Theresa Bhowan-Rajah

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Theresa Bhowan-Rajah

Theresa Bhowan-Rajah is a Creamer Media Reporter for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Mining reform can alter bleak economic outlook

3rd September 2021 The short- to medium-term outlook for Zimbabwe’s mining and natural resources sector is bleak and can be mitigated only if urgent reforms – such as taking a hard stance against criminal activity and a general overhaul of the paper-based cadastre system – are undertaken, says Beech Veltman CEO... →

Industry faces multiple challenges amid unrest

20th August 2021 The recent spate of riots in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng has resulted in a difference in demand in the food and beverage industry, says industrial solutions provider and distributor Bearings International (BI). “There have been challenges – not only in terms of losses but also in terms of... →

FOOD SAFE BI has carried and stocked an array of food and beverage products that have the correct certification and meet the required applications

Compartment system ensures pork safety from ‘farm to fork’

20th August 2021 Taking a more holistic approach to pork farming, meat producer and wholesaler Lynca Meats adheres and complies to the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation’s Pork360 Quality and Traceability system through the compartment system within the pig farming industry. The compartment system,... →

FARM TO FORK Lynca Meats quality assures its pork through strict adherence to the regulations of compartmentalised systems

Critical planning essential for safe furnace demolition

6th August 2021 While furnace demolitions are carried out often, demolition contractor Jet Demolition says successful implementation of a furnace demolition and project execution stem from detailed and meticulous planning. “Furnace demolition projects generally take one of two forms – either the demolition works... →

CAN STAND THE HEAT To execute a fast-paced furnace shutdown project successfully for repair and total demolition, the integration of plans and methods across disciplines is critical

Coolers manufacturing for smelting furnace successfully completed

6th August 2021 Foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie recently completed the manufacture and supply of specialised coolers for a platinum producer’s smelting furnace site in Rustenburg, in the North West. The company’s scope of work included the manufacture and supply of cast copper coolers, drill-and-plug... →

JURGEN DERCKSEN The end walls of the furnace take most of the hammering during the smelting process and will be replaced more frequently than the rest of the furnace

Gearboxes ensure increased safety

30th July 2021 Engineering solutions provider BMG supplies the local railway sector with custom-designed planetary gearboxes for use in railway maintenance programmes. Design customisations are adjusted according to the demand and physical requirements of the application. →

CARRYING THE WORLD BMG supplies the local railways sector with custom-designed planetary gearboxes for use in railway maintenance programmes

Production surplus meets growing rail industry demand

30th July 2021 Although stainless steel supplier Columbus Stainless can meet South Africa’s stainless steel material demands in all sectors, including the railroad industry, the apparent stainless steel consumption is too low to fulfil the mill’s total production capacity, says Columbus Stainless market... →

STRONG AND STURDY Ferritic stainless steel contains at least 10.5% chromium

Company steers through Covid-19 challenges

30th July 2021 Railroad equipment supplier and manufacturer Gibela has not been immune to the challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly those presented by the third wave. “We have experienced a rise in cases within our company, which is impacting on operations. Most of our suppliers were also affected by... →

COLETTE YENDE What Covid-19 has taught us is to have and implement an alternative plan

Transfluid set to become standard in mining

16th July 2021 While engineering solutions provider BMG’s Transfluid K Series is the most economical fluid coupling on the market, the only challenge it is currently facing is being listed as a “product standard” at certain operations in the mining industry. “We have run tests and have references on many of... →

NEW STANDARD BMG is currently waiting for approval to become listed as a standard on mine sites

Company achieves milestone

2nd July 2021 Rapidly growing demand in the industrial sector, has seen nitrogen generation equipment supplier Nitralife recently achieving the milestone of having supplied more than 100 customised Nitracut generators to the fabrication and industrial sector over the past four years. “With each new sector and... →

NEXT GENERATION While Nitralife’s nitrogen generators have similar designs for various applications, it adjusts each variation according to customer's specifications

Service, product offering expansion creates market opportunities

2nd July 2021 Cutting and precision tool manufacturer and distributor First Cut has recently expanded its cutting and grinding range of product and service offerings to include welding solutions. This expansion was prompted as the welding process is the next natural step that follows the cutting process in the... →

ANDREW POOLE Forming the backbone of the broader South African economy, the steel, fabrication and metal processing sectors are essential

Defects liability period under way for KZN crèche

25th June 2021 Multidisciplinary engineering, project and construction firm, Zimile Consulting Engineers, is supervising and monitoring the Ezinembeni Crèche, in Maqongqo, Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, as part of the defects liability period of the contract This follows the completion of the initial... →

Transport revolution on horizon for SA

25th June 2021 While the term sustainable transport system (STS) is often used generically and in a multifaceted sense, engineering and infrastructure consultancy company SMEC South Africa suggests that it should primarily refer to transport systems that have a low impact on the environment, are cost effective... →

SMOOTH SAILING All transport service providers are aiming to introduce a world-class STS to service their communities

Firm develops programme to mitigate industry challenges

25th June 2021 Mining and exploration consultants SRK Consulting’s active skills development programme for graduate engineers and scientists aims to mitigate one of the consulting engineering industry’s biggest challenges – a lack of experience, says SRK MD Vis Reddy. “Various factors in recent decades have... →

HEAD ABOVE WATER SRK has been engaged by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to assist with refurbishing and upgrading the department’s wastewater treatment plants around Pretoria

Manufacturer mitigates supply challenges

28th May 2021 With the global pandemic posing challenges across all industries, the greatest challenge that industrial and electronic supplier Actum faces is the timeous supply of raw materials. “Actum Group is the only authorised manufacturer under licence for BAND-IT stainless steel strapping and buckles... →

FIRM GRIP The BAND-IT stainless steel band clamps spread their clamping force out across the full perimeter of the items they are joining

Machine comes to SA shores

28th May 2021 With the stainless steel industry need for a smaller and more compact rotary brush machine, deburring machine manufacturers Timesavers International has developed the 22 RB series rotary brush machine, which Timesavers’ local distributor and cutting, welding and grinding solutions provider First... →

NEW TECH The 22 RB series is the most compact and affordable model in the company’s RB Series product range

Company achieves zero harm operations

21st May 2021 Drilling technology and services provider Rosond celebrated a year of zero-harm operations last month with 263 employees across six different mining operations in Carletonville, Gauteng. The company achieved this through its hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA), which forms the basis... →

NO HARM Rosond celebrated a year of zero-harm operations last month through its hazard identification and risk assessment

Company ready for Covid-19 medical waste surge

21st May 2021 Waste and recycling company Averda says it has treated more than 600 000 kg of Covid-19 waste in January this year. “This represents a significant increase in the volume of medical waste, compared with those of previous months. Only a month prior, in December 2020, at the peak of the second wave,... →

KEEP IT CLEAN Averda, which has extensive medical waste treatment facilities located in City Deep Johannesburg, Klerksdorp, George and Killarney Gardens has made provision for the possible third Covid-19 wave

Fugitive dust reduced on mine haulage roads

21st May 2021 Owing to the dust emissions generated on mine haulage roads and the growing health concerns associated with Covid-19, environmental management company I-CAT has developed the GreenBit dust-suppression solution. The water-soluble and easy-to-apply product improves tyre grip while reducing the need... →

LESS DUST I-CAT manufacturing plant

New app tracks, assesses driver behaviour

21st May 2021 Telematics tracking solutions provider MiX Telematics has developed the MyMiX Tracking app to track and assess driver behaviour without the need for embedded hardware. MyMiX Tracking leverages mobile phone technology to enable real-time tracking of drivers while also recording, measuring and... →

HENRY SMITH The MyMiX app increases driver accountability through the monitoring of drivers

Manufacturer gears forth despite pandemic

14th May 2021 Amid ongoing research and development (R&D) of diesel engines for trucks and other vehicles, and the optimisation of engine emissions, US engine designer, manufacturer and distributor Cummins in South Africa was not immune to the Covid-19 pandemic. Cummins in South Africa partners with... →

TAKING STRIDES Cummins in South Africa partners with original-equipment manufacturers as part of its R&D strategies

Convenient label solutions for pharmaceutical goods

9th April 2021 With the dangers and high sensitivity associated with the handling of medical and pharmaceutical products, the accuracy of storage, maintenance and distribution processes are of utmost importance, says on-pack packaging company Pyrotec PackMedia GM Timothy Beattie. Consequently, the company has... →

Mine protocols adapted for Covid-19

9th April 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mining industry, owing to employees often having to work in close proximity to one another and the consequent difficulty of isolating tasks. To mitigate these difficulties, America-based industrial medical support service provider Remote... →

QUALITY SCREENING Remote Medical International has adapted its proprietary Health Dashboard to capture and track Covid-19 information on mine employees

Dryers used in fight against Covid-19

9th April 2021 Compressed-air treatment equipment importer Artic Driers has, in partnership with nongovernmental organisation Save-P, developed locally manufactured, low-dewpoint, heatless air dryers to combat Covid-19. These dryers were developed to be issued free of charge to hospitals and clinics where... →

Wireless tech enhances comms, safety

26th March 2021 In addition to real-time communication and monitoring, wireless technology can improve and enhance the safety of mining operations by integrating with several solutions, such as proximity detection systems (PDS), says mining technology company Ya Batho. “Wireless technologies can be leveraged to... →

Anthracite producer resumes operations

26th March 2021 Owing to Covid-19-related industry shutdowns and low demand for coal and anthracite, the operations of South African anthracite producer Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) – subsidiary of mining investment firm Menar – were placed on care and maintenance. However, operations reopened on January 4... →

CREATING POWER 90% of the workers and contractors at ZAC are sourced from the surrounding communities

Coal project to benefit Botswana

26th March 2021 Botswana coal mining company Maatla Resources, recently awarded a mining licence for the development of the Mmamabula project, says the project will offer several benefits to the country such as strengthening its coal industry, and increasing trade and government revenues. “Botswana’s reliance on... →

GREATER HORIZONS The diversification of the mining industry is seen as a mitigating step in assisting with industry diversification

PVC doors keep it cool

12th March 2021 Design, development and fabrication company Unique Ventilation & Support Systems (UVSS) has developed automated, high-pressure roll-up polyvinyl chloride (PVC) doors to control airflow in underground workings. The doors can also be integrated with new mining technologies. →

GREAT FLOW The automated UVSS Roll Up PVC doors are installed to control ventilation and airflow in a ventilation district at each level of the underground mine

Favourable prices enable survival

12th March 2021 Considering the risks involved in underground mining operations in general, and currently amid the Covid-19 pandemic, commodity analysts Core Consultants states that many marginal mines only survived because of favourable commodity prices. For example, when the gold price exceeded $2 000/oz, many... →

LARA SMITH With the risks involved in underground mining operations in general, many marginal mines only survived because of favourable commodity prices

Supplier aids safety record

12th March 2021 Air compressor, pumps and generator rental supplier Rand-Air has played a pivotal role in a South African underground gold mine’s unbroken safety record during its seven-year business relationship with the mine. Considering the demanding conditions and potential dangers in mines, Rand-Air has... →

COMPRESSED AIR Considering the demanding conditions and potential dangers in mines, Rand-Air has assisted in achieving a safe mining environment

New blasting system to be launched in 2021

12th March 2021 Explosives and blasting systems provider Orica will launch the next generation of the wireless blasting system solution, WebGen 200. The WebGen 200 is set for commercial release in late 2021; with availability subject to the regulatory approvals. Orica initiating systems VP Adam Mooney describes... →

BLAST OFF Since the launch of WebGen in 2017, Orica has executed more than 1 550 blasts that have been detonated using the wireless technology

Coal mine extension on the horizon

12th March 2021 Coal mining company Kangra, a subsidiary of mining investment company Menar, is expected to extend its Kangra mine, in Mpumalanga, through the Kusipongo project. The Kusipongo resource is situated directly west of the existing mine and is expected to extend Kangra’s life-of-mine (LoM) significantly. →

SIDING WITH COAL The Kusipongo extension project, which was delayed owing to the pandemic, will proceed now that coal markets have recovered. It will extend Kangra Mine's life significantly

Custom wireless required for mining

12th March 2021 Wireless communication technologies cannot be adopted from other industries and forced to function in an underground mining environment, states mining technology company Ya Batho. “Technology from other industries is not designed for mining and cannot, by law, be deployed in hazardous areas. All... →

HIGH TECH Although Ya Batho does have on-the-shelf products, the company insists on conducting a site visit and signal propagation testing

Coal mine extension on the horizon

12th March 2021 Coal mining company Kangra, a subsidiary of mining investment company Menar, is expected to extend its Kangra mine, in Mpumalanga, through the Kusipongo project. The Kusipongo resource is situated directly west of the existing mine and is expected to extend Kangra’s life-of-mine (LoM) significantly. →

SIDING WITH COAL The Kusipongo extension project, which was delayed owing to the pandemic, will proceed now that coal markets have recovered. It will extend Kangra Mine's life significantly

Correct concrete vital for industrial flooring

26th February 2021 With the construction of industrial floors requiring concrete with characteristics entirely different from that of concrete for vertical structures, it is important to use the correct material in the correct proportions, says technical service provider The Concrete Institute (TCI) MD Bryan... →

BRYAN PERRIE Keeping the floor clean, maintaining the joint sealant and filler and timeous repair of any damage will ensure a long life span of concrete floors

Flooring contributes to Covid-19 safety measures

26th February 2021 The increasingly important role of flooring and floor coverings in mitigating the spread of Covid-19 has resulted in factories and commercial companies’ rethinking their floor covering designs, says floor covering distributor and installer KBAC Flooring. “Many factories have started to add... →

GUIDED STEPS Safe flooring goes beyond demarcations and markings; it should also be environmentally safe and also contribute to the fight against Covid-19

Improved formulation, developments maintain low VOC emissions

26th February 2021 Vinyl flooring specialist and South African Vinyl Association (SAVA) member Polyflor SA continually develops and improves formulations for all flooring ranges to ensure that volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels are kept to the lowest possible levels, with no significant negative... →

Digital tech advances project management

19th February 2021 Since the development and application of critical chain methods, no real new project management techniques have been developed, but information, digital and design technologies have accelerated. This has resulted in improved application of existing project management methodologies, says tertiary... →

GIEL BEKKER In the mining sector, we have already witnessed the application of digital twins, but this tool is still new with many lessons still to be learned

Contractor onboarding creates safe mining operations

19th February 2021 Onboarding solutions provider KBC Health & Safety has been hired by coal and minerals mining company Exxaro to oversee the onboarding of contractors for its Grootegeluk Six (GG6) expansion project, in Limpopo, South Africa. The new GG6 plant will enable an additional 600 t/h of throughput o‌n the... →

DRIES LOUBSER KBC has been employed by Exxaro to facilitate the site-specific inductions for the GG6 contractors at the Exxaro Marapong Training Centre

Two-phase coal project will secure production

19th February 2021 Coal exploration and mining company Canyon Coal’s De Wittekrans greenfield project, in Mpumalanga, South Africa, will take place in two phases. Phase 1 – the opencast operation – has an economically minable reserve of 14.3-million tonnes of run-of-mine (RoM), while Phase 2 comprises the... →

KEEP IT COAL The De Wittekrans mine has an estimated life-of-mine of about 25 years

Metal volatility creates supply deficit

5th February 2021 Amid the global knock-on effects of Covid-19 in every industry, and despite the impending deficit caused by high demand and low supply, international commodities consultancy Core Consultants states that 2021 is the year for metals. “In the mining industry, metals have formed somewhat of a safe... →

LARA SMITH In the mining industry, metals have formed somewhat of a safe haven amid the global instability in democracies

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