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

Monitoring portal ensures standby power equipment is primed

2nd December 2016 Power management solutions provider Powermode has introduced its monitoring portal, which provides real-time feedback on the performance of standby power equipment to prevent power failures. →

Hybrid gensets to complement renewable energy

2nd December 2016 Generating set producer Aksa Power Generation South Africa (SA) will launch its hybrid generating set (genset) in South Africa in January next year, providing a standby power generating solution to the country that is able to run in parallel with renewable-energy sources. →

Many benefits to locally produced liquid filtration options

25th November 2016 Liquid filtration specialist Flow Clear Filtration has had exponential growth in market interest in its locally produced liquid filtration solutions, which are more cost-effective and accessible than imported options. →

MODIFIED BAG HOUSINGS By fitting its bag housing with bigger inlet/outlet ports, Flow Clear Filtration can achieve higher flow rates

Greater emphasis on industrial air filtration needed

25th November 2016 Despite the health and environmental benefits associated with ensuring clean air in industrial environments, many companies still consider air filtration as a nonessential element of their operations, says air filtration solutions provider Aircure owner Darren Bibby. →

CUSTOMISABLE DESIGN Aircure’s containerised baghouse filter system is scalable and can be supplied with any level of filtration

Fluid cleanliness monitor internationally well received

25th November 2016 Industrial filtration solutions supplier Filtration Management Solutions (FMS) has had an overwhelmingly positive international response to the PCM500 fluid cleanliness monitor, which uses unique filter mesh technology, since its introduction last year. →

REAL-TIME DATA The PCM500 monitor provides a three-part ISO 4406 cleanliness code in under six minutes, which can be uploaded directly to mobile devices for analysis

Reverse pocket filter coming to South Africa

25th November 2016 After extensive trials in Europe, with very successful results, air and liquid filtration solutions provider Freudenberg Filtration Technologies’ HydroMaxx reverse pocket filter will become available in South Africa next month. →

New technology launched at FDT Africa 2016

11th November 2016 Beverage industry solutions supplier Eureka Scientific launched Netherlands-based food and beverage process solutions manufacturer Pentair Haffmans’ carbon dioxide (CO2) selector to the African market at the Food and Drink Technology Africa 2016 trade fair. →

LOWERING COSTS With the elimination of maintenance, the total cost of ownership of Pentair Haffmans’ CO2 selector is very low

Adaptable decentralised drive ideal for brewery bottling systems

11th November 2016 Distributor of engineering components Bearing Man Group’s (BMG’s) VLT decentral drive FCD 302, manufactured by Denmark-based engineering technology supplier Danfoss, is experiencing great success in the South African brewery industry, owing to its adaptability to client specifications. →

BANKING BOTTLES The drive system has been implemented at breweries around the country to lower costs and improve the efficiency of bottling conveyor systems

Locally developed management system to be launched next year

11th November 2016 Eastern Cape-based manufacturing micro-brewery Dockside Brewery is beta testing an in-house developed supervisory control and data acquisition system that will be launched in South Africa next year. →

STREAMLINING OPERATIONS Brewers can log information about each batch of beer on to Dockside’s system, which can then be accessed later for analysis or administrative purposes

Craft-Star system debuts in Africa

11th November 2016 Food processing technology provider GEA Africa commissioned Africa’s first Craft-Star system at a craft beer brewery in South Africa, last month. →

Photo by Duane Daws
CATERING TO CRAFT BEER GEA offers solutions to craft beer breweries that meet the demand for higher production capacities with lower capital expenditure

Crowner tester ensures effective bottle sealing

11th November 2016 As product loss can be a challenge with significant cost implications in the brewery industry, electronic industrial systems specialist Interpast has introduced an in-house-developed PT800-1 Crowner Seal Element Tester to ensure the effective sealing of bottles. →

Coltan processing technology developed for Africa advances

4th November 2016 Mining and metals company AB Minerals is introducing a new disruptive processing technology, which has been developed to assist African columbite–tantalite (coltan) mining countries with the low-cost production of metallurgical-grade tantalum powder and niobium oxide using an industrial-scale... →

FRANK BALESTRA AB Minerals’ new processing technology will enable coltan exporting countries in Africa to advance their position in the tantalum value chain

Partnerships lower cost of ownership

4th November 2016 In response to the mining industry’s focus on lowering capital and operating costs, filtration and separations solutions provider Roytec Global, whose R240-million order book is predominantly filled by large African mining projects, has concentrated its manufacturing capacity in China, enabling... →

MAXIMUM RECOVERY The stainless steel thickeners in Roytec’s counter-current decantation circuit are designed to ensure the maximum recovery of copper and cobalt after each acid leaching step

Focused on processing in Africa’s artisanal mining sector

4th November 2016 While many large mining companies in Africa are processing sizeable mineral deposits, there is also a vast smaller scale and artisanal mining sector, requiring solutions tailored to their processing needs, such as those supplied by mining equipment supplier Appropriate Process Technology (APT). →

SHORT BUILD TIMES APT’s larger TT500 TriTank model was operational within eight weeks of delivery to site in Tanzania

Investors focused on funding future base metals exploration

4th November 2016 There is an increasing investment trend involving near-surface, easily mined base metal oxide deposits in Africa that can generate early cash flow amid current commodity prices to fund further exploration of the deposit at a later stage, advances specialist consultant to the mining industry The... →

SHORT-TERM FOCUS Oxidised near-surface deposits, such as high-grade secondary copper mineralisation in the oxide zone of Zambian copper deposits, are drawing investor interest

Need for greater focus on economic risks

4th November 2016 More scrutiny should be applied to economic risk factors amid contractions in the global mining sector when evaluating new mining projects, as a result of a prolonged downturn in commodities prices and uncertainty in global demand, South African risk insurance provider Export Credit Insurance... →

TSIDISO DISENYANA Low-cost producers stand a better chance of success, even in a depressed commodity market, than those in areas where production costs are high

Mozambique coal project on track for 2017 financial close

4th November 2016 Power development company Ncondezi Energy tells Mining Weekly it is making steady progress towards financial close in 2017 for its 300 MW power plant and integrated openpit thermal coal mine project, in Mozambique. →

SCALABLE POWER SUPPLY Ncondezi’s power plant and integrated coal mine project will initially supply 300 MW of power to Mozambique but will ultimately be scaled up to 1 800 MW

Robotic tank floor eliminates risks

21st October 2016 Oil, gas and petrochemicals services provider A.Hak Industrial Services (A.Hak) will introduce a Robotic online storage tank floor inspection service in South Africa before the end of this year. This new technology eliminates the need for storage tanks to be decommissioned for lengthy periods for... →

PRODUCT MODIFICATION A.Hak can now inspect furnace tubes as small as 3” in diameter

Company assists in making way for new plants

21st October 2016 Demolition specialist Jet Demolition is assisting energy and chemicals company Sasol with the demolition of redundant equipment at its Sasolburg operations, in the Free State, to create space for new plant systems. →

SAFETY IS KEY Cold-cutting equipment and high-reach excavators reduce the safety risks to personnel involved in the demolition of large plants

Valuable partnership continued with new projects

21st October 2016 Pressure vessels and piping fabrication specialists and construction fabrication consortium the Hydra Arc group of companies is continuing its long-term partnership with energy and chemicals company Sasol by assisting it with the construction of an air separation unit, as well as developing... →

EQUIPPED FOR PROJECTS Hydra Arc’s Sky Hill facility is specifically equipped for fabrication projects, in this case the 24 module design being undertaken for Sasol

Conveyor belt delivers coal from new shaft at Middelbult operation

21st October 2016 Global conveying and industrial solutions provider Dunlop Industrial Products manufactured and supplied conveyor belting that has been fitted on to one of the longest belt conveyor systems in the world – a 20-km-long system – at energy and chemicals company Sasol’s Middelbult coal mine in Secunda. →

Photo by Duane Daws
NEW DEVELOPMENTS The Shondoni shaft replaces the West shaft at the Middelbult mine as part of Sasol’s bid to ensure continued access to exploitable reserves

Steam traps enhance energy conservation, reduce downtime

21st October 2016 Valve products and services provider Heaton Valves Africa has been contracted to supply steam traps for the seventeenth air separation train that is under way at energy and chemicals company Sasol’s Secunda complex, in Mpumalanga. →

STEAM POWER As much steam as possible needs to be retained in steam transport piping as it is a valuable source of latent heat

Vacuum ejector modifications improve effectiveness

14th October 2016 Pneumatics products provider SMC Pneumatics has modified its ZH body ported type vacuum ejector so that it is more compact, lightweight and easy to mount. It also has an improved maximum suction flow rate, improving its overall effectiveness and functionality. The ejector is more compact in... →

OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY IMPROVED SMC provides a range of safety components including a series of single and dual residual pressure release valves

Cooler series for hydraulic systems improves efficiency, saves costs

14th October 2016 In light of the importance of installing the correct cooler for particular hydraulic systems, motion and control technologies diversified manufacturer Parker Hannifin’s Accumulator and Cooler Division Europe (ACDE) is developing the MAC air oil-cooler series, which provides significant benefits... →

Govt, industry collaboration key to preserving strategic value

7th October 2016 There is a very clear need for government and industry to come together to address the problems facing South Africa’s mining industry, particularly its chrome sector, say global energy and resource specialist consultancy Venmyn Deloitte MDs Andy Clay and Chris De Vries. →

Photo by Duane Daws
SAFEGUARDING NATURAL ADVANTAGE Government and industry need to collaborate to manage the supply of low-grade chrome to the international market and address the problem of high operating costs

Liner monitoring product ‘very well received’ by S Africa

30th September 2016 Mining solutions manufacturer Multotec is rolling out a liner profile condition-monitoring service to customers in Africa, which uses its in-house-designed, highly accurate laser scanner, MultoScan, to offer significant cost-savings by improving the grind efficiency of mill →

SPIKE TAYLOR The pin gauge method of measuring liner profiles is time consuming and often inaccurate

Largest trommel designed by specialist delivered to site

30th September 2016 Pretoria-based vibration specialist Vipro Vibrating Products has delivered four large rotating drum-screens, or trommels, to a diamond mining project, in Gauteng, with commissioning scheduled to start next month. →

DOUBLE DUTY The trommels are used in pairs and are designed to accommodate double their usual load without failing

World’s first trunnion-supported stainless steel mill commissioned

30th September 2016 Grinding mill supplier New Concept Projects (NCP) has commissioned the world’s first trunnion-supported, fully stainless steel mill at a copper plant, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is operating with the use of a highly acidic slurry solution as a grinding medium. →

WORLD FIRST New Concept Project’s trunnion-supported, fully stainless steel mill can operate in highly acidic conditions

S African supplier secures distributorship

30th September 2016 Mining solutions provider Harcliff Mining Services has been appointed the official South African distributor of Brazil-based crusher manufacturer Furlan’s product range, and US-based mining products manufacturer Excel Foundry & Machine’s offering, after being approached by the companies in 2015. →

CHARMING OFFER Furlan’s cone crushers are available from 65 kW to 470 kW and offer seven crusher cavities

Ventilated turbo pulley saves on costs

30th September 2016 Industrial equipment supplier Bearings International (BI) is enhancing the marketing of its ventilated turbo pulley (VTP), which has the ability to significantly reduce operating costs, to the South African crushing industry. →

VENTILATED TURBO PULLEY The design produces significant cost savings for crushing plants by extending the wear life of the pulley’s components

Relook warehouse design to increase storage space, reduce costs

23rd September 2016 Redesigning the layout of an existing racking or shelving system can significantly improve the amount of storage space available and the operational efficiency of warehouses, says storage and materials handling equipment manufacturer Linvar marketing manager Nicky Farrell. →

BEST USE OF SPACE By conducting feasibility studies, Linvar can advise warehouse managers on the warehouse design most suited to their specific products and operational needs

Local manufacturer launches its first continuous miner

23rd September 2016 South African engineering manufacturer JA Engineering’s (JAE’s) first in-house designed continuous miner, the Wildcat JAE42, will undergo field tests in November, after which it will be made available for purchase by the South African mining industry. →

WILDCAT JAE42 CONTINUOUS MINER The Wildcat is designed specifically with South African coal mining operations in mind, offering a high cutting forc

Control systems gain popularity in South Africa

23rd September 2016 Interest in automation, control and safety systems manufacturer Yokogawa’s DTSX fibre-optic distributed temperature sensor range is growing in the South African mining sector, as the industry takes steps to prepare for an inevitable upswing in the commodities market, says Yokogawa South Africa... →

THEKO LETSIE The mining market is always cyclical and Yokogawa is investing in the development of solutions that will be required when the market improves

Innovation for transporting heavy loads goes into operation

23rd September 2016 The self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) widening adaptor for high and wide loads from heavy lifting and transport specialist Mammoet will go into operation for the first time in September in the US. →

HAULING LARGE LOADS Mammoet’s widening adaptor improves the safety of transporting large loads of cargo

Haulage solution being modernised at Phakisa shaft

23rd September 2016 Mining and industrial equipment supplier Deebar is upgrading the Deebar Rail-Veyor remote-controlled, electrically powered light-rail haulage solution which it installed in 2005 at gold miner Harmony’s Phakisa gold mine, in Welkom. →

STEAMING AHEAD The Rail-Veyor has not been hampered by the downturn in commodities prices, as the system offers significant benefits in terms of helping mines reduce their operating costs

Increased systemisation of logistics management needed in South Africa

23rd September 2016 South Africa needs to focus on improving the systemisation of logistics management or risk falling behind global trends and incurring inflated costs, says research logistics team Greiner, Mendi & Associates (GMA) MD Lars Greiner. →

Equipment supplier positioning itself for turnaround in Zambia

9th September 2016 Mining solutions manufacturer Joy Global is positioning its business, through a partnership with Chingola-based company Lusanga Technical Services, to support and drive mining production in Zambia when the commodities price downturn comes to an end. →

OFF THE GRID Joy Global is producing the 2650XPC diesel-driven mining shovel, which maintains the production advantages demonstrated by electric rope shovels

New pump designs improve longevity, reduce costs

9th September 2016 With the global mining industry facing a challenging commodities price decline, industrial equipment supplier Weir Minerals has developed pump designs that offer improved cost effectiveness and a greater lifespan. →

WARMAN WBV VERTICAL PUMP This technology can be retrofitted to manage the build-up of solids in a sump pump

Equipment supplier alleviating 'pressing' need, industry response to technology positive

9th September 2016 Industrial pumps and dredging equipment supplier Integrated Pump Rental (IPR) continues in its endeavour to make pumping solutions available to the mining industry that will provide maximum uptime and ease of use, states IPR MD Lee Vine. →

Photo by Duane Daws
LEE VINE The beauty of renting a pump before actually buying it, is that mines can test it in their own environment

Pump modification can withstand acidic applications

9th September 2016 After a two-year trial at various mine sites, a new version of pumps manufacturer RNE Pumps’ vertical spindle pump is available. First developed in 2014, the pump features a specialised material on the working end to prevent wear in acidic slurry. →

RUGGED UNIT The new RNE pump design performs in harsh conditions and requires little maintenance

Correct pumps will reduce mine costs

9th September 2016 Using incorrect equipment in pump applications is a key issue that a number of mines need to address, as it results in unnecessary and costly failures, says electric pump and borehole motor supplier Ernest Electro Engineering MD Gert Schwaecke. →

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