GERMAN TECHNOLOGY laboratory-scale models. The Vibratory Disc Mill RS 300 XL, for example, pulverises up to 2,000 ml of sample in one go. The sample divider PT 600 XL allows for the representative division of up to 60 litres of bulk material. The new portfolio also includes testing equipment to determine the Bond Grinding Indices.
“ This program extension will give RETSCH access to markets like the coal, steel and mining industry which until now could only be served with laboratory instruments for small sample volumes. RETSCH, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, is now the only supplier worldwide covering the entire size reduction field by offering a portfolio that ranges from ball mills for nano grinding to jaw crushers with a throughput of 3,500 kg per hour.”
Driving diamond production in Lesotho
SEW-EURODRIVE is continuing its involvement at a major diamond mine in Lesotho by supplying three complete power packs for use on the tailings side of the operation. This follows the earlier successful supply of 20 power packs for the same project.
The initial order was received in December 2014, with technical clarification in 2015, and delivery in February 2016. The latest order, for the three additional power packs, was received in May 2016, and fulfilled in September 2016. Despite the differing lead times, SEW- EURODRIVE’ s local stockholding and valueadded service offering meant that the requirements of the two orders were met comfortably, says Head of Projects Rudi Swanepoel.
Each power pack consists of an X-Series Industrial Gearbox with high- and low-speed couplings, motor and base plate. These preassembled units represent significant costsavings and reduced downtime, as the power pack is supplied with the input coupling shaft with the alignment already carried out. Combined with the above-mentioned shaft alignment, in general there are only two interfaces that need to be fitted.“ If all the civils are done correctly, this is a major benefit for the client,” Swanepoel comments.
The X-Series of versatile and powerful IG units from SEW-EURODRIVE“ provides an ideal solution for conveyor belt drives, with a torque range from 6.8 kNm to 475 kNm. It also features a large number of accessories to allow for maximum flexibility, and a wide range of gear ratios for helical and bevel-helical gear units.”
Nearly any mounting position or shaft arrangement on a driven machine can be implemented, says the company. A reversible gear unit housing also facilitates variable installation. The robust housing, low-noise gearing and cooling system boost safety and ease of maintenance.
The Lesotho contract represents a significant extension of the Germany-headquartered OEM’ s footprint in the southern African mining industry, points out Mario Sicchiero, Head of Exports at SEW-EURODRIVE. He explains that the OEM now also has an active Project Department, to interface more closely with key clients, and to ensure that the SEW-EURODRIVE brand is top-ofmind when any tenders are issued.
“ The downturn in the mining industry globally has meant a reduction in the number of greenfield projects, which has resulted in us nurturing those key client relationships in order to maintain our ongoing success in securing new work,” Sicchiero stresses.“ However, the general consensus is that commodity prices have bottomed out, which means that major mining houses will start to invest again once these green shoots become visible.”
A small diameter TBM alternative
The new Haulage Boring Machine from Herrenknecht is a compact, mobile boring machine, which achieves small diameters for access or production. Its compact layout is designed to give the market an alternative to conventional methods, which were the only option when Tunnel Boring Machines could not achieve the diameter requirements. A paper during the SME mining exhibition in Denver in late February outlined the functionality as well as new development stages including material handling, detailed engineering and rock strength capabilities.
One type of roller cutting excavation tool that is often used on a variety of mechanical underground excavation machines is multi-row tungsten carbide insert( TCI) roller cutters. Herrenknecht has also recently implemented several improvements in the design of multi-row TCI cutters to increase load capacity, reduce body washout and improve high pressure
SEW-EURODRIVE is continuing its involvement at a major diamond mine in Lesotho by supplying three complete power packs for use on the tailings side of the operation
sealing applications. Another SME paper detailed these improvements and presented projects where these cutters have been successfully used in challenging mining shaft boring applications.
AUMUND and FLSmidth deliver in Asia
Recently, FLSmidth secured orders from Tamilnadu Cement( TANCEM), AKIJ Cement and SHAH Cement for operations in Bangladesh and India. Traditionally, FLSmidth has always been a regular patron for AUMUND products, and since its inception, AUMUND India, in Chennai, has executed many key projects along with FLSmidth for the Indian cement industry.“ In many cases, AUMUND India supported FLSmidth with a quick response for offer submission, extending special pricing, even at the offer stage itself, to ensure a continued relationship. The additional support from AUMUND Fördertechnik GmbH headquarters in Germany, by extending the calculation program, has further strengthened the trust and relationship.”
Considering potential aggressive competition, AUMUND India went ahead with FLSmidth with a pro-active pricing strategy. AUMUND India delivered for the AKIJ Cement project one AUMUND bucket elevator of type BW-ZL, one AUMUND belt bucket elevator of type BWG, and for the first time, three belt bucket elevators of type BWG-GK instead of the conventional AUMUND bucket elevator of type BWZ. For the TANCEM project, FLS had specific design criteria and wanted a certain safety factor for the chain. AUMUND India provided an optimised solution, which met these specific criteria and delivered two AUMUND bucket elevators of type BW-ZL,
MARCH 2017 | International Mining 49