Monthly Archives: August 2023

Client Focus

WEG PARTNERSHIP WITH PANACO STRENGTHENS PRESENCE AND BOOSTS GROWTH IN THE DRC

The strengthened presence of WEG in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through its strategic alliance with Panaco, its Value-Added Reseller (VAR), has proven to be highly successful. 

Thierry Kakese, WEG’s Regional Manager – Central Africa, attributes this success to the alignment of business models between the two companies. “As a major player, WEG has long been dedicated to establishing and nurturing a robust VAR partner network in the Central African region, ensuring sustainable growth and expanding our installed base of products and solutions,” he says. 

Panaco was appointed as WEG’s VAR in the DRC four years ago, and plays a vital role in the region. The company was one of the first electrical subcontractors operating in that country and today with more than 40 years’ experience, Panaco possesses the experience and capability to meet the escalating demand for WEG motors, drives and other products in the country. 

The company’s reputation and established operations in the key mining centres of Lubumbashi and Kolwezi ensure efficient stockholding allowing easy access to WEG products. This significantly reduces lead times for complete motors and drives, as well as spare parts in case of breakdowns.

Apart from the mining sector, Panaco and WEG also serve other industries such as power and water utilities as well as cement. Kakese emphasises that partnering with Panaco facilitates essential market feedback, enabling WEG to make informed decisions and maintain its position as a leading provider of electrical products and solutions.

Recognising the significance of the DRC and the Copperbelt region, WEG’s team, in collaboration with Panaco, regularly visits end user operations to closely comprehend specific challenges and requirements. 

Financial Operations Director at Panaco, Khalid Patel shares that to support the growing installed base and increased demand in the DRC, Panaco and WEG will establish a support centre in the Katanga province. This facility will conduct technical assessments, offer local maintenance and repair services for Low Voltage drives, and enhance overall support for our customers. 

“The enduring success of the WEG and Panaco partnership stems from our shared technical expertise,” Patel says. “Ongoing support is provided via the South African-based WEG operation which is bolstered through comprehensive training for our sales and technical teams.” Training sessions take place both in the DRC and at the WEG drives training centre in Johannesburg, enabling Panaco to deliver excellent customer service.

Kakese highlights an increasing demand for motor and drive combinations in the DRC and neighbouring regions. “This demand is not merely due to WEG’s extended warranty but primarily because of the superior performance and compatibility offered by correctly matched motor and drive combinations,” he explains. “End users who have embraced this trend experience improved reliability and better performance.”

“Furthermore, the energy saving benefits of WEG’s IE3 and IE4 motors have made them highly sought after, as major miners strive to reduce energy consumption and reduced operating costs.” 

WEG transformers have also gained popularity in the region, with them being locally manufactured in South Africa with capacities of up to 40 MVA. Kakese highlights the logistical advantages of sourcing such equipment from South Africa instead of from overseas. The close collaboration between the support teams in South Africa and Panaco ensures that transformers are precisely specified to meet technical application requirements, guaranteeing reliability and optimal performance.

Recognising the increasing power demand in the DRC, particularly in the mining and other sectors, Panaco has decided to augment its product offering by also stocking generator sets. “Initially, the market is expected to favour standard WEG gensets, manufactured in South Africa with convenient logistics. However, this expansion also opens doors to supply custom-engineered gensets tailored to specific applications,” Patel says.

“This strategic partnership in the DRC has yielded remarkable results, and we look forward to significantly increasing the installed base of WEG products as well as expanding the level of sale and aftermarket support we offer to our customer base,” Patel says. “The shared business vision, technical expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction have paved the way for sustainable growth and the provision of premium products that enhance reliability, performance, and cost-effectiveness for end users in the region.” 

Client Focus

ELEVATING MATERIAL TRANSFER EFFICIENCY WITH CUSTOM ENGINEERING

In the world of mining and industrial material handling, transfer chutes play a crucial role in maintaining smooth and efficient operations. While many manufacturers offer similar products, it is the uncompromising standards of Weba Chute Systems that sets this South African-based OEM apart. 

With a dedicated focus on design, engineering and manufacturing, Weba Chute Systems has elevated the science of transfer chutes, providing customers, both in Africa and overseas, with unparalleled peace-of-mind and reliable solutions.

Contrary to common misconceptions, transfer chutes are not mere platework commodities that any general fabricator can produce on demand. Dewald Tintinger, Technical Manager at Weba Chute Systems, stresses the danger of adopting such an approach. “Generic chutes often result in suboptimal performance, unreliable operation and a lack of technical support when it is most needed,” he cautions.

“At Weba Chute Systems, every transfer point solution is custom-engineered to address specific material and operating conditions on-site. We leverage our extensive design capabilities and field experience in the process and our skilled draughtsmen employ the latest specialised software to model material flow accurately,” he says. “This meticulous approach ensures the optimisation of material trajectory, minimising impacts and disruptions during transfer.”

Further to this, he affirms that Weba Chute Systems takes pride in standing behind every chute produced. The company offers technical backup and support, ensuring that Weba chutes deliver consistent and reliable performance. “Our specially-trained technicians undertake regular inspections ensuring that proactive maintenance can be done, and where necessary customers can be forewarned regarding any issues. This approach enables informed decisions to be made and eliminates costly downtime due to premature chute failure.” 

Tintinger emphasises the importance of involving transfer point specialists in the early stages of plant planning and design. “Our team’s experience and detailed knowledge of how transfer points and chutes work allow them to offer valuable guidance on positioning equipment for optimal material flow. By strategically placing chutes and other equipment, plants can significantly improve efficiency, resulting in enhanced production outcomes and cost savings.” 

“While transfer chutes may be perceived to be relatively low-cost items within the overall process equipment flowsheet, these can become sources of significant and expensive operational problems when not properly engineered or maintained,” he continues. “We offer a solution to this issue by ensuring that our chutes are designed and installed to minimise disruptions and prevent costly downtime.” 

“We believe that by prioritising reliability, technical support and early engagement in the planning stages, Weba Chute Systems empowers its customers with the tools they need to achieve smooth and efficient material transfer operations,” Tintinger concludes. 

Client Focus

CONCOR CONQUERS ROCKY TERRAIN FORGING ACCESS FOR PHEZUKOMOYA WIND ENERGY FACILITY

Constructing wind energy facilities on mountains presents unique challenges, particularly in terms of accessing the construction sites. The Phezukomoya Wind Energy Facility, situated near Noupoort on the boundary of the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces, faced such challenges during its start of its construction.

Concor, in partnership with Murray & Roberts OptiPower, forms part of the consortium responsible for the Phezukomoya Wind Energy Facility. The consortium was awarded contracts to construct the Koruson Main Transmission Station, as well as two of the three wind farms within the Koruson One development. EDF Renewables (South Africa) and its partners H1 Capital and Gibb Crede is developing Koruson One which was awarded in the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) Bid Window 5.

The primary challenge encountered by Concor, who is responsible for the civil balance of plant on this project, was establishing access routes to the mountaintops where the wind turbine foundations and hardstands are being constructed. 

Marritus Bezuidenhout, Project Manager at Concor, says establishing access was not straightforward as the rocky and difficult terrain required extensive blasting and clearing work before access routes could be constructed to reach the foundation positions.

To date, Concor has successfully delivered the civil balance of plant on more than 10 wind farms in the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape regions, and Bezuidenhout says this experience played a significant role in optimising the construction activities on the Phezukomoya project facilitating preliminary access to some foundation positions while the construction of access roadways continues.

One notable aspect of the Phezukomoya Wind Energy project is the use of hollow foundations, a first for a wind farm in South Africa. Hollow foundations offer several advantages, including a reduced carbon footprint due to the use of less readymix concrete. The hollow design also allows for the inclusion of ducts and facilitates post-tensioning of cables for the tower, and installation of the power cables to the electrical reticulation network. 

“However,” Bezuidenhout says, “constructing hollow foundations is more labour intensive, requiring additional formwork as well as more steel reinforcing. It also requires precision work by the steel fixing teams to ensure the stringent tolerances are met.” 

Winter temperatures pose another challenge for the construction team. With temperatures often falling below 5°C, the casting of readymix concrete need to be carefully managed. To mitigate this issue, heat pumps are used at the batch plant while strict scheduling and control of concrete casting is implemented. Thermal blankets are also used during the curing process.

In addition to addressing construction challenges, Concor prioritised community engagement and skills development. A significant portion of the project’s staff comprises local community members who receive training and on-site experiential work. The company collaborates with local SMMEs (Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises), subcontracting services such as steel fixing, temporary ablution facilities, security, and transportation to the local taxi association.

Client Focus

IPR OFFERS VERSATILE TOYO VH AMPHIBIOUS PUMPS FOR DIVERSE APPLICATIONS

Amphibious heavy-duty pumps like the Toyo VH range, available from IPR – the official southern African distributor for this range – are designed to operate effectively in challenging environments where versatility and durability are paramount. These robust pumps can function both above the water (dry) and under the water (submerged), making them an ideal solution for diverse applications across the mining, oil and gas, construction and agricultural sectors.

In the mining industry, these pumps play a crucial role in dewatering – the removal of water infiltrating open pit and underground mines. Their capability to handle heavy and abrasive slurries is also instrumental in the construction sector, particularly in dewatering building sites and during tunnel construction. They can operate either partially or completely submerged. Notably, a compact version with an inline outlet discharge is beneficial in tunnelling works where space is a limitation.

The Toyo VH range of amphibious pumps can manage slurries with densities of at least 1.25kg/dm³ and solid contents up to 55% by weight.
The Toyo VH range of amphibious pumps can manage slurries with densities of at least 1.25kg/dm³ and solid contents up to 55% by weight.

Ruaan Venter, Business Development Manager at IPR, says the usefulness of the Toyo VH amphibious pump extends to environmental clean-up and remediation efforts, where these units will effectively and efficiently pump out contaminated groundwater or surface water, even when the water is laden with solids or sediment.

“In wastewater treatment facilities, Toyo VH pumps handle sludge and other dense materials, while in the agricultural industry, these amphibious pumps are key in irrigation and drainage systems, especially in flood-prone areas. Their ability to function both submerged and above water is crucial in maintaining optimal growing conditions by controlling water levels in fields.”

The industrial sector also heavily relies on these pumps’ versatility. They are used in processing plants across industries such as food processing, chemical and petroleum, where they handle slurries. Their robust construction allows them to manage corrosive and abrasive fluids, solidifying them as a reliable choice for demanding industrial environments.

Constructed with a unique design and incorporating a semi-open impeller, ample passageways for solids, heavy-duty shaft and bearing configuration and double mechanical seals operating in an oil bath, the Toyo VH pumps are primed for demanding tasks. They can function as priming or booster pumps and are installed on a frame with a strainer or with a fixing cone, with or without an agitator. Models from the Toyo VH15 and larger come equipped with an adjustable wear plate to optimise hydraulic efficiency.

These pumps can manage slurries with densities of at least 1.25kg/dm³ and solid contents up to 55% by weight. They can handle solid particles up to 80mm in diameter and liquid temperatures up to 60°C with pH levels between 4 and 14.

Venter explains that one of the most important advantages is that the Toyo VH range features a unique agitator design that lifts sediment into suspension, enabling the continuous pumping of media with high solid concentrations.

Capable of operating at maximum depths of 30 metres, these pumps are suitable for surface applications or those requiring partial or total submersion. Special versions of Toyo VH pumps can handle solid content of up to 60% by weight and liquid temperatures up to 80°C. Variations in materials of construction, including stainless steel and specialised alloys, are available for applications with these extremely high temperatures.

Client Focus

IPR OFFERS VERSATILE TOYO VH AMPHIBIOUS PUMPS FOR DIVERSE APPLICATIONS

Amphibious heavy-duty pumps like the Toyo VH range, available from IPR – the official southern African distributor for this range – are designed to operate effectively in challenging environments where versatility and durability are paramount. These robust pumps can function both above the water (dry) and under the water (submerged), making them an ideal solution for diverse applications across the mining, oil and gas, construction and agricultural sectors. 

In the mining industry, these pumps play a crucial role in dewatering – the removal of water infiltrating open pit and underground mines. Their capability to handle heavy and abrasive slurries is also instrumental in the construction sector, particularly in dewatering building sites and during tunnel construction. They can operate either partially or completely submerged. Notably, a compact version with an inline outlet discharge is beneficial in tunnelling works where space is a limitation.

Ruaan Venter, Business Development Manager at IPR, says the usefulness of the Toyo VH amphibious pump extends to environmental clean-up and remediation efforts, where these units will effectively and efficiently pump out contaminated groundwater or surface water, even when the water is laden with solids or sediment. 

“In wastewater treatment facilities, Toyo VH pumps handle sludge and other dense materials, while in the agricultural industry, these amphibious pumps are key in irrigation and drainage systems, especially in flood-prone areas. Their ability to function both submerged and above water is crucial in maintaining optimal growing conditions by controlling water levels in fields.”

The industrial sector also heavily relies on these pumps’ versatility. They are used in processing plants across industries such as food processing, chemical and petroleum, where they handle slurries. Their robust construction allows them to manage corrosive and abrasive fluids, solidifying them as a reliable choice for demanding industrial environments.

Constructed with a unique design and incorporating a semi-open impeller, ample passageways for solids, heavy-duty shaft and bearing configuration and double mechanical seals operating in an oil bath, the Toyo VH pumps are primed for demanding tasks. They can function as priming or booster pumps and are installed on a frame with a strainer or with a fixing cone, with or without an agitator. Models from the Toyo VH15 and larger come equipped with an adjustable wear plate to optimise hydraulic efficiency.

These pumps can manage slurries with densities of at least 1.25kg/dm³ and solid contents up to 55% by weight. They can handle solid particles up to 80mm in diameter and liquid temperatures up to 60°C with pH levels between 4 and 14. 

Venter explains that one of the most important advantages is that the Toyo VH range features a unique agitator design that lifts sediment into suspension, enabling the continuous pumping of media with high solid concentrations. 

Capable of operating at maximum depths of 30 metres, these pumps are suitable for surface applications or those requiring partial or total submersion. Special versions of Toyo VH pumps can handle solid content of up to 60% by weight and liquid temperatures up to 80°C. Variations in materials of construction, including stainless steel and specialised alloys, are available for applications with these extremely high temperatures.

Client Focus

SANDVIK ROCK PROCESSING SCREENING SOLUTIONS BUILDS ON AFRICA FOOTPRINT FOR SCREEN BUSINESS

It is a well proven fact that companies succeed where they are closest to their customers, and this is driving Sandvik Rock Processing to leverage the extensive Sandvik footprint across Africa.

According to Gavin McLaggan, Lifecycle Services Manager at Sandvik Rock Processing Screening Solutions, customers in the crushing and screening markets can now have quicker access to support within the region or country. This allows the same high standard of support for all its products, including the Sandvik, Kwatani and Schenck screening products – which are all now supported by Sandvik Rock Processing. 

“We recognise the importance of being close to our customers and aim to establish long term relationships with them,” says McLaggan. “Having facilities that are close to our customers throughout Africa is crucial for our support-driven strategy, and we believe this differentiates us significantly from competitors.”

For instance, he explains there are regional Sandvik offices in South Africa for the Southern African area, in Zambia for Central Africa and in Ghana for West Africa – as well as country offices in nine other countries. The presence of existing workshop facilities and spares warehousing is a real gamechanger for growing Sandvik Rock Processing’s screening business. 

“As Sandvik rock Processing, we are prioritising the presence of our teams on the ground in countries where our screening equipment is already working,” he says. “By leveraging Sandvik’s strong presence in most countries, we can react rapidly and provide backup support whenever and wherever it is needed.” 

Many customers will have the benefit of in-country refurbishment opportunities, for instance, instead of having to send equipment cross-border for mechanical attention. The local support means lower transport costs, faster turnaround times and less operational downtime. This includes the availability of technicians and specialists to give customers optimal assistance throughout the lifecycle of their screens. 

“Closer proximity to customers also allows them to have their equipment serviced more regularly – and to OEM standards,” he explains. “By focusing on the entire lifecycle and reducing the total cost of ownership, Sandvik Rock Processing aims to provide customers with enhanced value and improved outcomes.”

He highlights that the high quality of workmanship gives a second life to these machines, further improving their contribution to mining customers’ bottom line profitability. The local footprint also gives Sandvik Rock Processing easier access to customers’ sites, so they can become more familiar with their specific challenges and requirements. 

“Mines are increasingly looking to their supply partners to hold as many of their consumable items and critical spares as possible,” says McLaggan. “As we leverage the Sandvik footprint, Sandvik Rock Processing is engaging with customers to ensure we understand their current and future needs, so we can develop our spares holding capacity of in-country offices accordingly.” 

This capacity building strategy also includes the technical training of personnel in various countries, equipping them to deliver maintenance, repairs and refurbishment in line with ISO quality standards. Developing long term relationships with customers is a key aspect of the Sandvik vision, he emphasises. 

“We are continuing to build the business so that customers are assured that we will always be here with the support they need,” he concludes. “This is what maintains and develops the positive trust on which strong relationships are based.”

Client Focus

AFRISAM LAB STAYS OUT FRONT WITH SANAS THUMBS-UP

The specialised cement and construction materials laboratory at AfriSam’s Centre of Product Excellence (CPE) in Roodepoort, Gauteng, has once again earned the SANAS stamp of approval. 

The laboratory conducts in-depth testing and investigation across a range of processes and materials, according to AfriSam CPE Manager Mike McDonald. The critical role of concrete in the safety and sustainability of structures highlights the importance of the regular SANAS certification.

“Remaining certified within stringent SANAS requirements – which in turn align to international ISO/IEC 17025 management system standards – ensures that AfriSam’s laboratory is world class,” says McDonald. “Our quality processes mean that our customers can rely on us for the performance of their concrete, and we can continue to take forward AfriSam’s exciting product development innovations.”

He notes that the demanding recertification process is conducted every five years, ensuring that the latest international best practice is incorporated into the laboratory’s quality systems. A recent enhancement of the global standards – and applied in turn by SANAS – is its risk-based approach. The latest certification therefore has required AfriSam’s laboratory to consider and mitigate a range of risks factors. 

Among these is the risk of bias during the testing process, which is addressed by strictly protecting the anonymity of the test work, he explains. The laboratory uses a numbering system to ensure that analysts are not aware of the names of companies that submit samples for testing. 

“The recertification is by no means easy or simple, requiring extensive internal and external training of all our 22 laboratory personnel,” he says. “In maintaining these high standards, it is clear that our highly skilled staff are committed to our quality mission.”

The laboratory’s instruments, technology and skills complement make it one of the country’s most specialised facilities for testing cement and construction materials. Equipment includes a microcalorimeter for measuring heat from concrete samples, and instruments for thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) for measuring material weight during heating. 

“The laboratory gives AfriSam enviable capability on various levels – from proving up our theoretical concrete mix designs for customers to investigating any challenges that contractors might be facing with their concrete on site,” says McDonald. “Our research and testing also provides innovative solutions for customers, such as reducing or removing the need for costly steam generation for curing concrete products.”

Being able to conduct laboratory-scale testing of new mixes is a significant advantage for customers like concrete product manufacturers, he points out. If they tested unproven mix designs in their production process, there could be considerable trial and error. This invariably produced wastage of material and labour time, whereas the laboratory could accurately predict results while not disrupting on-site production. 

He emphasises that cement testing remains a central focus of the laboratory’s work, including oxide analysis and testing for gypsum content as well as fineness and strength of cement. AfriSam relied heavily on the laboratory for its ongoing drive to reduce the carbon footprint of cement, allowing the development of a product with 40% less carbon impact than pure cement. 

“The SANAS recertification of our laboratory is an important foundation for the accuracy and reliability of all our testing and research work,” he says. “This assures customers and the broader industry of AfriSam’s ongoing commitment to quality standards that match the world’s best.”

Client Focus

MURRAY & ROBERTS CEMENTATION TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT CE SAFETY AWARDS

Murray & Roberts Cementation emerged as a shining beacon of commitment to safety at the annual Murray & Roberts Group’s CE Safety Recognition awards in June. These awards, which spotlight various operations across group companies, recognised Murray & Roberts Cementation for its exceptional safety  performance. As a leading underground mining contractor, the company has several projects under its belt that affirm its dedication to safety and the ultimate goal of achieving Zero Harm.

One of its standout projects is the Venetia Underground Project (VUP). Collaborating with De Beers Group, Murray & Roberts Cementation played a pivotal role in developing and equipping this underground mine which has seen the transition of Venetia Mine from an open pit operation to an underground mine. Hard work and emphasis on safety by the VUP team earned the project the accolade of ‘Best Employee Participation Programme (Leading Indicator Reporting)’. 

Trevor Schultz, Risk Executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation, explained the significance of leading indicators. “These are proactive and preventive measures that grant crucial insights into the safety performance of a project. They also act as an early warning system, shedding light on potential issues in a given work environment.”

In another feather in Murray & Roberts Cementation’s cap, the Palabora Mining Company Lift II project was awarded with the ‘Best Major Incidents Prevention Programme’. This was in acknowledgment of their exceptional work in both sub-categories being Critical Control Verifications and Critical Control  Assurance Audits. “Significantly, this project recently made headlines when, at the end of July 2023, it achieved a monumental feat by reaching the 1000-metre mark in its assignment to sink a 1200-metre ventilation shaft at PMC,” Schultz says. 

The accolades didn’t stop there. The Matla Mine Relocation Project was lauded with the ‘Best Safety Performance at Project Level’ award, thanks to its stellar 12 months rolling TRCR performance. 

In addition to this award, this project had zero work related injuries during its 22-month duration.

Schultz was proud to announce that a whopping 14 of the company’s projects were bestowed the title of Zero Harm Projects, meaning they had zero recordable cases. Such an impressive statistic doesn’t come easy. Schultz believes it’s the unwavering commitment from every single individual, from the full workforce on the ground to management, that has made this possible.

In conclusion Schultz emphasises the company’s resolute focus on training and developing its workforce. This is rooted in the belief that to truly embed safety and Zero Harm principles, it should become an integral part of everyone’s daily tasks on site. The recent recognitions stand as a testament to the company’s success in this endeavour.

Client Focus

SEW-EURODRIVE BUILDS LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ITS DRIVEACADEMY®

With its focus on close collaboration with its customers, SEW-EURODRIVE has further raised the technological bar at its DriveAcademy® in recent years. 

Committed to providing strong technical skills support behind its range of products, SEW-EURODRIVE has offered the services of its DriveAcademy® for a decade already. With the move to its new and expanded headquarters at Aeroton in Gauteng, the company has taken its learning facilities to the next level, according to Zander Claassens, Training Manager at SEW-EURODRIVE. 

“Developing skills among our employees and customers has always been a high priority for SEW-EURODRIVE,” says Claassens. “The performance and reliability of our products is directly enhanced when stakeholders understand the technical details and select the right product for the application; this is a cornerstone of our successful business growth.”

In the past 18 months, there has been significant upgrading of resources in the DriveAcademy®, after the company moved into its new Industry 4.0-ready plant. These included state-of-the-art media rooms in the training wing, and the implementation of didactic products and next-generation training equipment. 

Innovation is at the heart of SEW-EURODRIVE’s approach to technology, so it is unsurprising that the company takes a similar line in skills development. Keeping up with new training methods while still remaining adaptable is the only way to stay ahead of the continuous waves of change, he argues. 

“We are constantly updating our training material, and also upgrading our own skills as trainers – adopting new ways of presenting,” he says. “We regularly attend international conferences in person or virtually, to discuss these innovations and share information.”

He highlights that the DriveAcademy® in South Africa is one of the first to adopt and implement augmented reality, with an eye on Industry 4.0 – allowing trainees to learn through holograms and holographic overlays.

“Not only is this a highly effective method, but is something that few people have been exposed to so it generates considerable interest and excitement among trainees,” he says. “Where trainees are exposed to memorable experiences like these, then the retention of information tends to be much greater.”

With its focus on providing solutions, SEW-EURODRIVE leverages its DriveAcademy® by applying relevant knowledge to achieve this goal. Trainees in recent years have come from various sectors including automotive, mining, refining and steel.

“We provide bespoke training for customers based on the products that they use, as well as standard product training courses with an introductory overview in drive engineering,” explains Claassens. “As with our staff, each role within a business has different requirements, so we tailor the training to suit the need.”

He notes that within the global SEW-EURODRIVE family, there are 85 drive technology centres with training departments spread across 54 countries. He emphasises that there is a strong commitment to sharing knowledge for the benefit of the global SEW-EURODRIVE brand. Ensuring high quality of deliverables, all the Drive Academies comply with the SEW-EURODRIVE international corporate standard.

“Due to the technical nature of our product portfolio, all of the training we offer is concluded with theoretical and practical tests, and competency is only declared when certain targets are met,” he explains. “Through this simple but effective process, our staff, agents and customers come to a better comprehension of their chosen topics.”

Client Focus

HVAC SERVICE AGREEMENTS CAN DRIVE DOWN TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

When the productive uptime of capital equipment is compromised by HVAC failure, a primary casualty is the machine’s total cost of ownership (TCO) – making regular servicing a vital investment.

With strict health and safety regulations, even faulty air conditioners can bring work to a standstill, points out Booyco Engineering managing director Brenton Spies. The answer, says Spies, is regular and quality maintenance planned in advance and conducted by skills technicians. 

“On mining or earthmoving sites – where temperatures can be extreme and dust is an ever-present factor – it is regulated that an operator’s cab must be comfortable,” he explains. “This means that when an HVAC system goes down, there is a real possibility that conditions become unconducive to safe work. The operator can stop work, and this can seriously affect productivity.”

To avoid such circumstances, Booyco Engineering not only supplies custom-engineered HVAC solutions for these trucks, but can also maintain and service them regularly. The company offers a maintenance agreement – also known as a ‘man on site’ – which dedicates the necessary skills and experience to the customer’s equipment. 

“With our ‘man on site’ service, we can also offer customers an extended warranty on our equipment, as we feel confident that it is receiving the necessary attention,” he says. “We know from our own experience that Booyco Engineering’s HVAC units can last 20 years or more when they are well looked after.”

He notes that a five year warranty on any equipment used in the mining sector is generally unheard of; however, the company has been known to offer such warranties for HVAC equipment in mining vehicles if there is a Booyco Engineering maintenance programme in place. 

When the company designs its products, it develops the optimal schedules for replacement of certain components, according to Grant Miller, executive director at Booyco Engineering. These schedules also set out the intervals for service interventions. 

“This is specifically designed for the customer to achieve the lowest TCO from these units, but the designated work does need to be conducted timeously – and by a specialised technician,” says Miller. “We can therefore put the required skills and equipment on site, depending on the customer’s fleet size.”

Building on its depth of technical expertise, Booyco Engineering has introduced a learnership scheme for field technicians to support its pipeline of skills. Taking young technicians after their college courses, they are given 12 months of intensive theoretical and on-site training in the company’s HVAC range. 

“This kind of initiative gives us the skills foundation from which to grow our technicians; we can therefore offer customers maintenance contracts on a range of HVAC installations,” he says. “Most mines have HVAC systems on trucks and vehicles, but some also need support on HVAC for rail locomotives.”

An important aspect of the company’s service is its compliance with the necessary health and safety requirements on mines – making it quicker and easier to get staff onto site and operational. With onerous compliance to achieve a ‘pit licence’, it often takes time to new entrants to be allowed to attend to a vehicle in the mining area. 

The interventions within a maintenance agreement are planned to fit in with the customer’s work programme so that there is as little disruption as possible. Booyco Engineering has recently rationalised its product offering so that HVAC units can be deployed over multiple vehicle types. This has allowed a streamlining of the stockholding strategy, so that lead times can be reduced. 

“All in all, our maintenance contracts ensure that customers can achieve the lowest TCO on their high value mining trucks by planning and budgeting in advance for servicing HVAC units,” he says. “In this way, the TCO can be driven down by ensuring a longer operating life, while also avoiding costly downtime undermines the trucks’ ability to generate value.”