Mechanical drives supplied for block-cave mine development

Industrial components and technical expertise solutions provider Bearing Man Group (BMG) has supplied seven external mechanical drives for the Lift II extension project at Palabora Mining Company subsidiary Palabora Copper’s mine through South Africa-based project management and design consultancy Read, Swatman & Voigt (RSV) SA.

The R9.3-billion life-of-mine (LoM) project at the Palabora Copper operations, which consist of a copper mine and a smelter and refinery complex, in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, is expected to be a new lease of life for the Ba-Phalaborwa people, says Palabora Copper’s human resources GM Maboko Mahlaole.

He says the underground block-cave mine development will create hundreds of jobs and business opportunities for the local community. The project is expected to extend the LoM to 2033.

“Lift II will make the company South Africa’s first to operate electric [load- haul-dump loaders] and will see it operating one of the deepest block-cave mines in the world. In addition, we intend to raisebore two 6.2-m-diameter holes to a depth of 1 200 m – such depth using this technology has never before been done in Africa,” Palabora Copper growth divisions GM Nick Fouche said in 2015.

BMG projects sales manager Clive Dicks comments that the mechanical drives supplied for Lift II, which were scheduled to be installed during September on underground conveyors at the mine, comprise the largest motors supplied by BMG to date.

He explains that these 630 kW four-pole 11 kV BMG motors, final delivery of which was made to the mine in May, were designed and assembled by BMG’s technical resources team.

“The order encompasses a 75 kW complete drive for conveyor CV26 and six 630 kW complete drives for conveyors CV23 and CV25. These drives consist of BMG electric motors, Paramax gearboxes, couplings, guards and complete base plates.”

Dicks points out that the installation of these drives will take two weeks, during which BMG will provide support services during the warranty period. He adds that the company will also hand over a data pack that includes BMG’s standard maintenance manual for all products supplied.

Moreover, the company also supplied the mine with six Marland external holdbacks with load-sharing capabilities and some of the belting required for the conveyors.

“BMG will provide a full support service for the alignment and verification of these complete mechanical drives,” Dicks says.

The company’s technical resources team, supported by more than 140 mobile technicians, offers a complete service that influences the end-user’s operating efficiencies by ensuring the best mechanical reliability of plant and machinery.

Dicks points out that BMG can supply custom-designed products to meet a client’s specific requirements. The company also offers specialist services, which include the installation, adjustment, replacement and maintenance of components; shaft and pulley alignment; balancing; condition monitoring; oil sampling and analysis; critical equipment inspections; and lubrication schedules.

He adds that maintenance training and fault diagnosis also form an important part of the company’s field services for its mechanical drives.

“BMG is committed to providing 24-hour customer support for production efficiency and reliability-centred maintenance. “This is enhanced by advanced technical and design support across all functional disciplines,” concludes Dicks.