Mining Developments News

Reflecting its commitment to working with customers to continuously improve its products and services, mining equipment specialist Osborn has developed an innovative enhancement to its jaw crushers. This improvement will make the leading manufacturer’s tough, high-quality machines safer and more efficient than ever, according to product development manager Andre van Tonder. “When our customers asked us to investigate alternative ways to lift jaw crusher liners in and out of our machines, we listened and responded. After detailed investigations, and having conducted on-site tests with customers, we are rolling out liner lifting features that cater for specific customer requirements,” he explains. Osborn’s designs use standard lifting equipment, not special lifting tools, and have been thoroughly evaluated on several mines and quarries. This innovation will deliver exceptional benefits to customers. Van Tonder elaborates: “With Osborn’s new jaw crusher liner lifting points, there is

Education is at the top of the agenda for our country and the responsibility of ensuring quality education should not only rest on the shoulders of the South African government. There are many barriers to education in the country, such as malnutrition, poor school facilities and access to learning materials, to name but a few. AEL Mining Services, a leading supplier and manufacturer of explosives, has embarked on a campaign that will look to remedy one such barrier: the lack of a proper school uniform. Thabo Nkoane, Executive: Human Capital at AEL Mining Services says, “One of the many issues we have seen in the areas in which we operate, is that children walk long distances to school, and normally they are barefoot. AEL is a responsible corporate citizen, committed to the sustainability of the communities in which we operate. With this in mind, we are contributing to the ‘Bare Foot No More’ initiative, which has developed a unique school shoe for children especially in rural area

Following successful presentations at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair, nine of South Africa’s finest fledgling researchers will compete in world’s largest international pre-college science competition: the Intel International Science Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States in May 2018. Projects by learners selected to attend the competition range from research into the causes of faecal and E.coli coliform in borehole water to solutions to pain suffered due to amputated limbs. Rahil Ishan Samlal (Grade 11 last year) at St Dominic’s Academy Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal was the winner of the prestigious University of Pretoria (UP) Derek Gray Award at last year’s Eskom Expo, which includes a full bursary to study science at UP and a fully paid trip to Sweden to represent Africa at the International Youth Science Seminar to be held there in December. Rahil will also exhibit his project, “Alternative method to cure bacterial infections” at

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario (May 10, 2018) – Haver & Boecker, a leading equipment manufacturer and solutions provider for aggregates and mining applications, offers the Tyler L-Class vibrating screen for classifying wet or dry material as well as an ideal dewatering method. The compact machine is versatile and easy to maintain, with no timing belts or gears that normally need replacing. Producers can customize the 6-foot-wide machine in two lengths, a 16- and 20-foot length. Primarily mounted horizontally, the L-Class can also be inclined or declined as much as 3 degrees. The linear L-Class handles up to 400 tph and features a 45-degree mounted double-shaft overhead drive system with direct-mounted motors. Producers can access multiple speed and stroke options by changing the pulleys and plate weights. The application-specific body design offers simplified maintenance with a one-piece removable head and shaft assembly. In addition, unlike most linear-stroke machines, the L-Class do

SKF announced the introduction of its Lincoln mechanical grease overflow prevention system. Designed to prevent hazards associated with reservoir overfilling, this product improves worker safety and minimises environmental concerns caused by this type of spill. Easy to install and simple to operate, the system reduces the manpower needed for reservoir filling, freeing personnel for other tasks. In addition, the mechanical grease overflow prevention system can be used with a wide range of supply/filling pumps and is compatible with any pump using a FlowMaster reservoir. Operating mechanically with no electricity required, the system features heavy-duty, all-steel construction with anti-corrosion plating to withstand harsh environments. Its high-pressure system shut-off valves are available in 1/2-inch NPT. The mechanical grease overflow prevention system can be operated with or without a Lincoln grease level sensor, which enables it to be connected to a grease level gauge at the f

Oldham, a company within the 3M Personal Safety Division, is pleased to announce that the MX 32 gas detection controller has been certified by Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and now carries the CSA mark of approval. The MX 32 has been certified for use in Ordinary Locations according to CSA standards C22.2 No. 0-10, 61010-12 and UL 61010-1. The MX 32 is a compact, low-profile controller that continuously monitors multiple gas detection sensors. The versatile control system is designed to receive and supervise up to 8 inputs using either Wheatstone bridge mV DC sensors, 4-20mA DC or Serial RS-485 Modbus™. It can be customized and expanded based on individual application needs using Oldham’s stackable din-rail mounted I/O modules. Modules can be installed remotely to simplify field wiring and reduce costs. All modules are also covered by the CSA certification.

Lonmin Plc (“Lonmin”) notes the news that Sibanye-Stillwater has received the approval of the South African Reserve Bank, as required in accordance with the Exchange Control Regulations of South Africa, with respect to the proposed acquisition of Lonmin, which was announced on 14 December 2017 (the “Proposed Transaction”). The Proposed Transaction remains scheduled for closure during the second calendar half of 2018 and subject to, inter alia, the passing of the required resolutions by Lonmin and Sibanye-Stillwater shareholders and the approvals of the competition authorities of the United Kingdom and South Africa. Ben Magara, CEO of Lonmin said “We are pleased that Sibanye-Stillwater has the approval of the South African Reserve Bank for the Proposed Transaction. Lonmin is working closely with Sibanye Stillwater towards completing the Proposed Transaction during the second half of the year as planned. Lonmin remains committed to its strategy of focusing on operational performance, c

SKF announced the introduction of its Lincoln small grease reservoir filling filter. Part of SKF’s family of filtration products, this filter helps to minimise contaminants entering automatic lubrication systems during the filling process of smaller-sized reservoirs. Installed as an inline component in the reservoir’s fill line, the filling filter helps to ensure that clean grease enters the reservoir and the system. As grease enters through the inlet, it passes through the filter and then exits into a hose that is connected to the grease reservoir’s fill port. As the filter element becomes clogged, the unit’s clogged-indicator pin starts to retract, signaling that filter element cleaning is required. If the clogged filter element is not cleaned, grease will vent safely to a catch container but will not bypass to the reservoir. The easy-to-install Lincoln small grease reservoir filling filter is available with either a 250- or 500-micron, crush-proof filter element, which is simp

Advanced bearing design offers higher load rating and up to 300 percent longer rating life The oil and gas industry continues to push the limits of technology. Deeper wells, harsher environments and more sophisticated drilling approaches all place additional demands on equipment, calling for larger, more powerful and more robust solutions. Top drives, which power the drilling process, are right at the front line of that technological race, and when unplanned downtime can cost operators $1 million a day, performance and reliability are critical attributes. To meet the demands of leading top drive manufacturers, SKF has developed a new generation of tapered roller thrust bearings, the first to join its Explorer family of high-performance bearing products. With higher load ratings and bearing rating life extended by up to 300 percent, the SKF Explorer tapered roller thrust bearings are ready for the next generation of larger, more powerful top drives. They can also be used to optimis

Proof Engineering’s range of double-compression cable glands including the Orion, Crater & Taurus Exd AMPgland, ensures safe and efficient securing and sealing of cables in the mining and oil & gas industries. “The AMPgland which is proudly our very own branded cable gland, offers an all-inclusive, electrical installation solution,” notes Donovan Marks, Managing Director of Proof Engineering, a Hudaco company that specialises in the manufacture and supply of a wide range of flameproof and explosion proof products. AMPgland’s unrivalled cable securing and sealing capability is due to its unique state-of-the-art, high quality design which features two O-rings on the shielding cone. The double-compression O-ring ensures double sealing by preventing the intrusion of contaminants such as water and dust. “Water intrusion will be trapped between the two O-rings, preventing contact with armour for unparalleled protection,” explains Marks. Alongside achieving high strain relief a

For greater safety and efficiency in underground mining, Epiroc releases a number of automation features for the Scooptram underground loader. The Scooptram Automation Regular package allows the Scooptram to be controlled through an operator station from a remote location. "With the new Scooptram Automation Regular package, the operator can control the loader even while it is out of sight from a safe stationary or mobile control station", explains Vladimir Sysoev, product manager of automation at Epiroc. "The automation package also makes it possible for our customers to quickly and easily transition from manual to automatic mode, which is crucial in mines with a dynamic environment or quick advancements. The automation package is an effective way for our customers to boost their productivity in today's world, where mining operations have to contend with a variety of complicated production issues." To minimise environmental impact and keep personnel out of h

The development of a range of class-leading hydraulic piston seals required SKF engineers to create tailor-made materials and apply advanced analytical techniques. The piston seal lies right at the heart of hydraulic cylinder performance. Located in a groove on the outer diameter of the piston, this seal must contain the high pressure hydraulic fluid without impeding the motion of piston along the length of the cylinder. Since most hydraulic cylinders operate bi-directionally, the seal must be able to handle pressure from either side. The design of piston seals requires engineers to tread a fine line between friction and sealing performance. If the seal allows too much fluid to leak from the high pressure side of the cylinder to the low pressure side, performance is compromised. On the other hand, excessive friction on the cylinder wall leads to accelerated wear and a reduced operating life. Outright failure of a piston seal, known as blow-by, can have significant operational and sa

Wednesday 25 April Lonmin is proud to announce the introduction of a community grievance mechanism – a mechanism which has received input from all affected stakeholders over many months of planning and research and constitutes, what the company believes, is best practice. The mechanism known as Buang Le Rona/Thetha Nathi – meaning ‘Talk to Us’ in English – kicked off last year with a pilot project and EVP: Stakeholder Engagement and Regulatory Affairs, Thandeka Ncube expressed her excitement to be launching a full-service grievance system. The aim of the system is to improve two-way communication and the resolution of grievance within the Greater Lonmin communities. “The system came about as a result of the introduction of an internal policy based on global best practice and international principles offering our communities” explained Ncube. “We made it a point to ensure that grievances and conflicts are mediated in a transparent and fair manner, and most importantly, this system w

Infrastructure stakeholders from around the world are showing keen interest in Zimbabwe as a new spirit of optimism takes root in the country. South African business, with its tendency to ‘wait and see’, could miss the boat in terms of opportunities in Zimbabwe, while international investors flock to Zimbabwe to explore new business potential there. This is according to Duncan Bonnett, Director Strategy & Business Development at research and consulting specialists Africa House, who has led two fact-finding and business development delegations to Zimbabwe in recent months. “The prevailing spirit in Zimbabwe has changed dramatically over the past years,” says Bonnett. “Zimbabwe’s public and private sectors are more positive than they have been in possibly 15 years, but with a sense of realism. Significant infrastructure and industrial revitalisation projects are planned, but there are still certain challenges in the way of realising them.” As managers of the pan-African VIP