IM 2017 November 17 | Page 6

WORLD PROSPECTS Sandvik deepens South African investment S andvik continues to invest in South Africa by setting up local manufacturing capabilities to build high quality load and haul equipment close to its customers. In addition, Sandvik is introducing the Sandvik LH115L, described as a reliable and robust 5 t low profile loader designed for demanding African conditions. Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has almost 70 years’ history of servicing the South African market. During this time, the company says it has become well-acquainted with the challenges facing the South African mining industry and understands the important modernising role that private investment and local manufacturing can play in extending mine life, skills development and employment and the achievement of sustainable, inclusive growth. Sandvik says it has identified the opportunity to support local industry through local manufacture of Sandvik products and localisation of machines, supporting both employment and local suppliers. It has therefore decided to establish its own local manufacturing facility for the complete production of Sandvik LH115L 5 t LHDs for the African market. In addition to the LH115L, Sandvik’s Product Area Load and Haul is bringing its global standards and processes in high quality manufacturing to this new facility. “We are creating knowledge transfer to set up the proven processes and systems that we already have in our other manufacturing locations around the world so that we can be in a position to add other Sandvik products to this manufacturing site when needed”, says Mats Eriksson, President for Product Area Load and Haul at Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology. Having made the decision to invest, the South African manufacturing facility began prototype operations in July 2017 and will initially produce the LH115L machine. “Facility operations will follow a staged approach, with capacity ramping up based on customer demand,” says Steve Greisiger, Production Manager Jet Park, Product Area Load and Haul. Sandvik’s current overall workforce totals 1,400, based at the regional hub in Jet Park, seven main branches and multiple mines and workshops across the country. “This latest local manufacturing facility represents an exciting new chapter in the company’s development and underscores our desire to play a part in the skills development and local manufacturing capabilities,” concludes Simon Andrews, Vice President, Sales Area Southern Africa, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology. The Sandvik LH115L 5 t low profile loader is a new product that Sandvik will be launching in South Africa. Described as cost-efficient and durable, the loader has been developed and optimised for local mining conditions. It is also the first product to be manufactured locally, using local suppliers, locally-sourced components and local employees, with training programs in place. The Sandvik LH115L machine builds on the proven capabilities of its predecessor, the EJC115L, with the latest safety features. The new LH115L loader “has high availability and is easy to maintain, resulting in optimised lifetime operational costs.” In addition, Sandvik provides the full low profile portfolio offering of underground drills and bolters to ensure matching sets of equipment. It complies with the latest safety requirements and, with its powerful drivetrain, robust frame designed for low profile operations and simplified electronics, “is optimised to provide high levels of availability and unequalled productivity in the harshest African conditions.” www.sandvik.com thyssenkrupp develops new roll crusher W 4 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2017 hard rock both underground and on the surface as part of mobile and semi-mobile systems.” One of the key advantages of the new crusher is its flat and compact design with integrated screen. It is 20 to 50% lower than conventional primary crushers. This greatly simplifies transportation, installation and maintenance below ground. If required, the crusher’s height can be reduced further for installation by removing individual components, saving additional time and costs. The newly developed and patented design featuring a roll mounted eccentrically between the crushing and the screening chamber offers greater efficiency and productivity compared with other crusher types. The large, constant stroke of the ERC25-25 crusher combines with the integrated screen to provide very high crushing intensity and throughputs of up to 3,000 t/h. In the large crusher infeed area, the material to be reduced is divided into two material flows: the first with fine material is screened out and passes through the screening chamber to a discharge conveyor. The second stream with coarse material is transported to the crushing chamber and reduced between the eccentrically mounted roll and the chamber walls. In addition to higher production, this design also requires less maintenance. Keeping the fine material out of the crushing chamber reduces the power consumption of the electric motor and significantly reduces the load on the machine. An integrated automatic gap adjustment system with overload safety device ith the development of a completely new type of crusher, the so-called eccentric roll crusher type ERC25-25, thyssenkrupp says it has achieved a quantum leap in primary crushing. The new crusher features a particularly flat and robust design and high throughputs of up to 3,000 t/h, enabling it to process hard rock and ores efficiently and economically in underground mining operations. As the centrepiece of a mobile or semimobile system the eccentric roll crusher also enhances cost efficiency in surface mining. In the future, the new series will be supplemented with further models to enable both smaller and higher throughput capacities for different applications. Torsten Gerlach, CEO of the Mining Technologies business unit of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions: “Our customers are looking for dependable, safe and easy-to-install crushers that permit maximum productivity even underground. To meet these requirements we have combined our many years of experience with different crushing technologies and our comprehensive engineering expertise. The new eccentric roll crusher from thyssenkrupp offers a wide range of possibilities for effectively processing ore and