PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
NEW IMPROVED CONCEPT
SANITECH
Mining is tough and the conditions can be harsh and demanding. Sanitech is responsible for developing a range of robust portable toilets for both surface and underground use.
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anitech’s latest local innovation, the NIC (New Improved Concept) unit, has dramatically improved the hygiene and usability of selfcontained portable toilets, by focusing on the underground user and especially woman in mining. Going underground, listening to the employees and doing extensive research on different types of mines, the design team came up with the NIC – a spacious, portable solution that offers the end-user dignified, hygienic facilities. The unit has a rotating bowl that prevents exposure to human waste and a hand wash basin to improve overall hygiene. The bowl is further coated with nanotechnology that prevents debris from sticking to it. The NIC unit also offers security for women in mining, as it has a locking mechanism accessible from the inside. There is also a PPE hook, which assists the user with a place to hang up their overall, hard hat and belt.
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The NIC unit is available in two different heights and can be assembled underground. This option is especially suitable for refuge bays due to door height restrictions. The NIC unit has a canister system that can take up to 85 litres of waste.
Current market While Sanitech’s patented NIC unit is fairly new to the market, the unique sanitation solution has already been embraced by numerous sites in the mining sector, including Mponeng (Anglo), Thubelisha (Sasol Mining), Booysendal (Northam Platinum), Doornkop (Harmony) and Mopani (Glencore) in Zambia. Although there are various other competitors and products populating the market, none offer the unique advantages of the NIC unit design, particularly the rotating bowl with nanotechnology coating. At this
