Mining Developments News

The GA 90+-160 (VSD+) oil-injected screw compressors, the latest air compressor range in Atlas Copco’s smart AIR solutions portfolio, are designed for reduced energy consumption and ease of installation and service. The range features state-of-the-art compression elements with Smart Injection technology coupled with highly efficient oil-cooled IE4 and IE5 motors that require no service interventions. The new Elektronikon® Touch controller with integrated smart algorithms further reduces energy consumption. The latest generation of GA compressors is particularly well suited to the mining industry, metal processing and power plants where its IP66 drive train offers complete protection from environmental dust and moisture ensuring reliable operation even in the harshest environmental conditions. This reliability also provides long and trouble-free life in general industrial applications in ambient temperatures of up to 55°C. Optimum efficiency is ensured through a highly efficient ...

SKF extends passenger train wheelset maintenance intervals with the launch of its new SKF Passenger bearing 1.7 Mkm Cylindrical Roller bearing Unit (CRU). Launched at this year's InnoTrans 2018 fair, the SKF Passenger bearing 1.7 Mkm CRU is a sealed and greased unit that has been developed to run 1.7 Mkm between maintenance intervals. The launch of the CRU version complements the SKF passenger bearing 1.7 Mkm range and offers rail operators even longer intervals between maintenance operations. With the introduction of SKF’s Passenger bearing 1.7 Mkm offerings (which also includes the earlier launched Tapered Bearing Unit (TBU) version) operators can achieve considerable efficiency gains, by aligning axlebox bearing maintenance with wheel maintenance. By enabling two maintenance operations to be performed in one stop, with fewer bearing replacements over the train lifetime, a significant reduction in overall costs can be achieved. Thanks to an improved labyrinth sealing syste...

A desiccant air dryer uses desiccants to adsorb moisture from the compressed air to protect the end-user’s equipment and end product. Atlas Copco’s energy efficient CD+ desiccant air dryer series is designed to deliver a constant pressure dewpoint even at full load under the most stringent of conditions. Available in two ranges, the CD 25+-145+ and CD 110+-300+ feature a simple design and working principle making these compact desiccant air dryers ideal for a wide range of industries such as electronics, food & beverage, pharmaceutical and oil & gas where absolute dry air is critical. The CD+ series boasts a small carbon footprint by minimising pressure drops and optimising the regeneration cycle to reduce energy consumption. “The pressure dewpoint sensor measures the remaining humidity in the compressed air, detects when the active tower is completely saturated and then switches the functions of the two dryer towers at the optimal moment,” explains Atlas Copco Compressor T...

A seamless bearing lubrication solution from SKF, in partnership with Lincoln Lubrication South Africa, has helped to significantly speed up the production line for a key OEM customer and leading local trailer manufacturer and supplier. The ability to lubricate only one bearing at a time on the production line for heavy duty vehicle trailer axles was causing the manufacturer severe delays. In addition to the impact on customer delivery times, the existing lubrication system for this single component was proving to be very expensive both in terms of time and money as it was not dispensing the correct amount of lubricant at one time; the system was either over lubricating and wasting lubricant or under lubricating which required the process to be repeated. The innovative lubrication system delivered by SKF and Lincoln Lubrication allows for eight bearings to be pre-lubricated simultaneously. “Our solution enabled our customer to run their bearing pre-lubricant line eight times faste...

Atlas Copco Oil-free Air and Compressor Technique Service Divisions, leading providers of sustainable productivity solutions, held a global sales event between April, 16th and 19th 2018 with over 900 participants from 68 countries. Several product innovations in compressed air and gases were launched for the low, medium and high pressure markets. The new products will set new standards in reliability, energy efficiency and serviceability and are all part of the smart AIR solutions concept. “Smart AIR Solutions are complete air or gas solutions designed to provide our customers with the lowest life cycle costs for their equipment,” says JC Lombard, Business Line Manager – Oil-free Air. “They combine compressors, blowers and boosters with quality air solutions such as air dryers, coolers, nitrogen generators, filters or energy recovery solutions, fully optimised to operate together in the most efficient and reliable way. Our smart AIR solutions apply for all our customers and not on...

Hon Irene Muloni, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, in the Republic of Uganda will lead a delegation of private and public-sector players from Uganda’s oil and gas sector to the 2018, which will be held between 5 – 9 November, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. Hon Muloni said, “Uganda is open for business and we will be looking forward to promoting the country`s highly progressive and lucrative hydrocarbon sector during the Africa Oil Week. Over the course of the week, we will announce a roadmap for Uganda’s next licensing round and offer insights into our country’s potential and operating environment.” Uganda is committed to developing its petroleum sector across the entire value chain, and clear strides to move the country’s key assets from the exploration phase into the development phase have been made. Uganda offers opportunities for companies looking to explore, develop and utilise its petroleum assets. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minera...

Following the signing of new regulations that limit the amounts of sulfur (SO2) that mining operations are allowed to emit, Anglo American Platinum (JSE: AMS) decided to implement a new technology at its platinum smelter facility in Polokwane, northern South Africa. The No.1 producer of the transition metal enrolled Denmark’s Haldor Topsøe in a project aimed at installing a Wet gas Sulfuric Acid emissions control technology at the smelter. The $1.1 million plan should be completed in a couple of years. Also known as WSA, the plant is designed to reduce emissions of SO2 from around 90,000 mg/Nm3 to less than 1,200 mg/Nm3 and, at the same time, produce up to 148 tonnes per day of commercial-grade sulfuric acid. According to Haldor Topsøe, the recovery process is energy-efficient because it uses no or very little support fuel and requires only minimal cooling water.

Murray & Roberts has been awarded new underground mining projects to the value of R3.6bn, the company announced on Thursday. The projects awarded include the Pumpkin Hollow underground project in Nevada, for Nevada Copper, where the scope of work will include shaft sinking and underground development work, and a shaft sinking project on a copper mine in South Africa. The Nevada Copper board on Tuesday announced the construction decision for Pumpkin Hollow, a $197m (approx. R2.8bn at current rates) copper project in Nevada. The projects will be delivered over a period of up to three years, Murray & Roberts said. The Group announced its annual results on Wednesday, where the Underground Mining platform reported an order book of R22.1bn as at June 30, compared to R17.5bn the previous year. Murray & Roberts shares were trading at R16.33 at 09.22 on Thursday, up 0.06%.

Over the past seven months, the Mining & Technical Exhibitions (MTEs) have been host to Chicago Pneumatic’s successful portable generator giveaways; the two recent Limpopo exhibitions being no exception. Taking place across South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, the MTEs provide the ideal platform for Chicago Pneumatic to showcase its robust machines with attendees at each event getting the opportunity to enter a lucky draw and stand the chance of winning a CPPG5 (5.5Kva) petrol-driven generator. The opening Limpopo MTE took place in Steelpoort on 26 July 2018, kicking off to a good start with the Chicago Pneumatic stand seeing a steady stream of visitors eager to learn more about the company’s product portfolio. Eben van der Vyver, Business Development Manager for Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment in South Africa, who has attended each MTE this year, was again on hand to present the generator to the lucky draw winner, Phineas Kgobise Mogoru of Samancor ECM. Van der Vyver...