INNOVATION INTELLIGENCE_proof 23/08/2016 16:31 Page 1
INNOVATION INTELLIGENCE
Winder upgrades
Paul Moore spoke to
Winder Controls (Pty)
Ltd, the South African
subsidiary of SIEMAG
TECBERG GmbH, about a
complex mechanical and
brake system upgrade of
the underground rock
winder it recently
successfully completed
at Sibanya Gold Ltd’s
Ikamva Shaft
he project was initiated by Gold Fields Ltd
in 2011, on the then Kloof 4# sub-vertical
rock winder in order to increase the
winder’s production capacity and working life.
Tim Keegan, Joint Managing Director of
Winder Controls explains that the company is
focussed both on the complete design, supply,
installation and commissioning of all types of
new hoisting equipment as well as the
refurbishment and upgrade of existing winders
and associated equipment. Keegan adds: “The
project specification for the upgraded winder
included a maximum rope pull of approximately
510 kN and a Peak Power of approximately 9
MW. The upgrade necessitated replacement of
the majority of the winder’s mechanical
components including two new 5.5 m diameter
drums, including coiling sleeves, weighing in at
76 t each, two external 3-part clutches, a new
drum shaft, new bearing inners as well as a new
four channel ESCORT controlled braking system.
Also included was the design manufacture and
supply of a new high pressure jacking and bearing
lubrication system as well as brake structure
support steelwork, all necessary auxiliary drives
and other miscellaneous components.”
Winder Controls says it is one of few
companies in the hoisting industry capable of
offering the full range of design, supply, project
management and site services associated with
all aspects of mine winders and told IM it is
proud to have completed the full engineering
and design as well as the supply, installation
T
Drum shaft installation underground
154 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2016
and commissioning of all mechanical, hydraulic
and electrical equipment for the project from its
South African office. Winder Controls is an ISO
listed company and adheres to the strictest
Safety, Quality and Environmental standards.
Project background
The Ikamva Shaft winder was originally supplied
to Gold Fields in 1986 by GHH, a German winder
supplier, which was subsequently acquired by
the SIEMAG TECBERG Group in 1999. Owing to
space constraints in the hoisting layout this
large winder was designed without a centre
drum shaft bearing and incorporated internal
clutch mechanisms within the drum structures.
Two key challenges for Winder Controls during
Completed winder after 14 day shutdown
the upgrade project were firstly to engineer the
new drums, (now fitted with external clutches)
and drum shaft to fit the existing foundation
layout with only the base frames and bearing
housings remaining from the original supply.
Secondly, in order to minimise production losses
to the mine, the total shut down time allowed to
strip and remove the original winder and install
and commission the new machine was restricted
to 14 days over the Christmas period, an
unprecedented short duration for underground
site work of this magnitude.
While each drum of the original winder was
equipped with a traditional pivoted shoe and