HOISTING TECHNOLOGY_proof 19/07/2016 13:37 Page 4
HOISTING TECHNOLOGY
maximum static tension of 50 t and a maximum
static tension difference of 32 t.
OLKO comprehensive solutions
through Thyssen Schachtbau
Since 2012, OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH, the
German supplier of shaft hoisting technology and
material transportation systems has been a
member of the Thyssen Schachtbau Group. OLKO
was founded in 1989 as an engineering
consultancy and evolved into an international
supplier of shaft hoisting equipment. OLKO offers
winders and winches of different types and sizes.
The range of products includes double drum Blair
winders, double and single drum winders, single
and multi-rope friction winders, rescue winches,
stage winches, and friction winches. The
company believes that the combination of
Thyssen Schachtbau with its shaft sinking and
mine development focus together with OLKO is
the only one in the world which can offer the
construction of a complete underground mine
from one company.
Currently OLKO is manufacturing a friction
pulley of 6.5 m diameter for a potash mine in
Germany. This is part of a contract for
refurbishment of the mechanical part of the
existing decades old winder. Carsten Schmidt,
OLKO Deputy Managing Director told IM: “Due to
the short timeline, this job is challenging for
OLKO’s experienced on-site personnel. As well as
the friction pulley, a new hydraulic braking
system will be installed. The multi-channel
braking system COBRA01, which stands for
Controlled OLKO Brake, is an in-house
development from OLKO and offers the operator
several advantages, including compact design,
additional reserve channel, high availability, full
redundancy in hydraulic and electric operation, a
reduced amount of valves, advanced accumulator
technology, and high resistance to wear.”
Furthermore, over the next months OLKO says
it will be busy with the contract execution of two
double drum winders and in total ten winches for
different applications for shaft sinking operations
at two shafts in Russia’s Ural region.
Beside winders and winches, OLKO offers rope
handling equipment, such as friction winches,
rope reelers, and deflection sheaves. Recently
OLKO additionally developed a new type of
clamping and lifting device (CLD) for the
simultaneous handling of up to six ropes. The
CLD is a patented design and can be operated
almost without a hydraulic system, which means
saving space, height and weight. OLKO’s CLD can
be manoeuvered by crane easily.
“Even if OLKO is a relatively young company,
its key personnel in engineering, project
management and on-site installation has
decades of experience in processing of shaft
hoisting projects. The equipment is either
manufactured in our own workshops or subcontracted to experienced manufacturers under
OLKO’s supervision. The latest development, also
a patented design, is a mobile rescue winch with
a payload of 5 t. It can operate up to a shaft
depth of 1,100 m and is assembled on a road
truck.”
Mining hoist ropes
The new Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group (BBRG)
began operating as an entity on June 29,
following the successful merger of Bridon with
Bekaert’s rope business. The new business
employs some 2,500 people in 17 countries
“combining unrivalled industry expertise,
portfolio, scale and global reach.”
The new Bridon-Bekaert CEO Bruno Humblet,
said: “We are delighted to announce that the
merger is now complete. The new group
combines Bekaert’s existing strength in the
regions of Americas and Australia and Bridon’s
strong market position in Europe and the USA.
An OLKO double drum winder
“Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group will offer a
broad range of additional services, as well as
strengthened expertise to customers, building on
the proud history of both businesses in providing
quality products and services. This combination
will leverage the scale and complementary
strengths of Bekaert and Bridon and will pursue
value creation for our customers.”
The statement said that with worldwide
manufacturing operations, sales and distribution
centres, BBRG will ensure accessibility and
services within close reach, customised to
specific local demands and challenges.
“We are looking forward to building the
Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group and business starts
today. Our primary focus will be to deliver the
very best performing products, accelerated
innovation programs and unrivalled services,”
added Humblet.
BBRG through the former Bridon is for its part
is a market leader in deep shaft mining hoist
rope manufacture, and recently installed a
revolutionary hybrid core rope at a South African
gold mine. The New Product Development (NPD)
The new Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group (BBRG)
began operating as an entity on June 29,
following the successful merger of Bridon with
Bekaert’s rope business
AUGUST 2016 | International Mining 81