WAYS TO IMPROVE EQUIPMENT UPTIME
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT •
Supplied by Konecranes South Africa
cameras for superior visibility, the truck is engineered to keep operations running safely and smoothly,” adds Devkar.
This machine is built to last by featuring strategically placed components for maximum protection, reduced wear and longer life. Its smart PLC display improves data accessibility and performance monitoring, as well as serviceability by streamlining diagnostics and maintenance. Moreover, features like engine delay shutdown and soft stops extend machine life and keep productivity on track.
Source: supplied by Epiroc
This truck delivers 33-tonne haulage performance in medium drifts.
The new product has
been developed in close collaboration with customers to ensure that it meets realworld needs and exceeds expectations.
WAYS TO IMPROVE EQUIPMENT UPTIME
Johan Naude, Agreements specialist, South Africa and Africa, for Konecranes South Africa.
Johan Naude, Agreements specialist, South Africa and Africa, for Konecranes South Africa, highlights the importance of maintaining and inspecting lifting equipment within mining production and associated activities.
“ In the hustle and bustle of mining production, the focus on the servicing of lifting equipment can unintentionally be sidelined,” said Naude.“ The problem, though, is that equipment performance and safety for technicians on site can be compromised as a result. This situation can easily be avoided with a customised Konecranes Service Agreement that offers a comprehensive and systematic approach to asset management.”
“ The company recently identified a servicing break on lifting equipment at a mining operation during our standard overview of customer operations. After a service visit to the site and discussions with the customer, they believed that signing up for a two-year customised service agreement with the company was the most cost-efficient way forward. When the movement of heavy mining-related equipment, such as conveyors and crushers, is key to sustained production, then regular and planned maintenance is essential.”
“ The service agreement was drawn up based on knowledge of the equipment, its usage, operating environment, service history and international and local safety regulations. It is for the servicing of not only their Konecranes CXT lifting equipment, but also other crane equipment of a different brand. The agreement forms part of our responsibility to our customer to ensure their lifting equipment operates reliably and sustainably,” said Naude.
Benefits The agreement is designed to deliver all historical and current operational data, as well as flag up refurbishment, upgrades or new equipment data to both the customer and Konecranes technicians in real time via The Konecranes Portal. This assists with the long-term spare parts and service needs for the entire lifespan of the equipment.
The Konecranes Portal also simultaneously issues alerts to both the technician and customer if any equipment unexpectedly develops a fault. This ensures that corrective action can be implemented as soon as possible.
Naude said,“ The ability to monitor part performance‘ live’ eliminates unnecessary downtime. It provides guardrails that prevent any fault from becoming catastrophic. Proactive online service scheduling via the Konecranes Planner is based around the customer’ s production cycle, thereby allowing planned stoppages that do not dramatically interfere with operations, which in the mining sector, as well as other industries, is a critical factor. This saves the customer valuable time and money.”
Service agreements will ensure that future CAPEX expenditure budgeting is streamlined and more accurately planned for, while also ensuring that all international and local safety regulations are adhered to.
Other benefits of the customised service agreement include:
• Properly scheduled inspections help identify and address safety issues timeously, reducing the impact on employees.
• Planned and scheduled maintenance work can assist in minimising excessive labour and parts replacement costs, which also helps reduce the impact on the environment.
• A maintenance programme can help in assessing whether cranes are being used properly or as intended, and identify opportunities for operator training.
• Preventive maintenance conducted at regularly scheduled intervals is often the most effective way to maintain and potentially extend the lifespan of certain cranes.
www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • March 2026 • 33