Pm june july 2017 by MWK Design

PROJECTS

June/July 2017 Issue

Publisher: E.S.C Magazine T/A PROJECTS MAGAZINE SOUTH AFRICA OFFICE Tel: +27 11 027 9009 Fax: +27 86 601 9195 62, 2nd Avenue, Houghton. P.O. Box 92744, Norwood, 2117 South Africa UGANDA OFFICE Plot no.768, Entebbe road, Kawuku, Kampala Tel :00256755101313, Uganda.

All four levels of automation have been adopted on four Simba M4C machines that are in operation on a diamond mine.

Email: info@projectsmagazine.net Website: www.projectsmagazine.net Contributions The editors welcome news items, press releases, articles and photographs relating to the Construction Industry. These will be considered and, if accepted, published. No responsibility will be accepted should contributions be lost, damaged or incorrectly printed.

e sixth generation Dynapac CC4000 - CC6200 large asphalt rollers deliver takes compaction quality to a new level

Scott Safety Introduces the Protégé SG Reusable Single Gas Monitor Scott Safety, a global leader in innovative personal protective equipment and safety devices, is pleased to introduce the Protégé SG, a versatile new reusable single gas monitor that is conﬁgurable to detect 13 di erent gases. A truly universal portable gas detector with maximum versatility

user interface as well as standard features, such as smart plug and play sensors and lithium/alkaline battery options that are interchangeable between monitors.

Completing the new range of monitors is e Protégé SG is a truly universal portable the MasterDock II, an expandable docking gas detector with advanced features, such as station with up to 10 bays. e MasterDock II has Ethernet and USB connectivity and smart plug and play sensors and a supports six gas bottles simultaneously with replaceable lithium battery that provides the ability to bump, calibrate, and charge unlimited life. e swappable sensors are each device. Advanced new so ware on the equipped with a smart sensor board that intuitive dashboard interface also allows automatically recognises sensor type and users to print certificates, configure updates the gas label on the LCD display monitors and centralise data storage for while automatically downloading the improved fleet management capabilities. necessary calibration parameters. e new Protégé gas detection line will provide customers with global mission With an IP66/67 rating, global regulatory approvals, multiple languages accessible on critical protective solutions, continuing Scott’s Safety commitment to the LCD, and internal data logging for up protect what matters most. to 5,000 events, the Protégé SG provides industrial workers and first responders maximum flexibility to focus on the task at For further information on the Protégé SG Reusable Single Gas Monitor, please visit hand and not on their equipment. www.scottsafety.com e Protégé SG is the first in a new line of cost-e ective high performance portable gas monitors being introduced. All Protégé devices will have a similar look, feel and

Minerals industry needs certainty above all else By: Noor Kapdi, Managing Partner, Dentons South Africa e recent Fraser Institute survey of mining globally has seen South Africa drop to 74th place out of 104 mining jurisdictions, down from last year's 66 . We now rank behind the likes of the Democratic of Congo and Zambia, which has regained its place in the top 50. is is a pretty pass for a country with such rich mineral resources, and one that was once a global leader in mining. It is common cause that one of the primary drivers of South Africa's unattractiveness as mining destination is the regulatory uncertainty that has prevailed since 2012, when the current Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) was amended. e robust instrumentation of our constitutional democracy and rigorous scrutiny to which the Bill was subjected resulted in it being passed by the National Assembly late in 2016. It is currently before the National Council of Provinces. Regulatory certainty critical e need to give both the minerals/mining and petroleum/hydrocarbons industries regulatory certainty has now become critical. Certainty is the only thing that will reverse the current investment freeze which is currently impeding progress in both industries. e urgency is real, given the sustained lacklustre performance of the South African economy. Mining remains a bedrock of the economy, a major contributor to GDP and a significant provider of employment. Nursing this once vibrant industry back to health is of critical importance. Doing so will require certainty and the ability of the actors to reinvent an industry with enhanced e ciencies supported by greater reliance on technology and modernisation. By contrast, our petroleum sector is embryonic and o ers has significant potential, in particular the promise of the development of a natural gas economy. We know that large, commercially viable gas fields exist o the coasts of Mozambique and Madagascar, and the protagonist for “following the ri ” believe that that mineral-rich South Africa might also have similar reserves. We already know that significant shale gas deposits exist in the Karoo though, of course, whether they are safe to exploit remains highly controversial. is emerging industry will only grow if su cient capital is committed to exploration, and that will not occur until investors know what the

regulatory environment is. e National Development Plan recognises the potential importance of gas in creating an economy that upli s the people of this country. Based on conversations with clients, it seems that the current provisions in the amended act are acceptable. ese include a 20 percent carried interest for the automatic state interest in discoveries, which interest can be increased at a market-related rate. is setting aside of a state interest in petroleum discoveries has become commonplace, and 20 percent is considered conservative.

e delay in passing the amended Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and consequent compromise to the minerals and petroleum industries is a small price to pay for a celebrated democracy. Whilst Regulatory certainty is urgently needed, it cannot be traded for society's right to transparency.

Di erences between mining and petroleum sectors undermines legislation But it is the profound di erence between these two industry sectors that undermines this legislation. Mining in South Africa is a mature industry with an established infrastructure in all senses of the word, and is well known to the global investment community. It also has a dark history, and the need to control the country's abundant mineral resources arguably shaped the history of the country, particularly since 1948. In a real sense, the repressive power structures and damaged social fabric that still characterise South Africa are, in many respects, a product of the mining industry's history. In other words—and nobody in the industry can deny this basic premise—mining needs farreaching transformation. Agreeing on the details of how best to achieve this will continue to be tricky, as evidenced by the ongoing disagreement about and resistance to the proposed terms of the Mining Charter. By contrast, the petroleum/hydrocarbon industry barely exists. It thus has no history to rewrite; its requirement is a sensible, progressive regulatory framework that will stimulate massive investment to enable growth, sustainable access to lower cost cleaner energy and, ultimately, job and wealth creation. us, once we have returned certainty to the minerals and petroleum industries, and hopefully reignited investor interest, we do need to consider whether it makes sense to regulate these two industries separately, in line with their di erent needs. Care would need to be taken to do so in a way that does not reintroduce uncertainty into the market, but actually reinforces that certainty.

Government pledges support to expand demand for SA foundries as sector continues to decline Johannesburg, Wednesday 29 March 2017: e dti is actively expanding supply-side support for local metals and components manufacturing as the manufacturing industry moves into the fourth industrial revolution, according to the dti Director General Lionel October.

In addition, South African metal casting businesses need to transform in terms of human capital, innovation and sustainability to arrest the decline of the sector and compete on a global scale. South Africa has about 170 foundries which directly employ about 9 500 people. Mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, a total of 25 foundries have closed in South Africa since 2010, shedding 1 600 jobs.

“ e foundry industry in South Africa is mature and many foundries have the capacity and capabilities to produce for designated sectors, including those that export,” said Ashley Bhugwandin, Manager: National Foundry Technology Network (NFTN). rough the dti, the NFTN aims "In the next Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), we are emphasising the importance to make funding available for recapitalisation and to address the low of supporting the metals and casting capacity utilisation through technical and industries to modernise and grow. is regulatory support, engaging local buyers requires support in terms of research and development, human resource development and developing the industries' collective capacity and capabilities. and supply-side support in the form of incentives for the metals and agroprocessing Taking a look at the impact of the foundry industries. Along with demand-side industry on manufacturing in South Africa, initiatives, such as local procurement designations, this support will help to grow Henk Langenhoven, Chief Economist: Chamber of Mines of South Africa, said demand," said October. that it is not manufacturing is not declining, but rather manufacturing is declining as a e conference included a number of percentage of the economy. national and international industry presentations, academic papers and “If one looks at GDP growth in correlation technical papers. e 291 delegates heard with physical tonnage of castings produced emphasis being given to new markets and strategy as well as leaders for the future in in the country, it begs the question of the plenary sessions. Metallurgy, technology whether we are giving away too much and processes were covered in industry and market share in imports. Or is our domestic technical presentations as well as academic base too small? In the 1990s, there were massive investments in infrastructure and streams and 28 exhibitors participated in in the economy. is has subsided and now the exhibition. the consumption part of our economy is driving the demand for castings.” John Davies, CEO of the South African Institute of Foundrymen, said, “Foundries Collaboration emerged as an important need to embrace and adapt to the new factor in success for foundries. To this end, manufacturing technologies of the fourth industrial revolution by being informed of sessions were held that focused on the latest research and developments. While information sharing to collectively address common issues and improve knowledge on there are challenges, ultimately there is a new technologies. need to modernize for sustainability.” is emerged at the Metal Casting Conference held in Johannesburg, which included the World Foundry Organisation (WFO) Technical Forum as well as the 7th BRICS Foundry Forum.

One common issue is the shortage of young people in the industry and the need to improve skills. e 7thBRICS Foundry Forum, in conjunction with the World Foundry Organisation working group for Human Capital Development, hosted a collaboration workshop with international and local industry players to ﬁnd practical and immediate actions to drive the growth of the global industry. 6

Some of the challenges faced by foundries include the costs of compliance with new regulations, such as air emissions standards. ey put a strain on small and medium sized foundry businesses, which are also dealing with a lack of o -take agreements and high levels of capital investment requirements due to ageing infrastructure and capital equipment.

WEF AFRICA AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SA TO SHOWCASE BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING AS A KEY ENABLER TO CREATING JOBS To persuade their regional and global peers at WEF Africa in Durban, on 3-5 May 2017, that South Africa is responsive to the demands of the people who have entrusted them to lead, and provide a vision and a way forward to reclaiming its rightful place as a leading economy on the continent, South Africa's delegation will do well to showcase the business process outsourcing sector model* as key to creating sustainable, quality employment.

With the economic growth forecast for the African continent over the coming year expected to be lower than the 5% average of the past decade, core to the discussions at the upcoming World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF Africa) is to address the challenges posed by a growing unemployed youth population. Arnoux Maré, Group CEO of Innovative Solutions Group and Managing Director of Innovative Sta ng Solutions, writes that South Africa will no doubt use the recent release of favourable employment ﬁgures by Stats South Africa (Stats SA) to promote itself as a promising investment destination to regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society.

employment with minimal regulatory protection whereas outsourcing creates ﬁxed-term or permanent employment, and employees are entitled to the beneﬁts and full protection under the Labour Relations Act.

Take for instance our Innovative Sta ng Solutions employees who are placed on contract to clients. at contract does not a ect the status of the workers' employment with us, and should it seize to exist, our employees continue to enjoy the benefits of being permanent sta members as prescribed by law. Whereas if the same employees were contracted by a labour broker the likelihood is they would be known and treated as temporary workers, o en called a 'limited duration contract', even where employment contracts or policies Opposition from a cross section of stakeholders argue that 0.9% or 90‚000 increase in employment refer to them as 'permanent'. year-on-year between December 2015 and 2016 is not enough inroads to addressing South Africa's In our experience clients who outsource workforce e ciency, focus on their core business well documented unemployment crisis. Pressing and delegate the cumbersome challenges of rigid that almost 9 million people, 26.5 percent of the labour legislation and a lack of skills and workforce, remain jobless and 37.1% of youth technological advancements to experts such aged between 16 to 34 years are still without Innovative Sta ng Solutions. I've become an work. Many of these young people will never advocate of the many benefits Business Process experience formal employment, and the longer Outsourcing o ers as a win-win solution for all they remain unemployed, the less likely they are to get a job. is gap is where Labour Brokering, stakeholder, especially employees. also known as Temporary Employment Services, has proven to be e ective in providing a platform A er all, both our clients and employees' benefit by charging a fixed fee which has no tax for first-time job seekers to acquire job skills. implications for the client. As we handle all contracted employees tax matters in-house, the Yet Temporary Employment Services have been under scrutiny by the government and unions for employees' tax a airs never involve clients. Unfortunately, the alternative, as o ered by labour some time because their employees have much brokers, requires the broker to recover taxes such lower job security and there is an alarming violation of these employees' rights. e solution as PAYE from clients and on-pay to SARS. A typical practice is that they charge the client but lies in a report released by Deloitte South Africa do not on-pay to SARS. is is a feature of the on the Business Process Outsourcing sector, temporary labour market, and o en rebounds on which highlights ways the Business Process clients. Outsourcing industry could be a key enabler of much needed growth and job creation in South ese are but a few of the salient points why Africa. Business Process Outsourcing could enable the success of countries such as India (2.8 Innovative Sta ng Solutions welcomes the million jobs in the industry) and the Philippines amended Labour Relations Act which we believe (750 000 jobs), where the industry has become a borrows from the successes of our model* to address the flaws of the labour brokerage substantial job creator and meaningful model**. We are also encouraged by Business component of their national Gross Domestic Process Enabling South Africas' (BPeSA) Product. statement that the outsourcing sector employed approximately 215 000 workers in 2015. e report also cautions that the concepts of Impressively, more than half (59.9%) of these jobs labour broking and outsourcing are o en misinterpreted and used interchangeably, but that have been created in the last five years. this couldn't be further from reality. e key di erentiator being that labour broking is more inclined towards temporary or casual

Sasol new corporate head o ce Over 2 000 sta at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed energy and chemicals company have moved into the new Sasol Place on Katherine Street in the last few weeks. Sasol previously had 17 o ces in Johannesburg. But a er considering 22 site proposals, the company in March 2013 selected the Sasol Pension Fund and its partners - the Elixir Trust and Alchemy Properties - to co-own, develop and lease the new head o ce in Katherine Street. e 11-storey, 47m tall o ce complex has 67 000 square metres of rentable area, almost 100 000 square metres of basement parking for over 3 000 cars, and more than 3 000 square metres of landscaping. It cost approximately R2bn to construct. It is also a 5 Star Green Star rated building, has four 1 850kva generators to provide 100% power redundancy, is self-shading to reduce energy costs and has indigenous plants.

December 2016. e 47 metre high building has 7 parking levels, a ground floor and 10 o ce floors. Features include a restaurant, co ee shop, wellness centre, convenience store, fitness centre and a “dedicated gallery and sculpture garden that will showcase Sasol's continued support of local contemporary artists”, says Betapoint.

Africa's largest roo op garden, a state-of-the art ﬁtness centre, cafés and an art gallery are just a few features of Sasol's new multibillion rand head o ce in Sandton.

e super modern building has adopted environmentally sustainable practices (like water recycling and LED lighting) and been awarded a 5-Star Green Star design category rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa. ere are even indigenous biomes for SA's wildlife, insects and birds within the grounds and on the roo op. e global chemicals and energy company employed a multinational team to fulﬁl their R2-billion vision.

Sasol Place further resides in South Africa's biggest booming commercial property zone, with Discovery constructing its new mega head o ce just up the road in Sandton's Rivonia Road. Sasol has said that it expects the project to return a signiﬁcant positive value over 15 years. Moreover, about 90% of the spend on the development of the building is forecast to ﬂow back into the economy, Sasol said. According to Betapoint, Sasol's strategic real estate advisory and implementation partner, the 67,000 square meter development consolidates Sasol's previous 11 properties, which were spread across Joburg, into one space – Sasol Place – reducing their o ce footprint by almost 40%. e new home for 2,500 of the company's employees was o cially launched on 9

Buyers snap up final phase of Clara Anna Fontein In terms of the single residential erven where buyers are able to construct their own homes according to architectural guidelines, Auret said a significant number of buyers had already taken transfer with the remainder expected to take transfer in April this year. e first two homes are already under construction with a further 30 or so plans having been assessed by the estate's Design Review Committee. Purchasers of the single residential erven have five years from transfer to build their homes before facing penalties. For further details or to get an invitation to the launch go to www.claraannafontein.co.za or contact Johan de Bruyn of agents, Louw & Coetzee on 082881201.

e second and ﬁnal phase of e Village at Clara Anna Fontein in Durbanville, where total sales to date have topped nearly R900million, was launched May 11. Buyers snapped up 22 of the 69 separate title townhouses in phase two of e Village at the launch with six further sales in the o ng and strong interest being shown in the remaining units, according to Mariska Auret, project manager of Rabie Property Group, who is developing Clara Anna Fontein in a joint venture with the landowner.

House High School which opened in January this year as well as a retirement development which is yet to be launched.

e 128ha Clara Anna Fontein estate borders a private game reserve and is destined to become the most sought-a er address in the northern suburbs. Over and above the townhouses and single residential erven it also includes a Reddam

Auret said to date the civils work – roads and services – was nearing completion as was the palisade fencing and the Gatehouse which provides a dramatic sense of arrival. “Due to the very dry summer we have had to put a substantial portion of the landscaping on hold other than around the gatehouse and one other portion of the estate. e rest of the planned landscaping will be rolled out closer to the winter rainfall season.”

Construction of phase one of e Village is underway with handovers and transfers to be phased from October this year through to March next year. Construction of phase two of e Village is expected to get underway in the latter part of this year with transfers and handovers also taking place Auret says the size of the plots in phase two range from 375 square metres to 530 square metres and buyers have a choice of Townhouses in phase two will be freestanding with private, landscaped gardens. nine modern contemporary designs by Houses remaining to be sold, range in size award-winning Vernon Viljoen Architects. Six of the designs are single storey and from 178 square metres to 302 square metres, and are priced between R3,7million three double storey. and R6,75million. All townhouses will have double garages, ﬁreplaces and a built-in braai while some Colin Green, a director of Rabie, said the will also have a study and/or scullery. launch follows the sale of more than 80% “ e design of the townhouses of the 57 homes in the ﬁrst phase of e incorporates a number of exciting Village for a total of more than R200million as well as the near sell out of upmarket architectural features including stone cladding, timber and large expanses 334 single residential erven for a total of of glazing.” more than R680million.

She said in terms of the clubhouse and other amenities which form Die Werf, building plans were currently being circulated and were expected to be approved shortly. “We have gone out to tender for the construction contract and a contractor is expected to be appointed in the near future.” Clara Anna Fontein townhouse perspective 10

Sta outsourcing is the solution to agreed R20/hour minimum wage e South African government, business, community sector and the labour federations represented at Nedlac signed the agreement earlier this year in Cape Town. e agreement came in the wake of years of destructive labour unrest, particularly in the mining industry, which wreaked untold damage on the economy and on job creation.

are not a ected. “South Africa's economy has become an extremely competitive one, and losing business through a strike is a serious blow. While some companies are strong enough to survive the damage, they may still lose market share. Weaker businesses could go under as a result of industrial action,” adds Maré.

Faced with the option of paying a wage that many businesses really cannot a ord, or alternatively risking their entire business destroyed by prolonged strike activity, Nedlac opted for the former. Nonetheless, individual companies may feel they cannot a ord that leap in their wage bill. However, according to Arnoux Maré, Managing Director of Innovative Sta ng Solutions, strikes at a local level could be avoided in other ways.

It is not just its client companies that benefit, but also the workers who o en in the past found themselves embroiled in strike action against their will due to union pressure. is takes as great a financial toll on the lives of sta as it does on the company, as employees are not paid for the days they are on strike. In fact, a prolonged strike may also mean striking workers never truly recover financially.

“Strike action typically doesn't happen from any principled stance by either labour or business, but because the situation is not anticipated or managed and simply dri s out of control. A viable solution to eliminating the strike factor is by outsourcing your sta . We employ more than 6,000 sta whom we contract out to various clients, and in our experience, if you take care of your sta they will take care of you,” explains Maré. He adds that through focused management, Innovative Sta ng Solutions can o er sta beneﬁts that are superior to regulated industry packages and not readily available at other companies, while simultaneously reducing clients' operational costs by up to 60%. “Innovative Sta ng Solutions has management that are deeply immersed in human resource legislation and industrial relations, who are primed to ensure all labour situations are deﬂected long before they ever become a problem. As a result, we have never experienced a strike in our six years of operation,” says Maré.

Strike action is so destructive to a business' operations, it comes as no surprise that organisations are willing to go to extremes to avoid such devastation. It was recently announced that government and labour and business agreed to a package of labour market reform which will see R20/hour as the minimum wage. is arguably provides more beneﬁts to the labour movement than it does to business. However, this is the price business is willing to pay to reduce labour market tension.

“ e labour agreement also introduces secret strike balloting, advisory arbitration and agreed standards of conduct during industrial action (including by the police and private security companies) and this is a step in the right direction which should reduce the propensity for violence and the length of strikes,” explains Maré. Avoiding strike action is only half of what Innovative Sta ng Solutions achieves – the other half is cutting costs. is is going to become the higher priority, says Maré, if the Nedlac deal achieves its aim of reducing strike activity. e price tag for securing labour's co-operation was steep: Maré estimates that the R20/hour (R3,500/month for a 40-hour week) national minimum wage will raise wages across nearly half of South Africa's businesses. “Many small businesses are panicking that it will put them out of business. Sta outsourcing is an option they should consider as it can save a business up to 60% in operational costs instead of letting things dri until they inevitably are forced to close their doors,” concludes Maré.

It also makes the commitment that should there ever be a strike, alternative sta are put on site at the client to ensure its operations

MINE WATER TREATMENT Constructed wetlands are the most common form of passive water technology. Constructed wetlands act as natural puriﬁcation systems which are capable of ﬁltering and removing many contaminates before they are transported into marine or freshwater environments. However, it is di cult to achieve ideal contaminate removal conditions, and passive water treatment currently requires ongoing maintenance and treatment.

Water is carefully managed to prevent the release of contaminated water into the environment. Various control techniques can be used to reduce the potential for water contamination and minimize the volume of water requiring treatment. ese techniques include: Ÿ Intercepting and diverting surface water (rain and snowmelt runo , streams, and creeks) from entering the mine site by building upstream dams to reduce the potential for water contamination from exposed ore and waste rock Ÿ Recycling water used for processing ore in order to reduce the volume of water requiring treatment Ÿ Capturing drainage water from precipitation at the mine site through the use of liners and pipes and directing the water to tailings dams in order to prevent potentially contaminated water from entering groundwater or ﬂowing o site Ÿ Allowing the water to evaporate in ponds to reduce the volume of contaminated water; in dry regions, enough water may be evaporated that no water needs to be discharged, resulting in the containment of contaminates at the mine site Ÿ Installing liners and covers on waste rock and ore piles to reduce the potential for contact with precipitation and contamination of groundwater Di erent combinations of strategies can be applied, and the selection of strategies is site-speciﬁc. For instance, the interception and diversion of surface water is a more prominent concern in environments with high rates of precipitation, whereas more emphasis is placed on water recycling in arid regions with little water availability. ere are a number of di erent treatment technologies available to clean contaminated water; these technologies can be described as either active or passive. Active treatment technologies require the input of energy and chemicals, and passive treatment uses only natural processes such as gravity, microorganisms, and/or plants in a system, any one of which requires

infrequent but regular maintenance. e treatment technology used at a mine depends on how polluted the water is, what chemicals need to Active water treatment is the most common form of water treatment at working mines. Sophisticated so ware is used to predict the chemistry of the e uent prior to mine construction, and appropriate water treatment technologies are chosen accordingly. Mine waters are o en acidic, and require the addition of lime, limestone, or caustic soda to raise the pH. Once the pH has been elevated, dissolved metals precipitate out of solution and sink to the bottom of settling or sedimentation ponds, where they can be removed. Chemicals known as coagulants or flocculants may be added in order to combine smaller particles into larger clumps which settle out of the water more quickly. Depending on the desired final water quality, a mine may also use other technologies including ion exchangers, membrane filters, and reverse osmosis. e semi-solid portion or sludge removed from the water is dried and disposed of either underground in the mine, or in a waste disposal facility. Because of the high maintenance and disposal costs of active treatment, ways to recycle the sludge are being explored, such as the production of marketable iron concentrate from acid rock drainage from coal mines. However, the majority of sludge has little economic value and is handled as waste. In extreme cases where the sludge is rich in cadmium or arsenic, it may be classified as hazardous waste and require special handling and disposal. Be removed, how much water requires treatment, and the required discharge water quality standards. Passive water treatment is usually combined with water monitoring programs, and takes advantage of natural physical, chemical, and biological processes that remove water contaminates without additional physical or chemical inputs. Examples of these processes include bacteria-controlled metal

SKF delivers higher-performance across its INSOCOAT bearings range SKF's INSOCOAT bearings range comprises bearings with an electrically insulating coating on the external surfaces of its inner or outer ring, plasma-sprayed with an aluminium oxide coating. e coating, which is naturally hygroscopic, is sealed with a resin to protect against the conductive e ects of high humidity and moisture ingress. ese bearings are specially designed and manufactured for use in rotating electrical machines, such as industrial electric motors, traction motors and generators. ey prevent the passage of harmful electrical currents from the rotor to the machine frame via the bearings, which causes progressive electrical erosion of the bearings' rolling contact surfaces and ultimately premature failure.

environments which can compromise a bearing's insulating properties before it is even placed in service, making INSOCOAT bearings highly robust during transport and handling.

With its latest generation of electrically insulated bearings, SKF has raised the performance standard to provide constant electrical performance, even in high humidity.

Combining both bearing and insulation in a single solution, INSOCOAT protects against electrical erosion at signiďŹ cantly lower total cost of ownership compared with other techniques such as sha or housing insulation.

Following the introduction of an improved plasma spray coating process and optimised ceramic layer, SKF can provide this superior insulating coating as standard and o -the-shelf across its entire INSOCOAT range. INSOCOAT bearings are now able to withstand voltages of 3000V DC su cient to cope with the vast majority of stray bearing current problems in electrical machines. In addition, the upgraded moistureresistant coating provides greater protection against humidity storage

SKF INSOCOAT bearings range

Waste to Energy a focus at Pollution and Waste Tech Africa Waste to Energy programmes, the subject of growing international and South African focus, will be a key topic of discussion during workshops alongside an upcoming pollution and waste technology exhibition in Johannesburg. Pollution and Waste Technology Africa, to be staged at the Ticketpro Dome in June this year, will showcase the latest pollution and waste management technologies on the market. Workshops alongside the exhibition, themed around the Fourth Industrial Revolution, will have a key focus on Waste to Energy challenges and opportunities in South Africa. is fast-emerging area of environmental and waste management grew to a global market size of over $20 billion by 2015, and the thermal Waste to Energy market alone is expected to top $29 billion by 2023, according to research by Global Market Insights. is growth is driven by environmental factors, challenges in managing proliferating waste volumes, and renewable energy directives from governments around the world. In South Africa, the government's focus on environmental initiatives and renewable energy sources has driven an increased focus on Waste to Energy. Recently, the Department of Environmental A airs (DEA), in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) announced a $4.22 million worth Waste to Energy project in Pretoria, and the City of Cape Town o cially opened a R400m Waste to Energy conversion plant in Athlone. “Waste to Energy technologies present solutions to a number of challenges we face today,” says Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions, organisers of Pollution and Waste Technology Africa. “However, optimising the potential of Waste to Energy and improving waste management in general, demands

collaboration from all stakeholders. For example, infrastructure and architecture, from which 40% of all pollution is generated, must contribute to the discussion on new design models, technologies and materials, so that the entire value chain contributes to ﬁnding solutions to environmental challenges. e Pollution and Waste Technology Africa exhibition and workshops will serve as a platform to bring together stakeholders from across public and private sector, in the academic, scientiﬁc, health and safety, engineering, environmental, water and waste management sectors, to discover the new methodologies and technologies for waste management in South Africa.” Pollution and Waste Technology Africa, to be co-located with Africa Automation Fair 2017 and the Connected Industries conference, will address the latest developments around Waste to Energy plans among its conference and workshop topics. Other key issues to come under discussion will be technologies to address air pollution, e-waste: the fastest-growing waste stream, innovations in air quality monitoring and digital solutions for waste management. e exhibition will showcase energy, environmental, waste and water systems, risk assessment and management solutions, smart cities technology and more.

Fourth Industrial Revolution pollution and waste management technologies to go on show in Johannesburg

e event will be attended by a broad range of stakeholders, including engineers, technology developers, manufacturers, local authorities and utilities, medical stakeholders, researchers and educational stakeholders, and professionals in the pollution, energy, water, waste and environmental industries. Pollution and Waste Technology Africa, Africa Automation Fair 2017 and the Connected Industries conference will be held from 6-8 June 2017 at the Ticketpro Dome in North Riding, Johannesburg.

Bad weather should never be an excuse for a truck accident “Rigorous testing and advanced driving courses are of course the ideal solution, but by following these basic rules, a driver signiﬁcantly decreases his risks of having an accident in hazardous weather conditions.” concludes Maré.

Recent bad weather in the Highveld has been as In addition, drivers should: much of a curse to truck drivers as a blessing to Ÿ Perform a pre-trip inspection: with special farmers. Every truck driver who has a attention to the cargo, brakes and tyres. commercial driver's licence should know the Secure all doors and exposed items and dangers of driving in bad weather. Responsible ensure cargo is strapped down properly. driving means reducing your speed by up to Take the time to do a thorough once-over one-third if the weather is bad, and to stop on your truck checking the thread and tyre driving altogether if it becomes too dangerous pressure on the vehicles wheels and to proceed. ensuring that the brakes are fully functioning before getting into the drivers' “ at simple solution also means that bad seat. weather should never be an excuse for a truck Ÿ Check the weather forecast before they hit accident. Nonetheless, wet roads and high the road. Prevention is better than cure and winds make driving any kind of larger vehicle being properly prepared for the conditions much more dangerous,” says Arnoux Maré, ahead can make the driving experience Managing Director of Innovative Sta ng safer for the driver and other road users. Solutions. Ÿ Heed the warning signals in the environment: flapping flags, windblown “Semi-trucks are especially prone to the trees and dark clouds in the horizon are all combination of wet roads and wind good indicators that they may be driving interference, which we have a lot of experience into hazardous conditions. Drop your of on the Highveld. Large rigs are much bigger speed so that the wind has less force to than ordinary trucks, and the surface of the enable you to come to a safe stop if so trailer e ectively creates an enormous 'sail' area required. which catches the wind. is can cause the Ÿ Empty trailers are even more susceptible to trailer to shi and sometimes to jack-knife. being tossed about by even a modest However, if the appropriate training is provided amount of wind. Keep this in mind when to drivers, accidents caused by wet and windy traveling. conditions are entirely avoidable,” continues Ÿ e golden rule of professional truck Maré. driving is 'whenever in doubt, slow down or stop'. at includes weather conditions, He says that due to the shortage of professional road construction, restricted views or any commercial drivers in South Africa, many possible hazard. Always slow down to a companies' transport managers o en cannot safe speed, or stop. release their hard-pressed drivers for ongoing Ÿ Increase the following distance between training, as is the company policy at Innovative your truck and the vehicle ahead of you. Sta ng Solutions. However, for fleet managers Ÿ Make sure that you are visible to other and their drivers that don't get training, there road users. Be sure your vehicle's lights are are certain policies and procedures that can still functioning correctly. be implemented when driving in bad weather. Ÿ Minimise abrupt actions. Making abrupt moves such as hard or panic braking, quick “Truckers must be aware that the problem of lane changes, and high-speed merging wind and rain is considerably worsened when a during bad weather increases your chances semi-truck with a large sail area is travelling of losing control of your vehicle. down the freeway at speed. Pressure develops Ÿ Increase caution and awareness at locations because of wind under the trailer, around the where vehicle accidents are known to occur trailer or over it. e higher the rate of speed, – intersections, bridges, merges and lane the more e ect the wind has on all these areas, changes. and it may be su cient to tip the entire truck Ÿ Understand your driving limitations: your over. Add in wet and slippery roads that age or the number of hours you've been decrease visibility and stopping power and you driving in a single day can cause vision have a recipe for disaster. e corrective action limitations, slower reaction times, lack of in the event of this and indeed any danger is to ability to judge distances, and confusion slow down, and if the wind is such as to make it over directions. di cult for the driver to keep in his lane, to Ÿ Always drive sober and with a clear head. stop altogether,” explains Maré.

Keeping up with ISO standards in an ever changing environment ISO is constantly evolving to ensure that organisations meet the needs of their customers and stakeholders. “We want to measure our success against quality compliance which means that we are constantly exploring better ways of doing things and the ISO 9001 standard forms the foundation of this,” obela concludes

It goes without saying that risk-based thinking is critical for achieving an e ective quality management system. It highlights the need to carry out preventative actions to eradicate possible nonconformities, identifying nonconformities that do happen and acting to avoid recurrence. It is so important that even the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) incorporated risk concepts into the ISO 9001 2005 requirement.

(suppliers and contractors), employees, society and the environment.” e ISO 9001 2005 is hugely important for laboring businesses because it requires the management team to demonstrate an understanding of business risk (technology, environment, society, economy and politics) by using problem solving techniques. is is done by asking questions like: what will happen in the future? What can we predict? How does it a ect the ability to achieve goals?

Conforming to standards such as the ISO 9001 2005, increases credibility with customers as it illustrates that the service and An e ective risk management process is key product that a business is o ering meets the to ensuring ISO 9001 standards are met. is will give assurance that the management necessary requirements and expectations. system can achieve its intended results. It will prevent and reduce undesired outcomes and “It is important to monitor and review information about interested parties that are will ultimately achieve continual relevant to the management system and their improvement. Most importantly, it increases requirements,” says Bongani obela, Quality the focus on the use of targets and planning of changes for driving improvements. Manager at Rand-Air, market leaders in portable compressed air and power generation rental. “ is includes the customers, shareholders, business partners

AVK grows local manufacturing footprint with Gunric acquisition Gunric Valves have always specialised in manufacturing and exporting large diameter and made-to-order Butterfly Valves and tilting disc check valves. Patrick Jantjies, Director AVK Southern Africa - says: “ e addition of the Triple O set Metal Seated Butterfly Valves product programme strengthens our o ering to our core water business, as well as enables us to extend our industrial valves o ering to customers. is is an exciting addition to our ever-growing product programme – one that will also fortify our o ering for both South African and international project business.” Gunric is also one of South Africa's largest and longest manufacturers of triple o set, metal seated butterfly valves. In fact, over the decades the company supplied many of the valves in South Africa's still operational major power stations, petrochemical and water infrastructure projects. “Our dedication to growing our local footprint and delivering solutions that are made in Africa is our proudest attribute. is acquisition further reinforces our commitment to build world class manufacturing and technical support in Southern Africa – and growing our local footprint – which is why we will continue to operate at the existing facility at

Robertville, Florida, Johannesburg,” adds Jantjies. AVK's continuous investment into the local market funds the creation of new standards for local production capacity – that are also based on the latest international production technology and green processes. e knock-on beneﬁts of this is acceleration in the adoption of green technology, growing local skillsbases and, increased high-tech production and foundry capacity – thereby enabling the company to provide large volumes of world-class, competitively priced valves locally, and that meet concerns over quality, capacity and delivery time.

Johannesburg, 27 March 2017 – AVK Holdings Southern Africa – a leading local manufacturer of valves and related solutions – has acquired 100% interest in Gunric Valves, including all brand assets and intellectual property (IP). is acquisition increases the company's local manufacturing footprint; deepening its product programme o erings to customers across the continent.

e company is also a strong advocate of the dti's designation policy – aimed at reindustrialising South Africa to meet the requirements of its state-owned enterprises and infrastructure spend, thereby sustaining employment opportunities through the value chain. “ is acquisition presents us with a massive opportunity - and given that we are able to o er customers a single point of contact to gain access to 'one world' of a full-line of products - we will be working closely with the team at the Robertville facility to expand and strengthen the overall position of the group in the Southern African and Global markets,” concludes Jantjies.

AVK Southern Africa is one of the leading valves supplier for the water, sewage industries and mining as well as fire protection on the African continent. With the acquisition of Wouter Witzel EuroValve BV – one of the world's leading butterfly valve producers – AVK SA has extended its segments; now also including industries: pulp, paper, oil and gas exploration. Our product programme comprises a large range of valves, hydrants, pipe fittings, and accessories, each complying with the highest standards of safety and durability. AVK S.A is responsible for supplying the product range south of the Equator, maintain very high stock levels of valves and accessories to supply the demand of all Sub-Saharan countries with the majority market share of almost 60% on the continent. www.avkvalves.co.za

WearCheck takes over transformer services company WearCheck has now added the transformer tests done by TCS to its existing transformer oil analysis programme, increasing the number of available ﬂuid and non-ﬂuid tests, such as Insulation Paper Quality Testing. is test provides a measure of paper aging, and correlates this with important physical properties such as resistance to tearing and bursting. is is a critical factor in estimating the real aging of the main transformer insulation.

Durban-based reliability solutions specialists, WearCheck, recently bought out Transformer Chemistry Services (TCS), adding an already-established transformer analysis and maintenance division to the company's condition monitoring portfolio. Coupled with WearCheck's Africa-wide network, the expertise of TCS and a general growth in the number of transformers across the continent, WearCheck is now poised to provide large-scale and widespread comprehensive transformer reliability services.

Compared with the cost of premature or catastrophic failure, regularly scheduled oil testing is a cost-e ective and sound maintenance practice that is used to extend the life of transformers. TCS was established in Westville, Durban in 1992 by Ian Gray, who has run the company for the past 25 years. Among some of the large customers serviced by TCS are companies such as Sasol, Mittal Arcelor and BHP Billiton. A second TCS laboratory was built in Cape Town two years ago, in response to the needs of the burgeoning transformer industry in the Western Cape.

e primary function of the newly-formed transformer division is the promotion of transformer health through the regular assessment of insulating ﬂuid and diagnosis O ering the full spectrum of transformer reliability solutions by one condition of the results. monitoring company – this is one of the key beneﬁts of the merger of TCS into Transformers are extremely critical apparatus for providing reliable energy. No- WearCheck. So says WearCheck MD Neil one can precisely answer when equipment Robinson, who constantly strives to provide customers with value-for-money services will fail, but it is essential to manage risk. that reliably boost plant availability. Says Robinson, ' e transition of TCS into WearCheck is already underway and is an extremely smooth process, particularly since the two companies share an absolute dedication to the integrity of data and a parallel commitment to customer service excellence. 'From WearCheck's side, we extend a very warm welcome to all the current TCS customers, and we look forward to taking new transformer clients on board to experience our new one-stop transformer maintenance shop.' For more information, please contact WearCheck on support@wearcheck.co.za or call (031) 700-5460 or visit www.wearcheck.co.za.

Shaking hands on the deal – WearCheck MD Neil Robinson (right) and TCS MD Ian Gray discuss the details of the merger of TCS into WearCheck. For customers operating transformers, the merger means all transformer maintenance needs can now be met under one roof. 20

(NFTN). rough the dti, the NFTN aims to make funding available for recapitalisation and to address the low capacity utilisation through technical and regulatory support, engaging local buyers and developing the industries' collective capacity and capabilities.

Taking a look at the impact of the foundry industry on manufacturing in South Africa, Henk Langenhoven, Chief Economist: Chamber of Mines of South Africa, said that it is not manufacturing is not declining, but rather manufacturing is declining as a percentage of the economy.

is emerged at the Metal Casting Conference held in Johannesburg, which included the World Foundry Organisation (WFO) Technical Forum as well as the 7th BRICS Foundry Forum. John Davies, CEO of the South African Institute of Foundrymen, said, “Foundries need to embrace and adapt to the new manufacturing technologies of the fourth industrial revolution by being informed of the latest research and developments. While there are challenges, ultimately there is a need to modernize for sustainability.” Some of the challenges faced by foundries include the costs of compliance with new regulations, such as air emissions standards. ey put a strain on small and medium sized foundry businesses, which are also dealing with a lack of o -take agreements and high levels of capital investment requirements due to ageing infrastructure and capital equipment. “ e foundry industry in South Africa is mature and many foundries have the capacity and capabilities to produce for designated sectors, including those that export,” said Ashley Bhugwandin, Manager: National Foundry Technology Network

“If one looks at GDP growth in correlation with physical tonnage of castings produced in the country, it begs the question of whether we are giving away too much market share in imports. Or is our domestic base too small? In the 1990s, there were massive investments in infrastructure and in the economy. is has subsided and now the consumption part of our economy is driving the demand for castings.” Collaboration emerged as an important factor in success for foundries. To this end, sessions were held that focused on information sharing to collectively address common issues and improve knowledge on new technologies.

"In the next Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), we are emphasising the importance of supporting the metals and casting industries to modernise and grow. is requires support in terms of research and development, human resource development and supplyside support in the form of incentives for the metals and agroprocessing industries. Along with demand-side initiatives, such as local procurement designations, this support will help to grow demand," said October. e conference included a number of national and international industry presentations, academic papers and technical papers. e 291 delegates heard emphasis being given to new markets and strategy as well as leaders for the future in the plenary sessions. Metallurgy, technology and processes were covered in industry and technical presentations as well as academic streams and 28 exhibitors participated in the exhibition.

Government infrastructure projects: Why it matters who manages the spend Quantity surveyors are best positioned to keep public infrastructure spend on track, despite 83% of government infrastructure spend currently managed by engineers.

An estimated R875.70 billion has been committed to a number of ambitious government infrastructure projects for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) until 2019/2020), according to the ﬁgures given in the national budget and publicly available information on projects and their budgets.

“It is perhaps worth mentioning that the energy and transport sectors, where quantity surveyors have no formal control over project costing and accounting, have seen some of the most spectacular cost overruns in recent years.

“Engineers are judged by the quality and aesthetics of their designs and thus, quite Herman Berry, a member of the Building rightly, those are their main priorities. and Property Economics Committee of the Cost is, however, a primary consideration for the quantity surveyor, who produces a Association of South African Quantity Bill of Quantities from the engineer’s Surveyors (ASAQS) and Executive: design. e Bill of Quantities remains the Program, Cost, Consultancy (Africa) at baseline for the project and all payments, AECOM, says that this is a substantial and the foundation for the ﬁnal account, number, and represents a very welcome which the quantity surveyor must draw up commitment to service delivery and and be able to justify.” upgrading our national competitiveness. “Despite the bulk of the infrastructure e ASAQS has previously called for all spend actually being managed by government projects worth R10 million or engineers, the priority now must be to more to have a quantity surveyor made ensure that the projects are delivered on responsible for the overall project and, time and on budget—and greater particularly, the ﬁnal accounts in an involvement by professional quantity attempt to stem corruption. While surveyors is the best way to do that,” he corruption may be the cause of some cost adds. overruns on big projects, there are many other factors at play. e real point is that Why does it matter who manages the a quantity surveyor has the professional project costs? Berry says that the spend is spread across know-how and commitment to scope the project costs and quantities properly, and the key sectors of education (R50.1 then ensure that it remains within scope. billion), energy (R234.5 billion), health (R35.6 billion), human Settlements (R102.5 “ ese are ambitious projects, and it is billion), transport and logistics (R327.5 billion) and water and sanitation (R125.3 highly desirable they are achieved and that the country gets what it paid for. e best billion). way to ensure that is to get quantity He points out that infrastructure spend in surveyors involved—we are trained to education, health and human settlements is ensure that a client’s money is spent as originally planned, and that any deviations primarily contracted through the Department of Public Works and the costs are properly documented and authorised before payments are made,” Berry are traditionally managed by quantity concludes. “We believe government should surveyors. bear this in mind when it frames the terms of its tenders.” By contrast, projects in the other sectors are largely under the cost control of Editor’s note: e analysis of projected engineers. ese projects account for 83 national budget expenditure is available on percent of the projected spend in this the National Treasurywebsite. budget (R726 billion). 22

Sixth generation Dynapac large asphalt rollers take compaction quality to a new level! With the introduction of the first generation Dynapac large asphalt roller, the CC40, in 1964, Dynapac is able to include a wealth of experience and know-how in the development of this latest generation machines. e design of the new sixth generation Dynapac asphalt rollers has the operator first in mind. e single seat, steering and operation module has 180 degree swivel as well as a le / right slide-able mechanism ensuring a versatile driving position and excellent visibility, and eliminates only forward or reverse working directions. e new electronic mini-steering wheel further facilitates smooth and accurate steering, setting a new benchmark in ergonomics and maneuverability. e latest technology simplifies roller operation, ensures optimised handling and increases the quality of the compaction operation and result. e start-up procedure is another example of simplicity where the machine intelligence takes care of the preheating and the engine starts automatically when ready. On this sixth generation Dynapac machines, the o set is increased to 520 mm; using the front drum for o set as opposed to the rear ensures even better driving accuracy. is advanced steering gives unmatched maneuverability resulting in a very small turning radius when used in combination with the steering hitch. e increased o set also improves roller stability when compacting weaker road edges, increases the rolling surface capacity when making the final static passes to rid the mat of any marks, and improves operator control of the front drum to follow curb edges and any other obstacles with a high degree of accuracy. e e cient and e ective compaction of the sixth generation asphalt rollers make it ideal for modern thin layer applications which require to be compacted fast due to the very short material cool-o window. e Dynapac asphalt roller's successful compaction concept of 'high vibration

frequency with low amplitude' feature to maintain high e ciency on modern thin asphalt layers is continued in the latest generation. While this gives very e ective compaction for thin layers, the rollers can also be used for thick layers with high amplitude and a 'normal' vibration frequency. In keeping with the Dynapac focus on sustainability and the working environment, the sixth generation machines incorporate the latest emissions reduction technology which complies with global regulations. For markets like South Africa that do not yet have ultra-low sulfur fuel available, Dynapac still o ers the Stage IIIA/T3 engine alternative.

Dynapac is proud to introduce the sixth generation CC4000 CC6200 large asphalt rollers. ese extremely operator friendly machines o er unmatched ease of operation, excellent visibility and highest quality compaction. e engines incorporate the latest emission reduction technology and performance is enhanced by high vibration frequency and an optional active front drum steering system with big o -set that takes maneuverability to a new level.

e automatic idling system is standard across the entire the sixth generation range. Should the roller stand in neutral for more than ten seconds at high rpm, the engine will automatically reduce to idle rpm reducing fuel consumption, fuel emissions, and noise levels. e optional EcoMode system can be added to optimise the required RPM, always keeping the RPM as low as possible but still maintaining the correct vibration frequency. e EcoMode system delivers up to 15% lower fuel consumption and a lower noise level. On the new sixth generation machines, Dynapac has drawn on its reservoir of experience to make the water system, possibly the most important system on an asphalt roller, as reliable as possible. All rollers in the range are equipped with an advanced Automatic Water Control, a sprinkler timer, full ﬂow sprinkler button, dual sprinkler pumps and dual sprinkler bars.

e sixth generation Dynapac CC4000 - CC6200 large asphalt rollers deliver takes compaction quality to a new level

We have successful received orders for these new generation asphalt rollers and available stock for the South African market will be available o the Sweden production facility by mid-May this year and working on customer's projects in the ﬁeld by end-June 2017.

Sixth generation Dynapac large asphalt roller CC5200VI 23

It's business as usual only better, as Atlas Copco Mining & Rock Excavation Technique enters a new era As of 1 January 2018, Atlas Copco will grow into two separate global groups of companies. e split will provide the best growth opportunities for both listed companies with Atlas Copco focusing on the industrial market and the new company (NewCo) dedicated to the mining and civil engineering sector. As global leaders in their respective areas, the two companies will be perfectly positioned to deliver sustainable productivity solutions to respective customers.

Globally, the entire Mining & Rock Excavation Technique Business Area, as well as the Construction Tools Division of Atlas Copco, will become part of “NewCo”. Shareholding will remain unchanged. Alongside the establishment of a new head o ce, a new board and CEO will also be appointed during the year. With a new company name to be approved towards the end of April 2017, an exciting journey lies ahead for “NewCo.”

Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. e Group serves customers with innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. Atlas Copco develops products and service focused on productivity, energy e ciency, safety and ergonomics. e company was founded in 1873, is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 180 countries. In 2015, Atlas Copco has been operating in South Africa for over 70 years and Mining & Rock Atlas Copco had revenues of BSEK 102 (BEUR 11) and more than 43 000 Excavation Technique leads the Southern African market as the foremost supplier of employees. Learn more at product and service solutions to the mining www.atlascopcogroup.com and allied industries. Former General Atlas Copco’s Mining and Rock Excavation Manager, Jason Smith, has le South Technique business area provides African shores to head up Atlas Copco equipment for drilling and rock excavation, Mining & Rock Excavation Technique in Canada. Under new leadership, Atlas Copco a complete range of related consumables and service through a global network. e Mining & Rock Excavation Technique business area innovates for sustainable Southern Africa will continue to build on productivity in surface and underground its solid reputation and drive the mining mining, infrastructure, civil works, well and civil engineering businesses forward. drilling and geotechnical applications. Principal product development and “NewCo” will operate as a stand-alone manufacturing units are located in Sweden, company but still within the Atlas Copco the United States, Canada, China and India. Group and will use several services from Atlas Copco. So, with customers ﬁrst in mind, it is business as usual, only better. is separation milestone will create greater scope for growth and a stronger customer focus, establishing a solid platform for “NewCo” Southern Africa to serve its respective customers more e ciently through the delivery of innovative product and service solutions.

Drill the SmartROC way Atlas Copco's automated SmartROC Down- e-Hole and Top Hammer drill rigs have transformed the drilling procedure. Equipped with smart technology, these rigs help to drive down operational and maintenance costs, drive up e ciencies, increase safety and reduce carbon footprints for sustainable productivity and proﬁtability in mines, quarries and plants.

“We believe that the success of automation technology lies in a holistic approach and therefore Atlas Copco's Powered by Automation applies not only to equipment but also to systems, operations and services,” explains Hedley Birnie, Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation Technique's SED (Surface and Exploration Drilling) Business Line Manager. Comprising four levels (monitoring, function, calculated optimisation and autonomy), Powered by Automation encompasses a range of automated operations such as remote control solutions, automatic safety features and systems, improved information integration and visualisation and control of operations. Atlas Copco designs, maintains and supports all hardware and so ware.

e planning o ce is able to communicate with the rig via a Wi-Fi network or data stick and drill patterns, hole angles and depths are sent to the rig with GPS coordinates. e Hole Navigation System (HNS) enables the rig to locate the exact coordinates and drill precisely to plan and all the information is reported to the o ce. “ is intelligent option delivers a faster set-up, improves precision and reduces non-drilling time, fragmentation and explosive quantities,” elaborates Birnie.

Rig Remote Access (RRA) sends drill patterns, hole angles and depths to the rig with GPS coordinates enabling the rig to drill holes semi-autonomously. e rig 'knows' to drill in the right place at the right “ e various automation o erings available depth, at the right angle and at the desired on our SmartROC rigs optimise the drilling hole depth every time while drill tubes are added and extracted automatically. is and blasting experience from end-to-end and improve productivity across-the-board,” automation also allows for automatic asserts Birnie. Designed with leading-edge overburden drilling; with manual marking and surveying of hole positons now varied level automation technology and eliminated, operators and surveyors are featuring full drill cycle automation, the removed from hazardous areas. Atlas Copco SmartROC drill rigs are capable of drilling holes semi-autonomously Additionally it reduces the risk of manual error as well as potential safety hazards with extreme accuracy. is smart from dropping rods. technology leads to better planning, Rig Control System (RCS) is a built-in autoimproved accuracy and fuel e ciency (up to 15% less fuel consumption), consistency rod handling control system that limits in operation and quality, extended machine extreme usage and safeguards the rig against operator abuse, reduces wear both availability and equipment lifecycle, and enhanced operator safety and performance. on the rig as well as on consumables, extends rig lifespan and improves uptime and availability.

Automation on Atlas Copco's SmartROC drill rigs optimise the drilling & blasting experience from end to end & improve productivity across the board 26

With the BenchREMOTE function the operator can conveniently monitor progress from the comfort of a FOPS/ROPS approved cabin situated 100m away. With no pipework in the cabin, the operator enjoys a more ergonomic, spacious dry 'o ce in which both noise and the risk of oil leakage are minimised. Decreased operator fatigue reduces errors and increases safety for improved operational e ciencies and boosted productivity. Furthermore, up to three SmartROC drill rigs can be operated from one BenchREMOTE base station at a distance of

up to 100m. “ is in e ect transforms the SmartROC into a dependable, lowmaintenance co-worker on the bench and leads to signiﬁcantly improved operational e ciencies,” notes Birnie. He adds that Atlas Copco o ce management systems such as ROC Manager give customers access to important statistics such as rig availability, actual drilling time, fuel burn, etc.

A better drill control system improves performance in broken ground and provides better control of the GPS compass. “Operators are also now able to turn the HNS (Hole Navigation System) on and o ,” adds Birnie.

Atlas Copco o ers theoretical and practical a ermarket technical and operator training to ensure correct operation of the drill rig “We are continuously updating the for improved safety, reliability and automation technology of our SmartROC performance. Maintenance support can be drill rigs to ensure the highest and most e cient rig performance possible,” a rms customised to meet customer requirements. Birnie. Recent upgrades to the SmartROC Alongside an extensive parts supply, a T45 include longer drill rods, improved fuel component rebuild facility housed at Atlas Copco's Jet Park, Johannesburg head o ce, burn and updated so ware. e repairs components back to OEM lengthening of the drill rods and starter standards; in addition to the Boom Rebuild rods increases uptime due to fewer stops. Facility, there is a Rock Drill Rebuild facility which currently boasts a rebuild/repair capacity of 20 rock drills per week and an Axle Rebuild facility with a capacity to repair/rebuild ﬁve axles per week. e SmartROC product line is backed by an extensive a ermarket support network of branches in Rustenburg, Middelburg, Lydenburg, Kuruman and Springbok which also support Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. A ermarket parts are supplied from the Jet Park Distribution Centre. Birnie points out that while automation technology is still fairly new to Southern Africa there is an installed base of sixteen Atlas Copco SmartROC rigs – three in the Northern Cape, three in Limpopo and ten in North West Province. “Interest in our rigs and their automation features is on the increase as mines and quarries are realising more and more that the implementation of automation technology is crucial to a sustainable and proﬁtable future. e SmartROC delivers exactly what these industries need,” concludes Birnie.

Equipped with smart technology Atlas Copco automated SmartROC D65 Down- e-Hole drill rigs_driving down operational & maintenance costs_driving up e ciencies. 28

Sustainable safe and proﬁtable underground mining with Atlas Copco automation technology e implementation of automation technology in Atlas Copco's underground operations promotes mine productivity and reduces operating expenses by enhancing machine performance, capabilities and reliability as well as creating safer working conditions.

All four levels of automation have been adopted on the Boltec MC Roof Bolter operating on a gold mine Committed to assisting mines in ensuring a sustainable future through proﬁtability, Atlas Copco products and systems are designed and engineered with the objective of improving production, productivity and safety. Here the development of cutting edge technology such as automation plays a

All four levels of automation have been adopted on four Simba M4C machines that are in operation on a diamond mine. 30

pivotal role. Easy to install and use, automation technology facilitates machine operation and reliability and improves hole accuracy on Drill Rigs. Functions such as tele remote enables remote line-of-sight control and operation of equipment from the safety of a control room, removing workers from hard, hazardous and arduous work and reducing the risk of injuries and fatalities. Automation technology can be applied safely and cost e ectively to enhance a wide range of underground operations that such as haulages, long hole production drilling, materials handling, communication networks and data capturing on production. “With beneﬁts such as these it comes as no surprise that automation technology is considered by investors, management and engineers alike as the only way for mining operations to ensure a sustainable future,” says omas Mthimunye, Regional Business Development Manager URE. “We strongly encourage the mining industry to embrace automation as this technology enables customers to take control of their operations in a completely new way.”

Examples of automation that can be applied on a Scooptram RRC includes an Operator Unit (OU) that gives the operator full control over the scooptram loader, a Machine Unit (MU) which receives the control signals from the operator and activates correct machine function, a harness belt giving the operator an ergonomic working position throughout the shi and a blue tooth communication link to ensure safe, reliable remote link. Mine truck automation comprises wall avoidance ere are four levels to Powered by available for both manual and tele remote Automation - monitoring, function, calculated optimisation and autonomy. All operation and auto tram and auto dump for autonomous production cycle. One to six hardware and so ware is designed, maintained and supported by Atlas Copco. Simba rigs can be controlled from a fixed control room; remote control of machinery Mthimunye confirms that a number of gold, from 100m line-of-site is possible from a mobile control room. manganese, platinum and diamond mines across South Africa have implemented Atlas “We have a comprehensive range of Copco's automation technology and are automation technologies for underground living the success. “ ree diamond mines have automated their machines with one of equipment,” continues Mthimunye. “Rig the mines planning full autonomy in 2020. Remote Access (RRA) enables stakeholders to monitor the machine and gather data in real time without having to go underground ” Some of the mines that have adopted all four levels of automation; three Simba M6C or wait for the shi and our Rig Control System (RCS) which is an auto-rod Long Hole Drill Rigs, one Boomer M2C Face Drill Rig and one Boltec MC Roof Bolter are operating on gold mines and four handling function that simplifies operation and reduces wear on the rig as well as on Simba M4C and two Simba ME7C Long consumables.” Of the more than 3 000 RCS Hole Drill Rigs are in operation on a rigs introduced to the global market since diamond mine. 1998, approximately 1 400 are operating underground. RCS self-diagnostic features assist in faster trouble shooting and increased availability of the machines. “We also o er a load weighing system that provides accurate recorded information on tonnages excavated,” adds Mthimunye. Atlas Copco's Powered by Automation is a holistic concept that straddles the company's full range of mining equipment, systems, operations and services. “It encompasses both fully autonomous products as well as di erent steps of automation based on the task at hand and on the current level of automation in a mining or tunneling operation,” explains Mthimunye.

Atlas Copco monitored underground Mining activities over a 24 hour period to determine the potential and capacity of automation to assist mines in becoming more productive, safe and proﬁtable. Results showed a remarkable improvement potential of between 40 to 80% on autonomous machines working through shi changes and blasting. Despite the proven success of automation technology, Mthimunye says that there is still resistance to move away from manual operation which he puts down to not being fully versed in all the beneﬁts of this Examples of automation that can be applied on a Scooptram RRC_Operator Unit, technology. Machine Unit, harness belt & blue tooth communication link 32

“Unfortunately automation is usually linked to a decreased workforce while in fact the very opposite is true. It creates opportunities. While the technology is easy to use, it still requires highly skilled operators and technicians to operate the machines. is means upskilling of personnel and subsequent higher remuneration. Furthermore, ease of automation operation attracts women and young upcoming engineers to the mining industry. e older generation's fear of technology is another challenge. Here education is key; we need to show not the simplicity of automation but also the tremendous value add of this technology.” With customers always first in mind, Atlas Copco Automation team partners with customers to evaluate their individual automation possibilities and find the most profitable solutions for sustainable production, operation longevity and profit. In addition to a er-sales support, customers with products that are powered by automation receive technical and operator training both at the Atlas Copco Academy in Jet Park, Johannesburg, as well as in Sweden.

Local and overseas Atlas Copco Product Managers, the a ermarket team and training department work together, continuously engaging, interacting with and supporting the customer to maximise the benefits of automation. “ at automation contributes to the sustainable future of any mining operation is fact. ere is thus absolutely no doubt that every operation that implements automation will realise all the unparalleled benefits o ered by this technology reduced operational and maintenance expenses, increased uptime and production, improved productivity, upskilled operators, maximised safety and ultimately, lowest overall cost of equipment ownership, rapid return on capital investments and ultimately profitability,” concludes Mthimunye. Atlas Copco Surface Drilling Equipment is a division within Atlas Copco's Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area It develops manufactures and markets rock drilling equipment for various applications in civil engineering quarries and open pit mines worldwide e division focuses strongly on innovative product design and a ermarket support systems which give added customer value e divisional headquarters and main production center is in Örebro Sweden Underground Rock Excavation is a division within Atlas Copco's Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area It develops manufactures and markets a wide range of tunneling and mining equipment for various underground applications worldwide e division focuses strongly on innovative product design and a ermarket support systems which give added customer value e divisional headquarters and main production center is in Örebro Sweden

omas Mthimunye, Regional Business Development Manager URE_We strongly encourage the mining industry to embrace automation 34

SKF South Africa Training Solutions receives third accreditation SKF South Africa Training Solutions is proud to have obtained accreditation through the South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers (SAIMechE) on ﬁve of its training courses.

SKF South Africa is the ﬁrst bearing manufacturer to receive SAIMechE accreditation which is mandated by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). It also complements the company's two other accreditations - BINDT (British Institute of Non-destructive Testing) for SKF Vibration Analysis training and MerSeta for SKF bearings and lubrication training received in November and December 2012 respectively.

Currently approximately 70% of the training being conducted by SKF is onsite at customer premises.

SKF Training Solutions has a basket of over 40 training courses available of which 20 are products specific. Parkinson confirms that SKF South Africa is currently o ering thirteen courses which cover bearings, lubrication, alignment, balancing, condition monitoring, vibration analysis and thermography. Product specific Bearing reliability and lifespan are determined courses are also o ered to customers a er not only by the quality of the bearing itself but also by correct fitment and maintenance. Training purchasing the products. plays a fundamental role in educating customers on correct bearing installation and maintenance. Supported by Training Coordinator, Nadine e value adds of training are maximised bearing Schroeter, Parkinson calls on specialists from reliability and lifecycle and increased uptime and within SKF which include two application engineers and two condition monitoring experts production. is mind-set initiated the as well as a retired SKF trainer to facilitate establishment of SKF Training Solutions a training. number of years ago. “It is also an extension of SKF's ongoing commitment to provide excellent e SAIMechE accreditation which was received service,” says Steve Parkinson, Training Solutions on 13 April 2017 is applicable to Manager for SKF South Africa. the following five SKF training programmes: SKF Training Solutions trains approximately 500 delegates on its various programmes annually. Ÿ WE 201 – Bearing Maintenance and “Accreditation of our training programmes Technology (3 CPD points) enables us to o er our customers, Authorised Ÿ Bearing basics; includes a practical Distributors and delegates several important component for delegates to correctly mount advantages,” states Parkinson. and dismount bearing Ÿ WE 204 – Bearing Damage Analysis (2 CPD “Registered professional engineers are required to Points) obtain a minimum of 25 Continuing Professional Ÿ Analyses of bearing failures and Development (CPD) points every five years in determination of the root causes of failure order to keep their registration status. Some Ÿ engineers who need points but are limited by Ÿ WE 240 – Precision Sha Alignment (2 CPD time, opt for a general seminar which has CPD Points) points rather than attend SKF training.” Ÿ Alignment methodology; practical demonstration on alignment of rotating “Our accredited courses now enable engineers to sha s within specified tolerances claim their attendance and CPD credits as part of Ÿ WI 202 – Vibration Analysis Category 1 (5 their development. Furthermore, accreditation is CPD Points) a rmation of our ongoing commitment to our Ÿ How to: Operate instrumentation, take customers to provide training programmes that vibration readings, conduct testing, compare are of first class quality and highly relevant for the all measurements, verify data collected and industry.” evaluate and report results. Ÿ As the first business unit within the global SKF Group to accredit regional SKF training Centres, Ÿ WI 203 – Vibration Analysis Category 2 (5 CPD Points) SKF South Africa currently boasts two accredited How to: Select the correct measurement regional training centres in Cape Town and technique, set up instruments, Durban respectively - West Cape Bearings (SKF Authorised Distributor), and Shukela (a division perform vibration analysis, maintain a database of of the SA Sugar Association). Parkinson adds that results, perform basic impact tests, classify, interpret and evaluate results, many SKF authorised distributors also have recommend corrective actions and facilities to present training should there be a need for smaller groups in specific regions. Ÿ recommend alternative condition monitoring

Chicago Pneumatic adds quiet, safe and e cient electronic vibration equipment to concrete range Chicago Pneumatic has introduced a new concept in vibration equipment to its range of concrete tools. e quiet, safe and e cient Vektor 12K electronic vibrators provide high centrifugal force (1035 lbf or 4600 N), making them suitable for use across a wide variety of high-tolow slump concrete applications.

For ease of operation, all Vektor models feature a high-frequency motor-in-head vibrator and a built-in frequency converter (60-to-220 Hz or 50-to-220 Hz), which allows them to be plugged directly into a standard 115 V or 230 V wall socket.

Crucially, the design of the vibrator head also provides for less resistance when the machine is starting up and operating at full capacity. As a result, power consumption is reduced, making it possible to run the vibrator using a smaller generator.

In terms of performance, the Vektor series' expansive radius of action –12 times the unit's diameter – combined with a vibration frequency of 12,000 VPM, results in it requiring fewer insertions. is in turn contributes to greater productivity on-site and faster job completion.

Meanwhile, the use of high-quality, lowmaintenance, oil-lubricated roller bearings ensures the lifetime of the vibrator head is extended compared to conventional greased-for life bearings. To enhance e ciency, all Vektor 12k models are equipped with a rebar blockage prevention feature that monitors the vibrator's current draw and adjusts the vibration head's amplitude to avoid jamming inside the reinforcement bars.

A key element of the Vektor series is the vibrator head design. A silent electric induction motor, built-in the vibrator head, drives a one-piece copper helical rotor and bolted eccentrics. For added protection, all of these vital components are housed within Both the operator and machine are protected through a number of internal a hardened steel tube. safety features located within the converter box. For instance, if there is an on-site power outage the vibrator will immediately stop working. Following this, if the vibrator is le unattended, while the outage is investigated, it won't re-start until the operator returns and manually activates it via the one-push start button. is provides an added safety function when working on sca olding, where an automatically restarted vibrator could potentially fall down and cause injuries.

e new electronic concrete vibrators are available in two versions: a standard model equipped with a 5 m. / 16 . hose for vibrating concrete walls, bridges and beams, and a de-vibrated E-version speciﬁcally designed for ﬂooring applications. e latter model provides Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) levels as low as 0.6 m/s², which allows for longer periods of operation; further boosting productivity.

Chicago Pneumatic Vektor 12K vibrators feature a built-in 60-to-220 Hz frequency. 40