Khutso Maphatsoe

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Khutso Maphatsoe

Khutso Maphatsoe is a Creamer Media Reporter for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Company’s project pipeline healthy despite Covid

9th April 2021 Despite Covid-19 presenting several challenges, mining advisory company Ukwazi has provided services for various mining projects over the past year. “We have completed projects at coal, platinum group metals and chrome mines, as well as projects for manganese and iron-ore operations in the... →

Industry’s appetite for automation, digitisation to increase

9th April 2021 It is expected that the services sector will continue to grow rapidly after Covid-19, as a result of the mining industry’s increased appetite for automation, digitisation and “all things Industry 4.0”, says University of Pretoria graduate school of technology management senior lecturer Dr Taryn... →

Modular units serve projects countrywide

9th April 2021 Prefabricated and modular buildings manufacturer Kwikspace has completed various mining civil infrastructure upgrades and has supplied buildings to over 40 mining clients in South Africa in the past year. Additionally, Kwikspace have manufactured, delivered and erected about 100 units for the... →

FIT FOR PURPOSE Companies have the benefit of using an engineered product that provides quality infrastructure in an efficient timeframe

Manufacturer expands abrasive products range

2nd April 2021 German-owned abrasive products manufacturer PFERD South Africa is continuing with product line extensions for its coated and bonded abrasive products to meet market needs. This follows the manufacturer’s having noticed a steady shift in the market towards hand-held power tools that can improve... →

SAFETY FIRST The higher stock removal rate and unique cut of the ALLROUND tungsten carbide burrs reduce the vibration and noise during operation, which, in turn, improves operator comfort and safety

Toolkit caters for agriculture sector

2nd April 2021 Tools manufacturer Jonnesway’s customised Agri toolkit is a solution comprising tools that have been selected by farmers, for farmers. “The Jonnesway Agri toolkit has become a key offering under bearings and accessories distributor Bearings International’s agri-smart banner,” says Jonnesway... →

NEAT AND TIDY The tools are safely stored in a compact and sturdy case that can fit comfortably behind the seat of a vehicle

College introduces digital artisan training

2nd April 2021 In addition to the initial training of artisans, during which they are taught how to work with hand-held and power tools, artisan and mining skills training college Colliery Training College (CTC) has introduced Artisan 4.0 training. Although the need to carry and use physical tools will remain,... →

LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD The purpose of the programme is to train artisans from any trade in advanced automation and digital skills

Dust control creates safer working conditions

2nd April 2021 Diamond tools and equipment manufacturer Diamond Products’ dust control attachments ensure that operators are no longer required to wear additional attachments or tools when using hand-held power tools. Dust control attachments are usually placed at specific parts of a hand-held and power tool to... →

Compressors are worth ‘their weight in gold’

12th March 2021 Rand-Air recently secured a repeat hire with a long-standing customer in the mining industry; when underground compressors were required, Rand-Air met the customer’s specific requirements, explains Rand-Air sales consultant Marinda Enslin. She adds that Rand-Air was the only company then and now... →

SUPPLY AND DEMAND Rand-Air is supplying a gold-processing and refinery plant with three electric oil-free compressors on a long-term rental basis

Solar reduces reliance on grid, generators

12th March 2021 Solar energy equipment supplier Valsa Trading reports that the solar photovoltaic (PV) ground-mounted structures that it recently supplied to a large mine, in the Northern Cape, reduced the miner’s dependency on the local electricity utility in addition to making the mine eco-friendly. The... →

Company launches HX Series excavators for various applications

5th March 2021 Construction equipment supplier HPE Africa has launched its HX Series excavators, which will be available in April nationwide. HPE Africa believes that the series will be well suited to most medium-to large sized construction, civil engineering and demolition projects carried out by municipalities. →

THE RIGHT FIT HPE Africa believes that the series will be well suited to most medium-to large size construction, repair and demolition projects carried out by municipalities

Battery packs changing the market

5th March 2021 Lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery packs are “revolutionising” the market for electric industrial equipment, such as forklift trucks and cherry pickers in construction, says industrial lithium-ion battery distributor CHASE Technologies GM Brent Frazer. Although the LiFePO4 batteries may... →

ENERGIZED The energy density of LiFePO4 batteries is about 140 Wh/kg, or three times that of lead-acid batteries

Colliery installs filter press systems at processing plants

26th February 2021 Mining investment firm Menar will implement a programme comprising the installation of filter press systems at both of its Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) processing plants to maximise water reuse and recycling. The commissioning of the first filter press system is planned for next month, with... →

FRESH AND CLEAN All the water management measures implemented by ZAC will also ensure the protection of freshwater resources against pollution

Project aims to transform HVAC-R sector

12th February 2021 The Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, together with the Bavarian Environment Agency, has entered into bilateral cooperation with the Western Cape government in what is known as the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) partnership project. The project being... →

Specialist installs humidifier at tobacco plant

12th February 2021 Humidification specialist Humidair, in collaboration with air conditioning contractor Fifty-two Engineering, completed a humidification project for a tobacco company in Edenvale, Gauteng at the end of last year. The project entailed the installation of large JetSpray humidifier systems comprising... →

Planned maintenance essential during pandemic

12th February 2021 With ventilation and filtration having become paramount in the prevention of Covid-19 infections, preventive maintenance for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment has become “vital” in ensuring that machines work optimally, says air conditioning specialist Flat Foot... →

Partnership aids expansion into Southern Africa

5th February 2021 Global refining, manufacturing and marketing company Q8Oils – subsidiary of petroleum giant Kuwait Petroleum Corporation – is now a key competitor in the South African lubricants market, owing to an innovative manufacturing and distribution agreement with local oil company Blue Chip Lubricants.... →

TOP NOTCH QUALITY Blue Chip Lubricants produces high-quality lubricants under strict production and quality-control measures set and monitored by Q8Oils

Company makes a significant investment locally

5th February 2021 Lubricants manufacturer and distributor FUCHS Lubricants South Africa has invested more than R250-million in South Africa for the completion of the construction of a warehouse and office complex, which will be completed by February 2022. Land that is adjacent to its current location in Isando, of... →

REACHING FOR THE SKY The latest materials handling equipment will be in use, for example, narrow isle lift trucks stacking to 17 m high

International standards lacking locally

5th February 2021 Lubricants distributor OILY SA’s offering is comparable to that of other major oil companies, such as oil industry company Shell, petroleum refining company Total and independent lubricants manufacturer Fuchs, while the quality standards of locally manufactured lubricants have been found to be... →

Solutions provided for hazardous oil spills

5th February 2021 Spill response company Spill Tech offers customers an efficient way to manage hazardous spills and discharges. This includes an oil spill kit to deal with oil spills at fixed facilities, enabling a fast response to deal with small to medium spills. The kits are designed for quick use to clean up... →

Survey shows decline in local pipe market

22nd January 2021 The Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (Sappma) has released the findings of a qualitative and quantitative pipe survey that shows a decline in infrastructure investment, particularly in the local pipe market, of 15%. According to the survey, conducted by business management... →

TREADING CAREFULLY The manufacturing process is a continuous one and, therefore, sensitive to volume and excessive stoppages

Projects can bolster local steel tubes and pipes industry

22nd January 2021 Steel industry association the Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa (STEASA) believes that the fast-tracking of the 50 strategic integrated projects and 12 special projects – announced in the Government Gazette this year – will present “tremendous opportunities” for locally manufactured... →

RECOVERY PLAN Projects are being fast-tracked to bolster job creation and the economy

Awareness grows for atmospheric bottled water

15th January 2021 Consumers being more cautious about the purification of drinking water has resulted in growing awareness of atmospheric water generation technology company Aqua Air Africa’s atmospheric bottled water, says Aqua Air CEO Keamogetswe Matsho. The company’s atmospheric water generating technology... →

Mixture of strategies will provide suitable water treatment solution

15th January 2021 A mixture of strategies will provide the best water treatment solution for a water-scarce country, such as South Africa, says global technology company ABB Energy Industries South Africa sales manager Joyce Moganedi. “The scarcity of water has led to the Department of Water and Sanitation... →

DECISIONS, DECISIONS Big data is an output that is targeted at high level management, to enable plant managers to make company strategic decisions

Stilted supply boosts price

4th December 2020 In the past year, the price of iron-ore has recovered quite well, mainly on the back of constrained supply in South America and the economic recovery in China, with the latter driving consumption, explains international commodities consultancy Core Consultants MD Lara Smith. She notes that there... →

HEALTHY COMPETITION South Africa has competition from India, which is increasing its supplies to China.

Chinese steel industry could jeopardise project

4th December 2020 The Chinese steel industry is close to peaking, as it is expected to exceed one-billion tons in 2020; consequently, analysts predict that iron-ore consumption in China will plateau and decline, owing to the abundance of scrap in the country. Commodities consultancy Roskill steel alloys principal... →

DROP IN THE OCEAN Covid-19 has had a small impact on the iron-ore market, with South Africa experiencing some disruption

Bulk air coolers improving efficiencies and working conditions

20th November 2020 Thermal engineering solutions provider Industrial Water Cooling (IWC) recently supplied a field-erected bulk air cooler for a mine site in Burkina Faso, in addition, supplying the associated condenser cooling towers for the associated refrigeration plant. Further to this, several cooling towers... →

COOLER CONDITIONS Bulk air coolers reduce the working temperatures inside a mine, consequently enabling mineworkers to operate in better conditions and allowing for improved efficiencies

Company designs, constructs ventilation and cooling systems for mines

20th November 2020 Specialist mine refrigeration and ventilation consultancy group Bluhm Burton Engineering (BBE) is fully committed to the underground mining project for De Beers’ Venetia diamond mine, in Limpopo. The consulting and projects divisions of BBE are both involved in the project, with the former... →

Crime, health and safety concerns for mines

13th November 2020 Theft, as a consequence of mining equipment and machinery remaining idle for a long period, is an issue for operations on care and maintenance, says law firm ENSafrica mine and occupational health and safety director Pieter Colyn. In many cases, mining operations retain third-party security... →

MAINTAINING STANDARDS Mines failing to comply with the risk assessments may result in potential instances of non-compliance

Pandemic pushes more mines into care and maintenance

13th November 2020 A downturn in the global demand for certain minerals, uncertain and cyclical commodity prices and the increasing costs of production have resulted in several mines and beneficiation operations being placed on care and maintenance. These factors have been prevalent since late 2017, and... →

Photo by Creamer Media
TRYING TIMES Many mines that have been placed on care and maintenance will remain in that state for the foreseeable future

Declining demand breathes new life into breathalysers

6th November 2020 Covid-19 has resulted in reduced demand for breathalysers, as “clients immediately assumed that there would be significant danger for people using breathalysers because of the way the virus is spread”, says ALCOSafe MD Rhys Evans. Consequently, the company had to find innovative ways of... →

BLOWN AWAY The ALCO-blow rapid test looks like a torch or a baton with a fitted cone in the front

Powder a new solution for spills

6th November 2020 Strict health and safety regulations in the mining industry mean that any liquid spills in workshop areas or elsewhere need to be cleaned quickly and effectively. To cater for such spills, South African manufacturer Pratley created the Gunge Spunge powder, which is “ideal” for spills, including... →

ALL DRIED UP In addition to absorbing spills from solid surfaces, the powder can also be used to contain oil spills in water

Software solutions to ensure health, safety at mines

6th November 2020 Business management consultant Decision Inc. has implemented health and safety software solutions at iron-ore and manganese mines in the Northern Cape, amongst others. The company offers their hiDocs, Contractor Management, and Risk Management solutions, all of which are compatible with any... →

Covid-19 measures hinder production

6th November 2020 Health and safety measures at Canyon Coal mines have changed drastically since the emergence of the pandemic, and this has had an impact on production, says Canyon Coal health, safety and environment manager David Masilela. He explains that employees have had to change the way they operate and... →

Expected e-commerce growth to stir demand for warehousing

30th October 2020 A local increase in online sales owing to the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to stir demand for warehousing in Africa, says architecture firm Paragon Group director Estelle Meiring. “Traditionally, South Africa has been far behind the growth curve for e-commerce internationally, especially... →

Maintenance management in mining is essential

23rd October 2020 With the lockdown causing severe restrictions for mining operations in South Africa, mining companies have had to revisit strategic planning and adjust objectives for the current financial year, states former University of Pretoria (UP) Graduate School of Technology Management Professor Krige... →

Predictive maintenance key for fleet management

23rd October 2020 The mining industry is trending towards the adoption of predictive maintenance, intelligent prognostics and the leveraging of the Industrial Internet of Things, all of which assist in improving asset reliability. These technologies can pinpoint the components of machines that are likely to fail,... →

CONSISTENCY IS KEY Achieving a reliable productive fleet that is optimally maintained and operated by competent high-performing people results in maximum efficiency

Covid-19 halts nonessential projects

23rd October 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent impact on industry have halted all non-essential projects. However, demolition contractor Jet Demolition contracts manager Kate Bester expects that projects will resume as industries recover. “Jet Demolition typically assists large mining companies with... →

RAISING THE ROOF The company specialises in heavy industrial demolition and the rehabilitation of large, redundant sites

Industry 4.0 adoption muted in South Africa

22nd May 2020 The adoption and impact of Industry 4.0 in South Africa is still relatively muted, compared to the rest of the world, with its biggest challenges being education, connectivity, and electricity and accessibility, says automation and machine building solutions provider S4 Integration marketing... →

NO CHALLENGE IS TOO BIG Industry 4.0 is here to make manufacturing more efficient and also improve daily lives

Covid-19 exposes businesses to risk of cyberattacks

22nd May 2020 Owing to the current Covid-19 lockdown, initiatives are being rolled out in many countries, and owing to interruption, many businesses believe that they may have to deal with an industrial control systems (ICS) cyberattack, says cybersecurity solutions provider Kapersky Africa’s enterprise sales... →

BETHWEL OPIL Companies must ensure that staff are armed with the latest skills and knowledge, especially when considering how quickly cyber incidents evolve.

Resilience paramount for Society 5.0 era

22nd May 2020 New strategies are necessary for socioeconomic inclusivity and sustainable development given the novelty of the era of Society 5.0 combined with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). In this era, the fusing of biological, ecological, physical, technological and socio-political worlds is... →

Company approves R3m budget for Artisan 4.0

22nd May 2020 The Colliery Training College (CTC) board has approved R3-million towards achieving its Artisan 4.0 vision by the end of 2020. Artisan 4.0 will enable an artisan to know about bearings, gearboxes and sequence starters because the basic principles of mechanics, electricity, forces and motion have... →

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