Mining Developments News

[Johannesburg, 12 March 2018]: Research and development (R&D) plays a critical role in the innovation process, especially considering the increasing pace of technological progression and the ever-changing needs of end users. It is that strong commitment to R&D that is further propelling Monitech to the summit of the mining safety and monitoring solutions industry. R&D plays a very important role in the success of a business. Many companies do not grasp the significance of R&D until it’s too late. The role and relevance of R&D is paramount; it is the R&D function that provides a platform for creativity and innovation to flourish in an organisation. Based on this understanding, Monitech, a South African industry leader in mining safety and monitoring solutions, has put in place a strong R&D regime over the years, which General Manager Renier Rautenbach maintains is the cornerstone and a critical arm of the company’s business. “Monitech has always focused o...

Innovative Staffing Solutions has joined hands with one of the largest medical aid schemes in South Africa to offer the company’s 5500 truck drivers the most affordable and comprehensive medical aid package in the country. “Following months of negotiations, we have managed to negotiate an affordable medical aid plan for our truck drivers. Ordinarily such a plan would cost R1,900 monthly, making the cost prohibitive for truck drivers who earn on average R9300 per month. We have managed to negotiate the cost down to a very affordable R300 per month,” says Arnoux Maré, Managing Director of Innovative Staffing Solutions. Millions of South Africans don’t have a medical aid and this puts pressure on the public health system. Statistics indicate that while South Africans visit a public health facility on average 2.5 times per year, there’s only an estimated one doctor per 4,219 people. The major reason that an estimated 44 million people don’t have access to private quality healthcare is...

A collaboration between SKF and underwater repair specialist Trident Group has completed the first replacement of an SKF S-type retractable Fin Stabilizer on a floating vessel. The global cruise industry is riding a wave of popularity. Passenger numbers are forecast to pass the 25 million mark for the first time this year, up from around 7 million at the turn of the Millennium. With an average annual growth rate of around 7 per cent since 1980, cruising has transformed itself from a niche interest into a $37 billion industry that provides jobs for more than 950,000 people. While much of the popularity of holidaying by ship stems from the vessels’ extensive facilities and attentive service, it also relies on hidden technology to give passengers a comfortable journey, even in inclement conditions. Beneath the waterline, most modern cruise vessels are equipped with a pair of hydraulically-controlled stabilizer fins which can be deployed to counteract the effect of rough sea condition...

Oil analysis is generally a process that is quick and by nature non-destructive, which focuses on examining whatever is in the oil hence ensuring standard condition of an operational engine. The overall process is composed of a number of tests. To begin with, there is the spectral examination involving the use of a spectrometer within which a sample of oil is run and analyzed for possible additives and metals that may be existing. This is paramount as it gives one a proper result of whatever degree that an engine is or could be wearing out. Secondly, insoluble test is done to see the abrasive solids existing in the oil, which arise from oxidation of the oil as well as by the act of blowing past the rings. Insoluble test is important mainly because it indicates the level that the oil has oxidized and also estimates the performance of the oil filter. Thirdly, oil analysis encompasses the viscosity test, which quantifies the grade or viscosity of the oil. Oil may be required in diff...

Profitability is generally good when productivity levels are high in most industries, and one of the long-recognised ways to ensure that productivity remains elevated is by upskilling the workforce through useful training courses. The reliability solutions arena is a prime example of how well-trained workers can have a positive impact on an industrial operation by maximising the investment in a good condition monitoring programme. As mechanised operations become increasingly complex, and the smooth running of components is increasingly critical to the general production and output in industry, so the need for ongoing employee education becomes more important. Condition monitoring specialists WearCheck have run popular skills training courses for their customers for over 20 years. The training material assists staff in various positions within the maintenance teams to ensure that the monitoring and upkeep of components is conducted as efficiently as possible. WearCheck employs relia...

Proof Engineering’s rugged TPU copper-screened mining cables are specially designed and engineered with safety top of mind and are able to withstand hazardous conditions typically found in open cast and underground mining applications as well as in industrial environments. Managing Director of Proof Engineering, Donovan Marks, explains that the mining cable’s orange/silver reflective tape underneath the outer extra-heavy duty ICEA S-75-381 compliant TPU jacket ensures easy identification and visibility, especially at night. “This not only increases personnel safety but also reduces the risk of cable damage.” The 67.4mm diameter cables have a minimum bending radius of 550mm and a maximum recommended tension of 4.3kN. The cable design incorporates flexible Class 5 tinned annealed copper wire conductors and insulation consists of ethylene propylene thermosetting compound. The cables feature a strippable semi-conducting core screen (triple extruded) and the core assembly comprises three...

The compact Multilog IMx-8 from SKF offers sophisticated yet highly cost-effective, fit-for-purpose condition monitoring for a multitude of industrial applications. This latest 8-channel unit forms part of SKF’s highly popular IMx-16 and -32 channel machine health monitoring platforms. Initially targeted at the offshore wind and marine sectors, the versatile and easy-to-use IMx-8 brings affordable machine health monitoring to a much wider industrial user base. The system is ideally suited for mechanical and fluid power train applications while the combination of an 'Event Capture' feature will appeal to machine tool users who require a cost-effective crash-detection capability. Taking up less cabinet space compared to the 16 and 32 channel variants, the compact DIN-rail mounting 8-channel IMx-8 is easily installed into instrument cabinet enclosures, often alongside existing instruments. Suitably housed, it also serves space-restricted applications such as small-size mari...

FOGMAKER South Africa (Pty) Ltd. will conduct live demonstrations of its innovative triple-action fire-suppression system at Bauma 2018. “Our launch of FOGMAKER to the South African market at BAUMA 2015 was a huge success which motivated us to participate in Bauma 2018,” explains Managing Director of FOGMAKER South Africa, John Russell, who adds that they also walked away with the ‘best small stand’ award that year. “The fact that a number of our customers are also exhibiting this year is a clear indication to us that Bauma presents a most appropriate platform to showcase our FOGMAKER fire-suppression system.” FOGMAKER makes use of water, the purest extinguishant, to attack all three components in the fire triangle namely heat, oxygen and fuel. Suitable for any engine compartment, the system uses high-pressure water mist (50-micron droplets) to effectively suppress a fire and cool down the compartment to prevent re-ignition. “Equipped with automatic fire detection, which is indepe...