Robyn Wilkinson

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Robyn Wilkinson

Robyn Wilkinson is a Creamer Media Writer for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

First flameproof skid steer for underground use supplied to Matla

2nd June 2017 The first flameproof skid steer, the JCB 155, developed by explosion protection and industrial equipment provider Exis Engineering, together with equipment manufacturer JCB, has been supplied to mining company Exxaro’s Matla coal mine, in Mpumalanga. →

Hard-wearing materials handling solution key to energy savings

2nd June 2017 Energy-saving solutions employed in materials handling processes that allow for the strategic redirection of energy use in mining operations are crucial for securing the future of the South African mining industry, says long-life wear solutions provider Rio-Carb director Martin Maine. →

Photo by Duane Daws
PRECISE FINISHES Plasma cutting ensures clean surface finishes on Rio-Carb’s liner plates, which reduces friction between the plates and material moving through a discharge chute

Intermodal terminals benefit emerging smaller players

2nd June 2017 Market response to the newly established intermodal terminals in Elandsfontein, Gauteng, and Musina, Limpopo has been positive; however, industry still perceives the use of rail as a challenge. →

MATHYS ENSLIN The Barloworld Logistics intermodal solution is cost competitive and produces lower carbon emissions than road transport

Demand up for conveyor belt fire protection solution

2nd June 2017 Environmental management company I-CAT is seeing an uptick in demand for its fire-protection systems as global mining houses increasingly recognise that effective firefighting technologies at their operations are a primary component of mining safety. The Pretoria-based company’s T-Rotor... →

Photo by Duane Daws
ANDRO GIBHARD Effective fire protection solutions are imperative for high fire-risk elements on mining conveyor belts

Greater demand expected for larger capacity hoists

2nd June 2017 Lifting equipment supplier CMCO Material Handling is preparing for increased demand for its Yale ERGO 360 ratchet lever hoist when the full range of the equipment arrives in South Africa this month, meeting the evolving needs of the mining industry. →

ERGONOMIC DESIGN The lever and crank design of the Yale ERGO 360 ratchet lever hoists enable the operator to control the unit safely and effectively

New crane tailored to small, medium-sized businesses

2nd June 2017 The South African market’s response to lifting group Konecranes’ CXT UNO wire rope hoist crane has been encouraging since its global launch in January, with Konecranes Southern Africa service, sales and marketing director John MacDonald attributing this to the combined reliability and... →

MAKING TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBLE The CXT UNO was developed as an economical solution for small and medium-sized businesses

Cybercrime still a significant threat to business

19th May 2017 Despite the ongoing threats of cyber criminality, companies continue to fail to adequately protect their valuable data resources, says digital security provider Gemalto Africa identity and data protection manager Neil Cosser. →

Photo by Bloomberg
DATA PROTECTION IMPERATIVE Hackers are casting a wider net and are using easily attainable account and identity information as a starting point for high-value targets

South African companies must prioritise cybersecurity

19th May 2017 While the information technology (IT) security systems available in South Africa are highly competitive, corporate spend on this aspect of business remains too low if the country is to keep up with international trends, says hacking and industrial espionage protection company Neworder Industries... →

Cyberattacks have more than just financial costs

19th May 2017 While the global proliferation of technology benefits users, it also increases the number and complexity of cyber risks, and companies cannot afford not to factor in the damage that a cyberattack can have on their reputation, says global cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab Africa MD Riaan... →

Focus on future uranium tech amid subdued price

12th May 2017 With innovations in the extraction and application of uranium constantly being made, the Uranium 2017 International Conference will provide a platform for the discussion of advances in the industry and a forum for generating new ideas. →

LOCATION IS KEY The Uranium 2017 International Conference will include a site visit to Rio Tinto’s Rössing mine – the longest running uranium mine in the world

Online concrete technology courses launched

12th May 2017 To improve ease of access to education and training courses as well as pass rates in the South African construction sector, cement and concrete technical services provider The Concrete Institute’s (TCI’s) School of Concrete Technology launched its online e-learning platform in January. →

MOVING WITH THE TIMES The Concrete Institute is now able to track delegates’ progress through the online platform to ensure that they prepare adequately before sitting the exam

Africa demanding more mining tech, new solutions offered

12th May 2017 The demand for mine planning solutions is on the rise in Africa, with mining solutions developer Maptek Africa GM Nick Venter noting that there is particular interest in new technology that can be integrated with current systems. →

NEW FRONTIERS The I-Site XR3 laser scanner allows for greater coverage with fewer scans, allowing for the surveying of otherwise out-of-range areas on mine sites

Improved geology function advances mine planning

12th May 2017 Adding the GeoLogic software solution to the MineSight mine planning suite provides geologists with smart, time-saving modelling and allows for a reproducible, auditable geological model that can be quickly updated with new information, says mining technology developer Hexagon Mining. →

BETTER VISUALISATION GeoLogic helps geologists build complex shapes, using mathematical algorithms to create a surface or a solid from drillhole data

More technical skills needed

12th May 2017 Without more technical skills, the future of the Southern African mining industry cannot be secured, says Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) president Cuthbert Musingwini. Skills development will, therefore, be included on the agenda at this year’s SAIMM Mine Planning... →

CUTHBERT MUSINGWINI Mines are required to continuously innovate how they plan and operate their production systems

Mine planning software a must for modern miners

12th May 2017 In the face of numerous technical challenges, as well as the overall drive to reduce mining costs and improve efficiency amid commodity price volatility, miners globally can no longer afford to operate without using modern analytical, modelling, simulation and optimisation software, says mining... →

BOOSTING DEVELOPMENT MICROMINE’s fleet management and mine control solution, Pitram, is assisting Mongolian copper and gold mine Oyu Tolgoi to restart its underground development

Company expands in key African markets

5th May 2017 Despite challenging macroeconomic headwinds causing a slowdown in consumer spending in many African markets in 2016, packaging company Nampak remains confident of the demographic fundamentals underpinning long-term packaging growth on the continent. →

ANDRE DE RUYTER Nampak aims to uphold good relationships with all relevant authorities and contribute meaningfully to the manufacturing sector in the African countries in which it operates

Report identifies key areas for growth in Africa

5th May 2017 Well-balanced economies that have shown steady performance over an extended period present key opportunities for growth and development in Africa, while those with high political risk will continue to fail to instill confidence in foreign direct investors, says trade credit insurer Coface. →

Wireless communication to drive economic growth in Africa

5th May 2017 Large-scale information communication technology (ICT) investment can play a crucial role in fuelling gross domestic product growth through increased economic activity, innovation and productivity, but government, the private sector, donors and civil society need to take bolder steps to... →

IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY Foreign direct investment and improvements to telecommunications infrastructure have spurred a boom in information communication technology spending in Africa

Company to extend financial services into East and West Africa

5th May 2017 As part of its strategic ambition to position itself as a leading Pan-African financial services leader, specialised financial services group Alexander Forbes is exploring opportunities for expansion in East and West Africa, as well as further afield in greenfield countries such as Morocco. →

Economic uncertainty affects African imports

5th May 2017 As global economic volatility places pressure on importers in many African countries, more businesses are investigating the option of trade finance, currently regarded as a broader import finance solution rather than just a transactional one, says South African import transaction specialist... →

ADAM ORLIN Companies cannot afford to fall into a routine when it comes to the latest market developments

Intra-African trade and investment to drive long-term development

5th May 2017 While the current reality is that many African countries have become reliant on foreign direct investment (FDI) to implement their development plans, the longer-term goal should be for these countries to become self-sufficient, says Thomson Reuters Africa corporates and partnerships head Kamal... →

PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH African countries need to become more self-sufficient, relying on a network of neighbouring countries and regional trade blocks to support their growth

Cogeneration valuable to S Africa’s energy mix

21st April 2017 With cleaner energy technology rapidly advancing and industries increasingly aiming to stabilise their power supply through off-grid generation alternatives, energy solutions provider Vuselela Energy director Jacques Malan is confident that cogeneration systems can offer a valuable power... →

AWARD-WINNING SOLUTIONS Vuselela Energy’s Eternity Power project is enabling a smelter in Rustenburg to harvest thermal energy and convert it into energy

Clamp an effective cable-theft solution

21st April 2017 Industrial equipment supplier Banding and Identification Solutions Africa is seeing a rise in demand from the electric power sector for its Ultra-Lok open-end clamp, owing to cable theft causing substantial disruptions in South Africa’s power supply. →

Integrated energy solutions Africa’s answer

21st April 2017 While several large-scale energy projects in Africa are progressing positively, growing global interest in sustainability and renewable energy highlights the need to actively pursue other low-cost, fast-tracked integrated energy solutions that will benefit Africans without access to electricity,... →

Cross-border power to boost African economies

21st April 2017 With the announcement of an ambitious power project to connect Cape Town and Cairo within the next three years by regional orhganisation the Eastern Africa Power Pool, the opportunities for reliable cross-border electricity generation are once again in the spotlight, says power generation... →

Generator giant to expand its Southern Africa network

21st April 2017 Power generation equipment developer Himoinsa’s new subsidiary, Himoinsa Southern Africa, will provide a base from which the company can develop its geophysical footprint in Southern Africa by expanding and supporting its existing distribution network. →

STRENGTHENING NETWORKS Himoinsa’s new subsidiary will operate primarily as a base to provide more technical and after-sales support for Himoinsa’s distributor network Southern Africa

Alternative power supply approach to benefit low-income areas

21st April 2017 Alternative energy supply company Specialized Solar Systems (SSS) is making significant headway in driving the large-scale implementation of its solar-powered distributed direct current microgrids, which incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT) to supply energy to low-income areas in the form of... →

Strand jacks an effective option for sugar mills

12th April 2017 Machine moving and rigging specialist Lovemore Bros is adding four 70 t strand jacks to its service offering, providing an effective heavy-lifting alternative to conventional cranes for many industries, including the sugar industry. →

EFFECTIVE USE OF SPACE Strand jacks are particularly useful in operations with limited space available, such as in sugar mills, which are generally very congested

Preparing to keep top producer spot in S Africa

7th April 2017 Gold producer AngloGold Ashanti has recommissioned a section of its Mine Waste Solutions operation, located in Stilfontein, in the North West, in order to maintain its current uranium production levels in anticipation of potential future upturns in the international market. →

MANAGING OPERATIONS The Great Noligwa mine was added to the Moab Khotsong operation in 2014, where uranium is produced as a by-product of gold production

Long-term improvements forecast for uranium market

7th April 2017 Although the international uranium market has been facing tough operating conditions, new demand growth is expected later this year on the back of investment in new nuclear reactors in Russia, China and India, says data insights solutions provider GlobalData mining research director Alok Shukla. →

NUCLEAR SURGE Twenty-two new nuclear reactors are scheduled for completion this year, which will require triuranium octoxide, or yellowcake, for operation

Demand grows as centrifugal screen proves its worth

31st March 2017 Market demand is growing for Johnson Screens’ all welded, one-piece wedge wire centrifuge screens after the completion of a three-year trial at sugar producer Illovo Sugar subsidiary Ubombo Sugar’s mill, in Swaziland, which started in 2014, says filtration specialist Filteg Solutions. →

Sugar tax threatens sugar industry survival

31st March 2017 The South African Treasury’s proposal to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) later this year threatens the sustainability and survival of a sugar industry already under strain, says South African Sugar Association (Sasa) executive director Trix Trikam. →

Need for industry growth must be recognised

31st March 2017 More favourable economic conditions for sugar cane production and processing need to be fostered in South Africa to protect and grow a sector that contributes an average R12-billion to the economy and provides about 350 000 jobs in the country, say industry associations the South African Cane... →

Photo by Duane Daws
REMAINING GLOBALLY RELEVANT South Africa needs to protect its positon as a globally competitive producer of high-quality sugar

Online platform advances sustainability in global sugar supply chain

31st March 2017 Sugar cane organisation Bonsucro launched Bonsucro Connect in January – a new cloud-based technology platform that will enable its global web of members to connect with one another to verify the sustainability standard of their sugar cane and streamline the global sugar supply chain. →

Photo by Joe Woodruff/Bonsucro
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING Bonsucro Connect will enable buyers to trace their supply and develop robust sourcing strategies to support producers of sustainable sugar cane-derived products

Sugar industry reduces haulage costs by R38m

31st March 2017 The South African sugar cane industry should be congratulated on the progress it has made over the past ten years in improving the efficiency of its haulage system in line with the South African National Roads Agency’s Road Traffic Management System (RTMS), says South African Cane Growers’... →

Sierra Leone gold sector ‘open for business’

10th March 2017 The moderate rise in the average gold price to $1 248/oz in 2016 increased investor appetite for gold exploration and triggered some merger and acquisition activity in the sector, providing a positive environment for miner Sula Iron & Gold to advance its planned drilling programme at its... →

STRATEGIC LOCATION Ferensola is located just 80 km from Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone and a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean

On track for low-cost production profile

10th March 2017 West African gold producer, developer and explorer Avesoro Resources expects its New Liberty gold mine, in Liberia, to be cash-flow positive during 2017, moving it closer to realising a low-cost production profile. →

CUTTING COSTS The decision to transition to an owner-operator mining model has been instrumental in lowering New Liberty gold mine’s cost profile

Partnership benefits miner, Ghanaians

10th March 2017 Canadian gold explorer Asante Gold has offered Ghanaian communities employment opportunities and the restoration of agricultural land in exchange for their support of its Keyhole gold project’s drilling programme, aimed at identifying a high-grade underground mineable gold deposit. The first... →

DOUGLAS MACQUARRIE Mining and agriculture can be mutually sustainable if there is a will and a plan

Krugerrand’s value highlighted on fiftieth anniversary

10th March 2017 This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Krugerrand and precious metals refining and smelting complex Rand Refinery will be celebrating South Africa’s own gold investment coin by highlighting its value to the South African domestic market. →

Photo by Duane Daws
MILLIONS MADE More than 60-million Krugerrands have been sold since the coin's launch in 1967

South Africa’s gold sector must improve its position

10th March 2017 Stakeholders in South Africa’s gold mining industry need to collaborate so that the country can regain its standing as a major gold producer and realise the significant value that the sector can potentially contribute to the local economy, says gold industry market development organisation World... →

ALISTAIR HEWITT A combination of macroeconomics and fundamentals will continue to support a healthy gold market in 2017

Responsible water use habits a focus for the long term

3rd March 2017 The water use strategies currently being adopted in South Africa to manage water shortfalls and prevent further drought damage must become long-term water use habits for all citizens, says South African advisory services provider KPMG associate director Antonino Manus. →

ANTONINO MANUS South Africa cannot afford a retraction in economic growth stemming from unjustifiably high water use

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