also have a presence on our stand,” says Santiero. “They will be showcasing the Collision Avoidance System and Operations Management under the OptiMine® banner.”

Summing up, Santiero says that Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions views Electra Mining Africa as a great opportunity to network with customers and showcase its extensive range of products and services, particularly those contributing to the digitalisation and automation of mining.

“There’s no question that the 4IR is with us, not just in mining but many other industries,” she observes. “Sandvik is at the forefront of this revolution and its ability to innovate will be demonstrated very strongly at the show. We’ve spent months planning our stand and we believe that it will prove very popular with visitors to the show.”

Client Focus

CONCOR-MECSA CONSTRUCTION JOINT VENTURE ACHIEVES SAFETY MILESTONE ON MSIKABA

The CME JV (Concor – MECSA Construction Joint Venture) has achieved yet another safety milestone on the iconic Msikaba Bridge project, recording 2,5 million Lost Time Injury (LTI) Free hours on 24 May this year, notched up over a period of just over 1 000 days.

“This is a fantastic achievement by the JV team, given that this an extremely challenging project which involves working at extreme height and in excavations up to 20 m deep, often in very confined conditions. There is also a need for blasting, which, of course, comes with its own risks which have to be very carefully managed,” comments contracts director Laurence Savage. 

The Concor–Mota-Engil Joint Venture achieved another safety milestone on the iconic Msikaba Bridge project, recording 2,5 million Lost Time Injury (LTI) Free hours on 24 May 2022, notched up over a period of just over 1 000 days.
The Concor–Mota-Engil Joint Venture achieved another safety milestone on the iconic Msikaba Bridge project, recording 2,5 million Lost Time Injury (LTI) Free hours on 24 May 2022, notched up over a period of just over 1 000 days.
The Msikaba Bridge project includes working at extreme height, often in confined conditions.
The Msikaba Bridge project includes working at extreme height, often in confined conditions.
Some structures use High Density Reinforced Concrete which places additional demands on the construction teams.
Some structures use High Density Reinforced Concrete which places additional demands on the construction teams.
The importance of safety practices is ingrained in every worker on the Msikaba Bridge project.
The importance of safety practices is ingrained in every worker on the Msikaba Bridge project.
The Msikaba Bridge project forms part of the new N2 toll road between Port Edward and Umtata in the Eastern Cape.
The Msikaba Bridge project forms part of the new N2 toll road between Port Edward and Umtata in the Eastern Cape.
The Concor-Mota Engil Joint Venture achieved 2,5 million Lost Time Injury Free hours on the Msikaba Bridge Project in May 2022.
The Concor-Mota Engil Joint Venture achieved 2,5 million Lost Time Injury Free hours on the Msikaba Bridge Project in May 2022.

He adds that some of the structures use High Density Reinforced Concrete, which places demands on the construction teams, and that the scope of the JV’s work also includes a substantial bulk earthworks operation for the construction of the approach roads, with a dozen large earthmoving machines handling cut-to-fill activities. 

“We’re extremely proud to have reached this safety milestone and everyone on site deserves to be congratulated on this impressive performance,” he says.

Savage stresses that safety is a core value for the JV partners. “There is nothing more important than ensuring that our people work on a safe site and that they return home every day unharmed. The importance of safe practices is ingrained in every worker on site and we all understand that the goal is ‘Zero Harm’. The safety culture is underpinned by Concor’s ‘Stop. Think. Act’ awareness philosophy and our ‘Care’ value – Care for one another, Care for yourself and take Care in the environment you are working in.”

The workforce participates every day in a morning briefing, which reviews the day’s tasks and how they are to be accomplished safely. A half-an-hour later there is a daily management meeting, where the managers report on and review all safety matters.

According to Savage, the JV understands the role of management as custodians of the safety culture and implementers of a safety culture. “This is the principle of Visible Felt Leadership, he states. “How we act, re-act and manage ourselves has a direct impact on how our people working on the project, take decisions, prioritise and act. This leadership from management allows employees at all levels to understand and ‘feel’ the importance that is attached to safety. No one is left in doubt that working safely is a non-negotiable principle.”

The Msikaba Bridge project forms part of the new N2 toll road between Port Edward and Umtata in the Eastern Cape. A 580 m long cable-stayed structure, it will span the spectacular 198 m deep Msikaba Gorge – making it one of the highest bridges in Africa – and forms part of the N2 Wild Coast project being undertaken by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL). It includes two pylons that will stand 128 m high on each side of the gorge. These support the bridge deck using a network of 34 cable tendons strung through their upper reaches.

The JV team has now embarked on the most difficult phase of the project – construction of the pylon superstructure (which will entail working to the 128 m height of the pylons) and the deck segment lifting activities that will result in the north and south banks being connected mid-span across the gorge. Complicating the work is the exposure to severe winds, which can gust at nearly 100 km/h at the site. These two major construction activities will be taking place simultaneously, being the completion of the pylon build, while the deck launch commences.  

“These activities are requiring the highest levels of risk management to be undertaken on a mega- construction project,” says Savage. “Everything will obviously be pre-planned to the last detail and we’re confident that our intensive preparations will allow the work to be accomplished safely and further extend the project’s excellent safety record.”