Africa’s Own Mining Journal January - February 2021 > Issue 6 . Vol #3
Solving The Challenges Of Mining Communications Pg07
Advanced Technology RespondingTo Industry Demands Pg16
Lubrication Solutions to Wear Rate Reduction Pg32
AF R I C A
MI N I N G
I NS I GHT
www.africamininginsight.co.za
Cover
REVERSE CIRCULATION DRILLING
28
samining@turnelguard.co.za www.sa-mining.com
Scan for website
HORIZONTAL LINEAR MOTION SCREENS VIBRATING MECHANISMS The screens are excited by twin under and over Uras out of balance motors for ease of installation and maintenance. This type of arrangement is easier to maintain due to the elimination of daily greasing of bearings and labyrinths.
HS 1500 X 3000
HS 3000 X 8000
HS 1200 X 2400
OREFLOW HLMS The HLMS is the OREFLOW range of heavy duty horizontal screens, features include ease of installa on and maintenance. These screens are widely used in Australia and around the world especially in Africa
Please feel free to contact us on phone:+61 (08) 9472 0800
capital sales@oreflow.com.au
HS 1800 X 3600
WWW.OREFLOW.COM.AU www.oreflow.com.au
Editor’s Note
Africa’s Own Mining Journal January - February 2021 > Issue 6 . Vol #3
Solving The Challenges Of Mining Communications Pg07
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this edi on of our magazine which is produced with you in our minds. It is your readership which compels us to do our very best to meet your expecta ons. Great care and research has been taken to ensure that a quality product is brought for your reading pleasure. In this issue we feature different companies and their products, all in an effort to point you to where you can find them.
Advanced Technology RespondingTo Industry Demands Pg16
Lubrication Solutions to Wear Rate Reduction Pg32
AF RI CA
MI N I N G
I NS I GHT
www.africamininginsight.co.za
Cover
REVERSE CIRCULATION DRILLING
28
Cover www.geogroup.co.za
Editor Goodwill Sibanda editor@africamininginsight.co.za Writer Kennedy Chamu writer@africamininginsight.co.za Sales Rodney Ncube rodney@africamininginsight.co.za Lenox Chirimuta lenox@africamininginsight.co.za Cleopas Moyo cleopas@africamininginsight.co.za Amanda Dube amanda@africamininginsight.co.za Gerald Black gerald@africamininginsight.co.za Design and Layout Peter Johnson design@africamininginsight.co.za Accounts Sharon Moyo accounts@africamininginsight.co.za Subscription Thatho Ndlovu Subscrip on@africamininginsight.co.za General info@africamininginsight.co.za sales@africamininginsight.co.za Call: +27 84 744 4593 +27 79 499 2268 www.africamininginsight.co.za
In this note I will talk of the use of explosives in mining. Explosives play a very great role in mining as a result I felt it was needful for me to discuss this area .Explosives are used in underground mining and surface hardcore quarrying opera ons. Besides playing a very important role explosives are also very dangerous and if not handled with great care can cause grave damage. I am sure we all aware of what damage a s ck of dynamite can cause. This then calls for safety measures to be observed when handling explosives. Most mines use dynamite in breaking rock under ground in order to extract mineral ore and open up sha s and new tunnels. In proper regulated mines people who use explosive are licensed to carry out blas ng. These are trained experts who specialize in the use of explosives. A er assessing the area to be blasted these experts examine the ground stability, the type of rock to be blasted and the an cipated explosion. They also assess public risk. That is they ensure that the public is not going to suffer damage both to property and persons. There are strict controls on who can be involved in the transport, storage and use of explosives and explosive products. A qualified sho irst is always required to undertake blas ng opera ons. This is in line with safety measures of many countries. Before undertaking blas ng opera ons in a mine all the people working underground are warned of the impending opera on and ordered to leave the sec on to be blasted. In most mines a whistle is blown to warn the miners to leave the area and go to safe areas. Nowadays a siren is sounded for a period of two minutes for the same purpose. Only a er the place is declared clear can the set explosives be detonated. They are three types of explosives used in mining and these are mechanical, nuclear and chemical. Mechanical explosives depend on physical reac on to set them off. One of the most common explosives used in mining is TNT trinitroluene. This is a very high explosive chemical which is used in place of dynamite. Mining ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) is also used in blas ng. It is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and diesel oil .It is cheap to manufacture, transport and store. Dynamite is the favourate of most miners and road contractors. It is portable and easy to use. With a lot of ar sanal mines, dynamite has found itself in the hands of unlicensed people. Again the way this explosive is stored by the same people exposes them to great risk. There are so many incidents which have been reported of people who had lost their lives and property damaged due to improper handling of this explosive. There are strict laws in all countries on the acquisi on of explosives and how they should be stored in an effort to safe guard the public. Explosives should be kept under lock and key in magazines. These are located away from the main mine complex. The area surrounding the magazine is cleared of grass to act as a fire guard in the event of fire. High or bullet sensi ve explosives that can detonate are stored in the magazine. A security guard should be posted at site at all mes to prevent break ins and the . An inventory of the explosives in stock should be kept and maintained by a mine employee entrusted with that responsibility. This ensures that every explosive used is accounted for and that no explosives are used without the knowledge of management. Unfortunately explosives s ll find their way into the hands of people who are not licensed increasing the risk of danger to the public. Un l our next edi on enjoy your reading. Best regards Goodwill Sibanda
Disclaimer: All material is strictly copyright. The magazine or any part thereof may not be reproduced or adapted without writen permission from the publisher: - Africa Mining Insight welcomes material submi ed for publica on but retains the right to edit copy. The views expressed in the publica on are not considered those of the publisher, which accepts no liability of any nature arising out of or in connec on with the contents of this magazine. While every effort has been taken in compiling this publica on, the publisher does not give warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its content. The publisher and the editor cannot accept responsibility for any loss inconvenience & damage that may occur there from.
www.africamininginsight.co.za
04
CONTENTS
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021
BRAND-NEW SONIC DRILLING HEAD TO THE MARKET
PAGE 06
SOLVING THE CHALLENGES OF MINING COMMUNICATIONS
PAGE 07
SWEEPER PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
PAGE 10
A.N. SOLUTIONS ENABLES SMART MINING APPLICATIONS
PAGE 12
Escape Chutes For Mobile Mining Equipment p24
KUPHELA ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS PAGE 14 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY RESPONDING TO INDUSTRY DEMANDS
PAGE 16
BULK DENSITY
PAGE 18
THE SAFE AND CLEAN DIRECT IN-LINE PUMPING SYSTEM
PAGE 20
DESALINATION MEMBRANES
PAGE 22
ILMEG DRY ROCK DRILLING DUST CONTROL SOLUTIONS
PAGE 26
REVERSE CIRCULATION DRILLING
PAGE 28
Tracks and drive sprockets for mining p30
Lubrication Solutions p32
LIBS CHEMICAL SENSING APPLICATIONS PAGE 36 AIRLESS TYRES FOR UNDERGROUND MINING
PAGE 38
Water management in dredge mining p34
www.africamininginsight.co.za
05
Mining- Solutions
Talpa Sonic Drilling Products and ROVD Group present a brand-new Sonic drilling head to the market Why us? · Sonic drilling head can be mounted on almost all exis ng sonic drilling rigs · Sonic drilling head is easy to maintain · No expensive extra water swivel needed · Always a spare head on stock · Inhouse build drilling rig will be available soon · The service we and our partners provide for you · We also can provide you with an easy to use casing handling system Who we are? Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH from Germany together with Talpa Sonic Drilling Products from the Netherlands developed a What is Sonic drilling?
Why for mining?
Sonic is an advanced form of drilling that uses
· High quality soil samples
high frequency resonance energy that is
· Good drilling results in almost all
generated in the Sonic head to drive a drilling string into geological forma ons. During
forma ons (also mixed forma ons) · Drilling speed especially in difficult and
drilling the resonance energy with high
mixed forma ons, compared to other
frequencies is transmi ed to the drill surface
drilling techniques
via the drill string. By simultaneously rota ng
· Less drilling wastes
the drill string, energy and impact are evenly
· Less contamina on of the drilling sample
distributed over the drilling surface. This
maintain and highly reliable. This new head is built inhouse by Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH. This made in Germany Sonic drilling head is sold all around the world exclusively by Talpa Sonic Drilling Products and ROVD Group. TALPA Sonic Drilling Products specialises in the delivery of, but not only, sonic drilling goods in the broadest sense. Inhouse we
special combina on of energy blow, ensures
have more than 20 years of experience in
that almost all forma ons can be drilled in
Sonic drilling.
(from clay, gravel and sand to rock) with
(www.talpasonicdrillingproducts.eu )
maximum produc vity.
ROVD is an end to end industrial automa on company, specialising in the design and
Why Sonic drilling?
manufacture of engineering solu ons.
The high vibra on ensures minimal
(h ps://rovdgroup.com/)
disturbance of the sample due to the physical law of iner a. The mass of the sample simply does not have the me to react to the vibra ons of the sampling casing. Our Sonic drill head can even vibrate up to 160 Hertz. This means that the drill string moves up and down 160 mes per second, and the drill bit will hit the forma on 160 mes a second and will also rotate at the same me.
www.africamininginsight.co.za
06
totally new Rotosonic head that is easy to
Mining-Tech
Solving the challenges of mining communications Modern mine operators are increasingly recognizing the need for technologically advanced communica on systems for both worker safety and opera onal efficiency. Keeping workers connected and informed is key to a safe and efficient workplace and communica ons play a vital role in ensuring opera onal coordina on. We have asked Regional Director Carsten Laursen and Regional Sales Director Stuart Will from DAMM Cellular Systems how their communica on solu ons conform to these requirements. Fail-safe voice and data communica ons Why should mining companies consider a DAMM radio communica on solu on? “DAMM fully understands the cri cal importance of fail-safe voice and data communica ons. We specialise in providing equipment perfectly suited to the remote, harsh environments and severe working condi ons of mining opera ons. Our solu ons provide crucial communica ons integra on between the mining site, rail and port opera ons and centralised administra on, enhancing both efficiency and the safety of personnel,” says Carsten. When communica on systems fail, mining companies have to stop opera ons, which costs millions a day. The decentralized architecture of the DAMM system combined with a fully redundant setup prevent down me, even if the network is hit by lightning. Along with high availability, DAMM's system includes a wide range of other safetyenhancing features, including clear voice
Carsten Laursen Regional Director
quality even in noisy environments, emergency calls, man-down func onality,
Easy to deploy, move and maintain
geo-loca on services, mul ple pre-emp ve
How are DAMM's products specifically useful
and low temperatures. Their compact design
calls, broadcast messaging alerts and direct
for the mining sector?
and low weight make them easy to mount
alarm dispatch to emergency units.
environments from high heat and dust to rain
“Our IP65-protected outdoor base sta ons
directly in masts, providing coverage for the
are built for remote areas, harsh
en re mining site. In addi on, their design
www.africamininginsight.co.za
07
Solving the challenges of mining communica ons
makes them suitable for portable deployment, e.g. on trailers that can be moved to adapt to changing mining loca ons or along haul roads. Thanks to the simple and self-configuring setup, you can quickly and seamlessly expand your system when needed,” Stuart explains. Breakthrough TCO and proven success What makes DAMM's products especially suitable for the African region? “Not only are our products built for harsh environments and for improving opera onal efficiency and safety. We are commi ed to offering solu ons that ensure low CAPEX and OPEX. One of the key features of our outdoor base sta ons is their cost efficiency. The low power consump on saves on electricity costs and even allows a completely solar-powered solu on providing portability saving costs every day. In addi on, the base sta ons are designed with passive cooling, which means there is no addi onal cooling systems requiring a power source, maintenance, or repair – indeed low maintenance is a key trait of our products. Our system is not only cost-efficient when it comes to purchasing and opera ng it. Due to the high reliability, you are also guaranteed a minimum of costly down me with opera ons coming to a stands ll,” says Carsten. Stuart adds, “We have many years of experience in providing costeffec ve solu ons to major players within the mining industry around the world and have delivered systems for huge opera ons run by Rio Tinto, BHP, Glencore and Fortescue Metals Group (Australia), New Gold (Canada) and BUMA (Indonesia) to name but a few. We therefore have the know-how and the exper se needed to support similar large-scale opera ons in Africa.” About DAMM With its nearly 40 years in the industry, DAMM is a well-established name within TETRA radio communica on and has built up extensive experience in delivering products that can endure the harsh environments that characterise the mining industry. DAMM's TetraFlex® solu on is 100% IP-based and comes with complete outdoor and/or indoor base sta ons and comprehensive features as well as integrated so ware such as network management, voice and data recording and full dispatch applica ons. To learn more about our products and solu ons and how we can help you, please contact Carsten Laursen Regional Director cl@damm.dk Stuart Will Regional Sales Director sw@damm.dk Stuart Will Regional Sales Director
www.africamininginsight.co.za
08
www.dammcellular.com
Mining- Machinery
Sweeper Product Development
Deon Van Rensburg from Palomino Plant SA
Following this approach, we were able to
test as we fly'”. – David Giger, a SpaceX
(Pty) Ltd, approached ETT in 2014 to develop
quickly release a working, yet imperfect
engineer.
a high performance mine haul road sweeper
version of the prototype sweeper.
The Ultra Sweeper became the world's
intended to deliver a significant step up in
Following 12 months of tes ng and itera ve
highest performance off-road sweeper ,
performance and safety to the process of
upgrades, a second prototype was built. The
however a series of components failures
mine haul road sweeping.
second prototype had a range of upgrades
affected reliability of the brush head drive
The process was ini ated with the placement
developed by repeatedly go through
and trimming system .
of an order for a prototype unit based on a
planning, design, manufacture, tes ng and
The lessons learned from early failures were
Bell 25mT Ar culated Dump Truck.
evalua on phases to rework the product and
used to develop the final itera on of a 6.0m
It was decided to proceed with the
new func onality.
brush head and trimming system, which in
development process of this prototype by
Frequent releases of these upgrades allowed
turn became a part of the 620 Sweeper.
means of the Itera ve product development
us to collect feedback and improve the
The 620 sweepers were developed as a high
model where a prototype is designed,
product to meet all requirements.
power accelerated test bed for the 6.0 m
constructed and out into service, and
“We weren't just going to sit there and
Brush Head System.
development takes the form of frequents and
analyse something for years and years and
This need arose from the situa on that the
incremental improvement that would be
years and years to the nth degree. SpaceX
mine sites that the Ultra Sweeper was being
implemented during the tes ng cycle.
was built on 'test, test, test, test, test.' We
tested on were extremely difficult to access in
www.africamininginsight.co.za
10
Sweeper Product Development
order to do proper system monitoring and
site.
manufactured with several upgrades, and
product op misa on, an essen al part of the
The 620 Sweeper maiden launch was a
were commissioning in March 2020. All three
product development cycle.
tremendous success with the prototype
machines are now in con nuous opera on.
The 620 Sweeper was constructed with the
exceeding performance expecta ons by a
The rela vely rapid development of the third
assistance of a large global mining company,
large margin. The 620 Sweeper is integrated
prototype would've been impossible without
First Quantum Minerals. A long term
to a Volvo A40 because First Quantum Mining
employing the itera ve development process.
technical rela onship with this mining
happened to have several A40's available.
The latest two units that are in opera on at
company, enabled a workable opera ng
It was agreed with First Quantum to put two
First Quantum Mines in Zambia are again
arrangement to be put in place where, within
more prototypes on test, where First
exceeding performance expecta ons and
the bounds of the mine regula ons,
Quantum would provide the Volvo A40
have proven to be reliable .
engineers could have free access to the test
Power Heads. These units were
info@palsa.co.za
www.africamininginsight.co.za
11
Mining-Tech
A.N. Solutions Enables Smart Mining Applications with Reliable Wireless Connectivity
Smart Sensors Improve Efficiency and Cut Costs The mining industry has come a long way from pickaxes and shovels to sophis cated machines and tools. Yet another revolu on is sweeping the industry. Powered by wireless sensor technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) brings connec vity to every piece of equipment in the field while offering significant benefits, from enhanced safety to cost reduc on and increased efficiency. Whether it's an underground or a surface mine, the miners' safety is of paramount importance. Methane gas buildup may cause an explosion. Contaminated dust and vola le organic compounds (VOCs) are toxic and pose a significant health hazard. Machine operator's fa gue can cause an accident. By keeping a watchful eye on air quality and worker's vital signs, wireless sensor devices spring into ac on when cri cal condi ons are detected. They help prevent accidents and
save lives 24/7. Mining opera ons require a lot of sophis cated tools and equipment. Open-pit mining requires a fleet of dump trucks and earth-moving equipment. Every mechanical failure results in costly down me and may affect many other links in the produc on chain, snowballing the losses. Smart connec vity allows a company to diagnose each vehicle's health remotely, and schedule maintenance proac vely. Vehicle usage can be op mized by tracking and analyzing its performance. Ground subsidence and erosion are extremely dangerous while being everpresent in open-cast mining. By detec ng minute shi s, lt sensors monitor ground subsidence and provide advance warning. It is also important that the dump trucks do not get overloaded. Wheel load scales help ensure that the truck load is within the acceptable range. Fi ed with radio
www.africamininginsight.co.za
12
transmi ers, they relay real- me data to the opera ons control center. How Sensor Network Operates Mines use a wide variety of sensors that measure all kinds of parameters, from temperature and humidity to lt and accelera on. However, all this valuable sensor data needs to be harvested and transmi ed, o en in real- me, so that it can be analyzed and visualized, and ac ons can be taken in a mely manner. Wireless technologies hold the key to solving this challenge. Each sensor node is equipped with a ny radio transceiver and antenna. An embedded microcontroller is its “brains.” So ware determines the mode of opera on of a sensor node and the frequency of data transmission. A sensor node can serve as a pure monitoring device or when equipped by an actuator, will perform a control func on.
A.N. Solu ons Enables Smart Mining Applica ons with Reliable Wireless Connec vity
Ba ery-powered sensor nodes can operate autonomously for years and are easily fi ed even into the most hard-to-reach loca ons. They offer the ul mate flexibility in the network configura on. Wireless Solu ons that Work Reliably A.N. Solu ons specializes in developing reliable and rugged wireless sensing solu ons that work in the environments that are most “unfriendly” to a radio signal, from trains to industrial equipment to mines. A.N. Solu ons has been building ATEX compliant solu ons and designs capable of opera ng in the -85°C to 145°C temperature range, which far exceeds IP67 requirements. With a large por olio of reference designs from different industries, A.N. Solu ons can create a futureproof system quickly and cost-effec vely. The recent prolifera on of wireless standards makes it difficult to select the one that best fits the applica on. A.N. Solu ons will help you select the wireless protocols and components spanning 169MHz up to 5.2GHz radio spectrum to achieve an op mum range vs. signal strength, ba ery life, and important characteris cs, according to your requirements. So ware fine-tuning is important for a secure and efficient sensor data acquisi on and storage process, as well as ba ery life. Antenna design is a cri cal factor for reliable data transmission. Long ba ery life is the key to smooth opera ons,
and A.N. Solu ons has mastered different ba ery technologies, including industrialgrade rechargeable cells, and more. Many mines have wired or wireless legacy systems in place. Replacing them completely is prohibi vely expensive. A.N. Solu ons' experts will be able to seamlessly integrate a new wireless network with the legacy system, and combine the data collected. A.N. Solu ons offers comprehensive expert services for every stage of wireless product development - from a thorough review of the current architecture and the need assessment to mapping out a migra on plan and crea ng a proof of concept. Combining in-depth knowledge of wireless protocols, such as IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee, 6LowPAN, and LoRa, and their compa bility, with all aspects of connec vity and device management, network security, and sensor data acquisi on, A.N. Solu ons experts will provide step-by-step guidance.
● Extensive partner ecosystem of industry leading vendors and service providers, incl. Bosch Sensortec, Microchip, Nordic, Qorvo, Sensirion, and more; ● Flexible engagement op ons and support packages; ● Uncompromising “Made in Germany” quality. Explore our IoT solu ons and contact our engineers at www.an-solu ons.de. Thomas Lerm, Founder & CEO thomas.lerm@an-solutions.de Tel: +49 351 30900 195
The advantages of working with A.N. Solu ons are many: ● In-depth exper se in all facets of IoT design; ● Its own product line of rugged IoT components; ● Rapid prototyping using 3D modeling; ● Safety and compliance cer fica on assistance;
www.an-solutions.de
www.africamininginsight.co.za
13
Mining- Solutions
Kuphela Environmental Solutions
Kuphela was established by Industr y
Products, Services and Equipment, the
quality improvements in mind. This forms the
Specialists wan ng to consolidate a range on
strategy is to offer sustainable, inclusive and
basis of everything we do and offer.
relevant exper se into a single offering.
environmentally improving solu ons to
Products and Services offered can be
The Company and its Partners bring a wealth of
communi es and clients. This allows flexible
consolidated into one offering, or as individual,
knowledge, in excess of 100 years combined, to
models offered for a range of needs in different
stand – alone offers to our clients. The range of
Opencast Mining, Drilling & Blas ng, Dust
Industries and Countries.
Suppression, Haul Road Construc on & Maintenance, Products, Equipment Supply,
Model 1: Direct Product & Services offered to
New Processes, Products or Services to be
Infrastructure Development, Environmental
Clients
included in the current Value Chain, making
Consul ng & Services, Fuels & Lubricants,
Model 2: Local En
Training Solu ons and Various Measuring
Support, Skills Transfer & Training
approach towards our clients and
Products & Capabili es.
Model 3: Consul ng Based approach, offering
shareholders. As per above, single en
Kuphela head office is based in South Africa,
best prac ces, services and products and
form part of this Value Chain, or different
procedural/opera onal guidance to exis ng
en
with en
es in the Nothern Cape, Kuphela
Environmental NC PTY(Ltd); and in Namibia,
es Empowerment through
businesses
Kuphela Environmental Namibia PTY(Ltd); and
Kuphela a Flexible En ty and Pro – Ac ve in our es can
es can be included, making the
empowerment catchment size wider and more inclusive for communi es where we operate.
i n B o t swa n a , Ku p h e l a E nv i ro n m e nta l
Kuphela would like to create sustainable
Kuphela also embraces 4IR through various
Botswana PTY(Ltd). All companies are 51%
opportuni es, products and services with the
products and services offered, which is new
Locally Owned.
goal of safety, health, environmental and
and relevant to the ever-changing Industry,
Through these partnerships with Leaders in www.africamininginsight.co.za
14
Products & Services offered through our strategic alliances allows for Innova ve and
Kuphela Environmental Solu ons
Communi es and Environment we operate in Some of our key offerings include the following: Haul Road Maintenance and Dust Suppression. A wide range of products and services available, depending on customer needs and requirements Equipment Rental. Mining Equipment (Load, haul & dump), Secondary Equipment (Water Bowsers, Graders) and Construc on Equipment (Excavators, TLB's) and Specialized Sweeping Equipment (Sweepers, Vacuum assisted sweepers) available as stand – alone offering or as part of a different value – offering to clients Environmental Services. Through our Partners this includes a range of conven onal plus other services, like mine closures, mining licenses, tailings treatment and management, water treatment, etc. Training Solu ons. Through Kuphela's 3 – Tier approach, we train and license employees, client employees and community members. Through this accredited training offered, people skills are increased, and opportuni es are created to allow our employees and our people to become skilled and employable in various industries. Entrepreneurship. Through our skills transfer and inclusive approach, we strive to create Entrepreneurs interested in a wide range of services and products. Through this we would like to assist in crea ng sustainable and profitable en
es throughout the countries and areas we operate
in, by offering trusted and proven products and services to offer to clients and businesses.
pierre@k-enviro.co.za
jd@k-enviro.co.za
www.africamininginsight.co.za
15
Mining-Tech
Advanced Technology Responding To Industry Demands
Fiber reinforced concrete consists of a
seek technology that will help solve the
versa le construc on material, yet it is also
concrete mixture that is reinforced with
inherent flaws in concrete and tradi onal
beset with several drawbacks that are
dispersed, randomly oriented fibers.
reinforcement.Ultra-Fiber is one of those
inherent to its composi on. By generally
Engineers, architects, owners, specifiers and
innova ve products, and its popularity is
accepted engineering standards, concrete is
concrete contractors are increasingly turning
quickly gaining trac on worldwide. It is made
rela vely bri le and lacks flexural strength.
to the use of fibers as a means of reinforcing
using a 100% virgin polypropylene fibre of
Concrete also has the propensity to crack in
their concrete, making fiber reinforced
0.85mm diameter, with a con nuous
both its plas c (early-age) and hardened
concrete one of the fastest-growing segments
deformed profile. Its “X” shape anchorage is
(long-term) state. In either case, these cracks
in the concrete industry.
specifically designed for shotcrete, normal
can jeopardize the overall integrity of the
There are s ll the tradi onal methods of
pouring methods, mining, tunnelling and
concrete and not allow it to maintain its
concrete reinforcement using steel
various other applica ons as opposed to the
maximum performance capability.
reinforcing bars and weld mesh – however
conven onal rebar or welded mesh.
Ultra Fiber reinforcement stands out from
there are other op ons which are to ac vely
Concrete is widely recognized as a cheap and
other reinforcing products through its ability
www.africamininginsight.co.za
16
Advanced Technology Responding To Industry Demands
to make concrete more pliable, and therefore
are added directly to the concrete matrix and
construc on call for new building materials.
it offers ul mate flexibility in the design and
evenly distributed throughout. The result is
Due to the enhanced performances and
construc on process. Working with fiber
an advanced, mul -dimensional
effec ve cost-benefit ra o, the use of
reinforcement not only means less steel, but
reinforcement system that can be placed
polypropylene fibers is o en recommended
it also eliminates and reduces the labour-
quickly, accurately, and safely
for concrete structures
intensive process of steel fixing. Ultra Fibers
Innova ons in engineering design and
www.ultrafibers.com
colin@pal-usa.com
www.africamininginsight.co.za
17
Mining- Solutions
Bulk density
Bulk density is a basic parameter for the
value for power and structural design. One of
par cularly sensi ve to wet condi ons,
design of solids handling equipment, but
the most important features of the bulk
especially close to the region of satura on.
rarely has a specific value. It can vary with
density values is their correla on with flow
Circumstances that can have a major
par cle size, compac on and moisture
condi on. A shown by Jenike, (1), the way
influence are moisture migra on and
content, amongst other things, so the
that the 'flowability' changes with bulk
ambient condi ons, such as rain and
measurement chosen should reflect its
density is a key feature of hopper design and
temperature changes,
composi on, the relevant circumstances of
a Horslev surface, (2),
the applica on and the purpose for which it is to be used. In general, a low value should
Indicates how this changes with stress condi ons. Damp and wet materials are
be used for storage calcula ons and a high
www.africamininginsight.co.za
18
The actual value may well vary at origin and change in its route through origin to comple on of an applica on, so the range of
Bulk density
appropriate values should be considered. The
large projects, then it is likely that there will
Refs.
size of the container used to measure bulk
be many more that do not see the public light
1 Jenike.A.W. 'Storage and flow of solids'
density should reflects the par cle size of the
of day. With and applica on or project
Bul.123 Vol. 53. No. 26. Nov.1964
media as wall effect influences the par cle
involving bulk handling it would be a wise
packing structure near the contact surface.
precau ons to conduct a flow audit by an
Descrip ons such as 'loose poured', 'se led'
experienced person.
and 'compacted' are widely used, but the
Standards:
stress condi ons that apply in these circumstances can vary widely according to the rate of feed, velocity of impact, scale and design of storage container, vibra on,
ASTM D6683 – 08
2 Horslev.M.J 'Time lag and soil permeability in ground water observa ons' Waterways Exp, Stn. U<S.Corps. of Engs. Vicksburg.April 1951.
Standard Test for
Measuring Bulk Density Values of Powders
3 Merrow.E.W. 'Understanding cost growth
and Other Bulk Solids as Func on of
and performance shor alls in Pioneering
Compressive Stress
process plants'. Rand report. 1981
moisture, ambient condi ons and the like. Data base values can give a rough guide, but should be treated with great cau on as the detailed stress circumstances are rarely given.
ASTM D7481 – 09
Standard Test Methods
for Determining Loose and Tapped Bulk Densi es of Powders using a Graduated Cylinder
The bulk solids industry has a rather dismal history of performance efficiency compared with plants that handle liquids and gasses, (3), (4). A rela vely recent expensive failure, (5), suggests that if problems can s ll arise on
4 Merrow.E.W. 'Linking R & D problems experienced in solids processing' Rand report 1984
BS EN 1097-3:1998 Tests for mechanical and
5 Wellwood.G.A 'Bulk solids handling – A
physical proper es of aggregates.
chemical engineers perspec ve'. Jenike &
Determina on of loose bulk density and
Johanson Pty.Belmont. Aus.
voids
www.ttsafrica.com
sales@ttsafrica.com
www.africamininginsight.co.za
19
Mining- Pumps
The safe and clean Direct In-line Pumping System for economic & environmental wastewater lift stations
www.africamininginsight.co.za
20
www.side-industrie.com
www.dipsysteme.com
info@side-industrie.com
Mining- Solutions
Desalination Membranes
Persistent groundwater quality issues as a
adapted on a grand-scale for desalina on
several decades. Membrane filtra on involves
result of human ac vi es have increased
opera ons. The most commonly u lized
the removal of contaminants with highly
concerns of freshwater produc on. Excessive
membrane elements are manufactured from
efficient separa on performance and excellent
use of natural sources of freshwater, such as
popular brands in the water treatment
water treatment capabili es.
rivers, lakes, wells, and springs, as well as
industry. Dupont/DOW Filmtec, Hydranau cs,
pollu on has exacerbated groundwater quality
Toray, and Lanxess have remained as the
problems in many parts of the world. In recent
leading distributors of high quality
mes, reverse osmosis membranes have been
desalina on membranes throughout the last
Membrane filtra on works by incorpora ng layers of semi-permeable membranes in the reverse osmosis system which acts as a barrier to incoming polluted water, permi ng only
www.africamininginsight.co.za
22
Desalina on Membranes
par cular ma er through the ny pores of the
offered by our seawater reverse osmosis
membrane. This process results in the
membranes include:
separa on of these impuri es from the water flowing through the membrane layers, and being le behind in the concentrated side of the RO system, and the purified water residing
●
Maximized permeate flow rate
●
99.7% (or more) salt rejec on
●
92% (or more) boron rejec on
●
Low volume of membrane fouling
●
Great suitability for pH cleaning
●
Minimal energy usage
on the other. Water treatment applica ons that face issues Pure Aqua Desalina on Membrane Elements The seawater desalina on membranes supplied from Pure Aqua can be a ained in sizes ranging from 2.5” to 8” element, and provide unmatched produc vity, salt rejec on, and produc on of purified water. These desalina on membranes are designed to accommodate a wide range of seawater
Desalina on Membrane Features ● ● ●
Averts impact damages during opera ons
●
Improves efficiency of RO systems at low pressures
●
Suitable for small to large sized desalina on plants
● ●
need for these desalina on membranes. When used alongside with standardized pre-
Op mal for challenging feedwater condi ons
of extremely high concentra ons of total dissolved solids (TDS) and salt levels develop a
Low poten al of par cle trappings due to spacer design
Maximized resistance to chemicals Converts seawater into fresh, purified water
●
No requirement of post-treatment
treatment systems, any occurrence of membrane fouling is nullified, including extensive high performance between cleanings.
applica ons with various temperatures that require high pressure and reliable performance. Other important benefits
www.africamininginsight.co.za
23
Mining- Solutions
Escape Chutes For Mobile Mining Equipment
Escape Chute Systems has been
efficient means of evacua ng a trapped
and dependent on the evacua ng height
designing, manufacturing and supplying
mining machine operator from the
the chute user will be safely at ground
ver cal escape chutes for mobile mining
operator's pla orm. The sole object of applying a Ver cal
truck in under five (5) seconds and ten
Escape Chute to any mobile mining
(10) seconds from larger mining shovels,
different methods of emergency egress,
equipment is to evacuate the machine
total evacua on me being between ten
however the main model which was originally developed was “Model No 101”
operator with speed and safety. “Model No 101” can deploy the chute in
and sixteen (10-16) seconds. The system can be deployed and used in
which remains the most prac cal and
approximately five (5) to six (6) seconds,
excess of a hundred mes.
equipment since February 2002. In that me we have developed many
www.africamininginsight.co.za
24
level and walking away from the mining
Escape Chutes For Mobile Mining Equipment
“Model No 101” is bolted to the side of the operator's pla orm having removed approximately one meter of hand-railing. Installa on takes approximately five to six hours by two trades persons using standard welding/cu ng equipment, and hand tools, a li ing device will be required to li the 185kg system into
Stored & Deployed with Chute
posi on. As with any lifesaving equipment it will require annual inspec on by an authorized company or trained and authorized mine maintenance person, me taken is approximately 1 to 2 hours, during which it is recommended that two dust seals be replaced every me, irrespec ve of condi on, these two seals reduce the amount of dust that could enter the chute storage area. Life expectancy of the system is approximately fi een years (15) dependent on local atmospheric condi ons.
sales@escape-chute-systems.com
www.escape-chute-systems.com
www.africamininginsight.co.za
25
Mining- Solutions
ILMEG Dry Rock Drilling Dust Control Solutions
www.africamininginsight.co.za
26
ILMEG Dry Rock Drilling Dust Control Solu ons
sales@pamwe.co.za
Mining- Solutions
REVERSE CIRCULATION DRILLING
The mining industry and mineral
percussion and/or rotary drilling to
resource the mine and have an expected
explora on involves drilling to discover
produce rock chips and samples of core for
life span. In addi on to the mineralogy
subsurface condi ons. Over the years,
evalua on by the geological team and
informa on gathered, significant
there has been many advances in drilling
geological informa on is also collected
technologies and techniques in the various
mining engineers. Drilling is used to obtain detailed
which allows the mining engineers to
sectors; however, in the mining sector
subsurface informa on. This allows the
effec vely build the mining model to
there have been no significant advances.
mine to gather sufficient data on
ensure the safety of the mine and all of its
Generally, mineral explora on involves
mineralogy in the rock forma ons to
employees and contractors.
www.africamininginsight.co.za
28
Reverse Circula on Drilling
There are three primary techniques that
drill string behind the bit. The air and
cu ng from the hole, advancing the hole
can be used for mineral explora on.
cu ngs are forced across the face of the
Selec ng the appropriate technique will
bit and back up inside of the inner tube
depth efficiently. GeoGroup has a fleet of three Super Rock
depend on several factors including cost,
which is sealed using O-rings and seated in
1000 percussive drills which are used to
the environment, type of equipment
the outer tube using a circlip. From there,
provide their clients with the various
required, and the skill and knowledge of
the air and cu ngs travel back to the
informa on they may require. These are
those involved. We will focus on Reverse
surface out to the top of the rotary head
mounted to Samil 6×6 carriers to ensure
Circula on Air Percussion drilling. Reverse circula on drilling is more
through a deflector elbow along a
any terrain or site condi ons can be met
discharge hose to the cyclone. At the face
expensive than rotary air blas ng. It also
of the bit, the air is prevented from rising
with very li le difficulty. GeoGroup has worked on various projects
requires more equipment and greater opera ng skills. Although there is an
the annulus with a collar or shroud. The rock is fragmented into chips using a
conduc ng RC Drilling by assis ng clients
increase in costs, RC drilling results in
piston that delivers rapid impacts to the
in obtaining the desired informa on.
greater sample accuracy and recovery,
drill stem, transferring energy to the drill
These projects have ranged from
making it a more popular form of mining
bit. These blows to the rock are delivered
expansions of exis ng Zinc, Lead and
explora on. It is the most common drilling
by the bit, while a rota onal device makes
Copper mines in the Northern Cape to
technique used for mining explora on. RC drilling is a form of percussion drilling.
sure that the bit hits a new rock surface
working at the bo om of expansive open
with each blow at a rate of 90 rpm. A feed
cast pits following and delinea ng
With RC drilling, a dual wall drill rod is
force is applied to maintain rock/bit
kimberlite pipes in Lesotho.
u lized. Air is injected between the
contact. Compressed air (950cfm & 24
annulus of the two tubes. The air exits the
bar) is used to remove or flush the drill
around South Africa and Lesotho
www.geogroup.co.za
www.africamininginsight.co.za
29
Mining- Solutions
Tracks and drive sprockets for mining
Synergy Undercarriage Components supplies
processes to provide unique, cost effec ve
who has been manufacturing steel cas ngs
high quality, market leading tracks and drive
solu ons that are applica on specific –
for over 80 years, enables us to provide
sprockets for most popular mining size
whether it's hard rock copper and gold,
quality solu on based, differen ated
hydraulic excavators and electric rope shovels
coking and thermal coal or iron ore. We
products.
to end users throughout Australia, the Asia /
understand no two ore bodies are the same
All Synergy Undercarriage tracks and drive
Pacific region and Africa. Our strategic
and that opera ng condi ons can vary
sprockets are manufactured in superior grade
partnerships with blue chip mining
greatly - which a standard design & material
quench and tempered alloy steels then
contractors and companies over the years has
from an OEM may not stand up to.
induc on hardened on the high wearing
afforded us the opportunity to develop a
Our unique, long standing and technology
surfaces u lising state of the art, purpose
broad range of designs, materials and
driven partnership with our manufacturer,
designed and built equipment. Hardness
www.africamininginsight.co.za
30
Tracks and drive sprockets for mining
levels of the wear surfaces are matched to the ma ng components whilst ensuring a duc le core that is able to provide significant impact resistance. Our capabili es: ·
Computer-aided engineering, design and manufacture
·
FEA
·
Virtual prototyping / CNC pa ern making
·
Solidifica on simula on
·
Concurrent engineering
·
Fast track prototyping
·
CMM dimensional verifica on
·
In-house mechanical tes ng
·
On site prototype tes ng and monitoring
sales@syunco.com.au www.syunco.com.au www.africamininginsight.co.za
31
Mining- Solutions
Lubrication Solutions to Wear Rate Reduction By Chuck Strait
Petron Corpora on, located in New Berlin,
equipment owing to their ever-increasing
Formula ng our products with primarily
Wisconsin, USA, has over 50 Years of
demands.
heavy viscous oils, in many cases above
experience manufacturing high performance
Some historians call pin and bushing joints
50,000 cSt, along with a light carrier oil,
lubricants focusing on surface mining,
the first type of bearings. They have been
allows Petron lubricants to have the
underground mining, and ore processing.
around for thousands of years and were
characteris cs of a much lower “apparent”
Petron Corpora on's specialty lubricants
originally used in applica ons such as
viscosity lubricant. This lower “apparent”
excel in lubrica ng equipment such as
rota ng wheels on wooden axles. However,
viscosity lubricant will flow readily into a load
Draglines, Electric/Hydraulic Shovels, Loaders,
in today's mining world there are hundreds of
zone, deposi ng select addi ves and high
Haul Trucks, and any other mobile pit
machines that use various materials and
viscous oil molecules right where they are
equipment, as well as Crushers and all types
configura ons for their pins and bushings.
needed the most, while remaining viscous
of Mills.
Though material construc on has changed
enough to eliminate the need for large
from the original plain wood pins and
amounts of soap to hold the oil in
Let's face it
bushings, providing a lubrica ng film and
suspension.
Mining Equipment is designed to have parts
elimina ng contamina on between the pin
This lubricant film then separates even the
wear out while s ll maintaining the machine
and bushing has not.
highest loaded surfaces, greatly reducing the
integrity. While it is beneficial that high wear
How is Petron Corpora on different? Petron
possibility of contact wear, while the light
items can simply be replaced, it is also
has pioneered the development of specific
carrier oil washes the would-be
detrimental if these parts wear out too o en.
high viscosity lubricants that greatly reduce
contamina on out of the load zone and safely
Early wear causes loss of up me and
wear on slow moving gears, pins, and
away.
throughput, which nega vely impacts the
bushings. Tradi onally, these applica ons
company's bo om line.
were lubricated with a Mul -Purpose Grease
Wear reduc on is the key
A classic example of this would be the pins
with a soap addi ve. This soap, much like a
Today's mining equipment uses the most
and bushings used in almost all mining
sponge, holds the base oil and addi ves in
sophis cated form of bronze pin bushings,
equipment. Petron Corpora on has
suspension un l sufficient force is applied to
and their ability to reduce wear is impressive.
recognized that the tradi onal lubrica on
squeeze out the oil into the load zone. By
Even though bronze is extremely reliable and
techniques and products no longer provide
their nature Mul -Purpose Greases do not
durable, it is s ll designed to be a “wear”
the protec on needed in modern mining
flow due to their high soap content.
material. The purpose of wearing is to
www.africamininginsight.co.za
32
Lubrica on Solu ons to Wear Rate Reduc on
reduce the damage to structural steel components. The bronze bushing is much less expensive to replace than something like the loader boom arm, and, therefore, it is used as a wear material to reduce damage to the other rota ng components. Typically, in these applica ons there are two types of wear on pins and bushings: A.
Galling - is when excessive contamina on builds up between the pin and the bushing surface and the load pressure forces the contamina on into the bronze bushing.
B.
Impact loading – is when a sudden
As seen in the photo above, tradi onal lubricants only penetrate a par al distance from the end of the pin toward the load zone, leaving the heaviest loaded sec on of the pin with marginal protec on.
providing a film thickness for the pin to
impact keeping the surfaces apart greatly
rotate on. These lubricant grooves can also
reducing the wear rate on those parts
impact is applied to the bushing surface
capture contamina on if the proper
designed to “wear out.”
greater than the lubricant film can
lubrica on intervals are not maintained.
Petron Corpora on is ac vely seeking new
withstand causing a rupture.
Therefore, wear can occur if the bushings are
distributors for Africa region. If you are
not purged adequately.
interested in becoming a Petron Distributor,
If proper lubrica on maintenance is prac ced, the replacement and/or repair of
The use of Petron Open Gear Lubricants on
please contact Chandrasekar at
pins and bushings can be greatly reduced.
your pins and bushings will form the thickest
rchandrasekar@petroncorp.com
Most pins and bushings today have “lubricant
lubricant film possible allowing most
For more informa on about Petron
grooves” on the inner diameter that aid in
contaminants to remain suspended in the
Corpora on's products or services, feel free to
purging contamina on from the bushing by
film un l they are purged out. This very thick
visit our website at www.petroncorp.com or
forcing out unwanted materials while
film will also cushion the blow of a sudden
email – info@petroncorp.com
www.petroncorp.com
lnfo@petroncorp.com
www.africamininginsight.co.za
33
Mining- Solutions
Royal IHC's expertise invaluable for water management in dredge mining By Chuck Strait
Although its knowledge centre is in The
different in the demanding condi ons of
their opera ons and improve employee
Netherlands, Royal IHC has been active in the
Africa where safety, op mising water (re)use,
health and safety.
African mining market for several decades.
and the circular economy are crucial topics.
By combining its extensive experience in dredging with mining know-how, it has long
A changing industry
facili es, and understand the issues facing
been delivering tailor-made solutions that are
As in other mining regions, Africa is facing a
the African market,” says IHC Mining's
both safe and sustainable.
changing landscape and is being looked upon
Managing Director Hans Greve. “IHC is also
The company's high-performance dredgers go
to take responsibility for its social and
increasingly involved in mineral slurrifica on
a long way to making IHC a reliable partner
environmental impacts. Mining companies
and transporta on, and through our regional
for any dredge mining operation. This is no
will also increasingly use data to op mise
offices we are proud to support the local
www.africamininginsight.co.za
34
“We have a long tradi on in the delivery of dredge mining and mineral separa on
Royal IHC's exper se invaluable for water management in dredge mining
industry in overcoming any unique
Proven performance
“IHC's vast dredging experience and mining
challenges.”
This unique commitment to the total mining
knowledge allows us to add value at all stages
cycle has seen IHC involved in a number of
of the mining cycle,” con nues IHC Mining's
Advantages of dredge mining
projects in Africa. As an example, it delivered
Commercial Director Africa Rajesan Naiker.
Coopera ng with a partner such as IHC is vital
four wheel suc on dredgers and two CSDs to
“We offer long-term support on any dredge
when it comes to ensuring a produc ve
Richards Bay Minerals – the world's largest
mining opera on, both large and small scale,
dredge mining opera on. This is a
dredge mining opera on. And IHC's dredger
and from our office in South Africa, we
compe
ve alterna ve for dry ('truck and
shovel') methods and offers many
JULIA will help Kenmare Resources to
cooperate closely with the regional market to
increase its produc on.
meet individual requirements and build close
advantages. For example, it delivers a high
rela onships.”
unit produc on and the use of electricpowered dredgers results in a low carbon footprint. Other benefits include low dust contamina on, minimal (to no) water drainage required, and low opera ng costs. In dry areas where dredging is not feasible, the advantages of slurry transport can s ll be used with a dry mining slurrifica on unit. Slurry transport is considered to be the most cost-effec ve method of material transport, and as the mining, slurrifica on and pumping equipment are combined, the logis cs for such an opera on can be integrated. IHC's knowledge on water management can also be used to close the water loop and ensure op mal resource use. Equipment is only the beginning When selec ng dredge equipment, several criteria must be considered including the characteris cs of the deposit. Two main vessel types can then be considered: cu er suc on dredgers (CSDs) and wheel suc on dredgers. Both have a high unit capacity and accuracy, and a restricted dredging depth, but there are notable differences. For coherent soils a cu er is required, while IHC's dredge wheel is preferred for free-flowing materials. Site condi ons and project demands help determine which vessel is right for the job. However, choosing the most appropriate equipment is only part of the journey for IHC, which plays an ac ve role throughout the dredge mining life cycle. This begins with advisory services in which
www.royalih.com/mining
IHC's exper se includes resource evalua on, test work and feasibility studies, through to equipment delivery and life-cycle support. At this stage, IHC can provide bespoke maintenance programmes, as well as remote
www.royalih.com
monitoring solu ons.
www.africamininginsight.co.za
35
Mining- Solutions
LIBS chemical sensing applications in the mining and minerals industry The mining industry is faced with an increasing scarcity of natural resources. At the same me, the global demand for resources keeps growing and the requirement to reduce the environmental footprint of mining becomes more important. This creates the need to develop innova ve solu ons that increase the
Example of part
efficiency and sustainability of mining natural
of the output of
resources.
a drill core scan (warmer colors are
Mining opera ons deal with huge quan
higher concentrations)
es of
excavated material with varying mineral concentra ons and economic value. Increased knowledge about the composi on of this material provides opportuni es to improve decision making for stockpiling, sor ng, and mineral processing. However, no systems currently exist that can be used to measure the chemical composi on of large material
several different elements and for some
(fast) moving raw material. The sensor
es in real- me. LIBS chemical sensor
minerals the rela ve quan ty of these
features our unique IRIS spectrometer with
technology provides a solu on, because no
elements can vary. Depending on the size of
world-class signal-to-noise (S/N) ra o, rugged
quan
sample prepara on is required and
the mineral grains, a single LIBS measurement
pulse laser source and highly efficient op cs.
measurements can be performed at rela vely
can represent one or several minerals.
The design allows for flexible integra on into
high speeds. At SPECTRAL Industries we work together with
Development of advanced data processing
industrial equipment and can be mounted in
techniques is therefore required in order to
any orienta on. Suitable for a wide range of
provide quan ta ve composi onal
environmental condi ons, it offers low
the mining industry to develop LIBS-based
informa on that meets the required accuracy.
maintenance cost and improves processes by
sensor applica ons for the mining
Addi onally, calibra ons need to be tailored to
delivering real- me informa on. SPECTRAL
environment. Examples of applica ons are in-
the geological se ng of a specific mineral
delivers its unique sensor systems for the
line conveyor belt analysis, scanning exposed
deposit to take all the varia on between rock
following applica ons:
rock surfaces (see Figure 1) and scanning drill
types and mineralogy into account.
chips from blasthole drilling. Addi onally, we
•
Drill core scanning
•
Rock surface mapping
also work on applica ons that improve the
The results obtained using LIBS chemical
•
Drill cu ngs analysis
explora on for new mineral deposits such as
sensing on ore samples from ac ve mining
•
Ore, concentrate and slag
•
Muck pile characteriza on
the scanning of drill cores (see Figure 2). We
opera ons show that LIBS can be used to
develop the best LIBS sensor for a specific
provide the informa on that is needed to
applica on using our in-depth exper se of
improve the efficiency and sustainability of
lasers, spectrometers and data processing.
future mining.
characteriza on
The LIBX sensor can be applied for automated ore sor ng, that separates valuable from
One of the major challenges of using LIBS for
SPECTRAL Industries is a new chemical sensor
non-valuable rocks to prevent unnecessary
characterizing the mineral quan ty in rocks is
developer and manufacturer, with a focus on
cost for processing worthless ore and
the heterogeneity of this material. Rocks are
applica ons in the mining and minerals
maximize return on investment. The
composed of many different minerals with
industry. SPECTRAL's chemical sensors are
technology is highly scalable as the hardware
various grain sizes. Each mineral consists of
robust, mobile & fast: they can be applied on
is suitable for any type of ore and materials.
www.africamininginsight.co.za
36
maas@spectral-i.com www.spectral-i.com
Mining- Solutions
Airless Tyres for Underground Mining
Tyres used in underground mining are
There are 2 major prevalent alterna ves for
Solid tyres are available in a range of pa erns
replaced frequently as they are prone to
airless tyres i.e. Solid Tyres and Foam-filled
like to suit various opera ng condi ons & can
punctures, sidewall damage and fast tyre
Pneuma c Tyres. Solid tyres are generally
also be supplied as ready to fit.
wear due to harsh underfoot condi ons, ght
used for high load, short haul and low speed
working spaces, high loads & overall severe
applica ons whereas Foam-filled tyres are
Solid tyres are suitable for equipment
opera ng environment. The frequent repair
suitable for longer haul cycles, higher speeds
opera ng at low speeds such as:
& related down me results in increased
and where ride comfort is required. It is
· Load Haul Dumpers (LHDs)
opera ng costs and safety risks. Tyre related
important for users to select the right
· Jumbo Drills / Roof Bolters
costs are es mated to be among the top five
product based on their applica on,
· Shield Haulers
opera ng costs for mining equipment.
equipment and opera ng condi ons to
· Shu le Cars / Ram Cars
It is therefore impera ve for mine operators
reduce cost per hour (CPH) and bring down
· U lity Vehicles
to explore op ons such as Airless Tyres that
total cost of ownership (TCO).
have the following advantages over
In addi on to the advantages of airless tyres men oned above, the solid tyres are:
pneuma c tyres:
1/ Solid Tyres:
· Airless – hence are 100% puncture proof
Solid tyres have a full rubber construc on
· Highly damage resistant
· Increased Safety – There is no risk of tyre
and thus are airless & puncture proof, have
· Have a Long Life – typically 2-4 mes that
blowouts · Extended Limp-in Capability – machine doesn't get stuck inside a mine · Reduced Tyre Maintenance – Periodic infla on pressure checks are eliminated
an extra deep tread for long, uninterrupted service, with specially designed sidewall
of foam filled pneuma c tyres · Ready to use
apertures for shock absorp on. However, these are not suitable for speeds beyond 25 kmph & have a firm ride.
2/ Foam-Filled Tyres: Tyre Filling (or Foam Filling) is a process in which a pneuma c tyre is injected &
www.africamininginsight.co.za
38
Airless Tyres for Underground Mining
pressurized with a two or three component urethane polymer in a precise propor on
About Trident:
using a special metering pump. The
Trident has developed applica on specific,
polyurethane cures into a resilient and
outcome orientated products and solu ons
synthe c rubber core replacing the air in the
to assist machine owners & mine operators
tyre. The resultant filled tyre is thus rendered
get the best out of their equipment in the
puncture proof and maintains the required
most demanding condi ons. Our products
pressure throughout its service life. Foam-
are distributed in over 25 countries which
filled tyres have a full footprint & are capable
include the Americas, Europe, Africa, the
of carrying their rated load at all mes. Tyre
Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fill Compounds are available in different grades based on applica on.
For further informa on please visit
Foam filled tyres are recommended for
ankit@trident-intl.com
www.trident-intl.com or write to vehicles that operate at speeds upto 50 kmph
Foam-filled Tyre
& for machines for which solid tyres are not suitable e.g. · Low Profile Dump Trucks (LPDT's) · Personnel Carriers While these can also be used on LHD's, Shu le Cars, U lity Vehicles etc. it needs to be borne in mind that although foam filled tyres are airless & puncture proof they may s ll suffer irreparable damage & may have to replaced prematurely. Equipment owners should evaluate various parameters (see table 1) and select the right airless tyre depending on their equipment and applica on for lowest opera ng costs & op mum capital efficiency
www.africamininginsight.co.za
39
alloys@wbrl.co.uk
www.wbrl.co.uk
Advertisers Index 02 South African Mine & Engineering Supplies
25 Escape Chute Systems
03 OREFLOW HLMS
27 Pamwe Mining Services
09 DAMM
31 Synergy Undercarriage Components
11 Palomino Plant
33 Petron Corporation
13 A.N.S Solutions
35 Royal IHC
15 Kuphela Environmental
37 Spectral
17 Ultra-Fiber
42 Vermeer
19 TTS
43 Westbrook Resources
21 Side-industrie
44 Delta Hydraulics
www.vermeersouthafrics.com
info@vermeersouthafrica.com
alloys@wbrl.co.uk
www.wbrl.co.uk
sales@delhyd.com.au
www.delhyd.com.au