IM 2018 January 18 | Page 57

SOUTH AFRICAN SUPPLIERS passing through and compromising worker safety. Lani Service Centre Workshop Manager Jonathan van Biljon says Vesconite bushings are installed at the pivot points around which the two doors, which lie at either side of the chute, rotate. The bushings are desired because they are self lubricating, can withstand the high pressures involved in the application, and are able to cope with a dirty wet mining environment, he says. He also informs that the company, which repairs and manufactures many engineered products out of steel, produced eight doors (or four set ups) last year and has produced two doors (or one set up) this year, following a successful tender. He notes that many mines use Spillminators of different sizes. This specialised application is being introduced widely since it ensures the efficient flow of ore, without spillage. It also ensures that staff and machinery are protected from mud rushes that have historically claimed lives as well as resulted in equipment damage in South Africa’s mining sector. Process plant support Multotec has a well established network in Africa. For instance, it is locally registered in Mozambique and well-staffed with 26 highly trained and qualified Mozambican nationals. Multotec Services Mozambique has secured supply contracts for processing equipment with some of the country’s major role players. This is typical of its African presence. The company’s global strategy is to be located close to customers, not just in-country but as near to operational sites as possible. “We were the first mineral processing company to establish a facility in Tete province – back in 2011,” says Thinus Kruger, Multotec’s Regional Manager for East Africa. “We now have a solid presence with our full range of mineral processing solutions, as well as maintenance and fabrication services. “Our branch is situated within 20 to 100 km of all our major customers, making for fast response times in terms of maintenance and support services and for the delivery of emergency spares.” Multotec Services Mozambique’s customer base now includes four major coal players, a graphite mine and a heavy minerals mine, as well as mineral separation plants and harbours. So well equipped is the branch that it is also used as a base for servicing customers in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. Among the full fleet of vehicles to enhance customer service is an 8-t crane truck for collection and deliveries, a personnel transporter, double-cab vehicles for service support, two forklifts, an equipped standby trailer, and a rugged HDPE welding trailer for overland installations of HDPE pipes. Situated just off the main road between Tete and Moatize, the Multotec facility is just 10 km from the airport and 15 km from customs, and boasts a 1,000 m 2 fabrication workshop with a bending break, guillotine, pedestal drill, power saw and a variety of welding machines. “Leveraging the local team’s combined 60 years 1,000 HRS Meet the Cummins Engine that Ran 1,000 hours with the Same Oil of experience in mineral processing, our company in Mozambique offers long term maintenance contracts, supply contracts and fixed price agreements to suit customer requirements,” says Kruger. “We also conduct small to medium-scale steel fabrication and specialise in the manufacturing of steel chutes, launders, steel pipes and general fabrication work, including carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium and welding and installation of HDPE pipes.” Multotec says its quality of services is ensured by ongoing investment in local employees through training on-site and advanced training in its South Africa-based training centre, which hones employees’ skills in installing and maintaining Multotec products, as well as in the ceramic lining of equipment. This focus on skills has allowed the company in Mozambique to develop a depth of expertise that – in addition to a commercial manager, accountant and human resources officer – also includes a metallurgical process specialist, an engineering and fabrication specialist, ten artisans or technicians, four HDP pipe welders and nine artisan assistants and installers. The company’s capacity is enhanced by technical support from the Multotec head office in South Africa. “We regularly fly our Multotec equipment specialists to Mozambique to assist with on-site training for our customers, as well as to conduct audits on their installed Multotec equipment,” says Kruger. He expects that employment numbers in the That’s right – approved for 1,000 hours of operation, with no oil change and no lubrication-related downtime. In fact, the oil is nearly ageless, providing the same asset protection at 1,000 hours as the day it was added. That’s four times longer than the OEM-recommended interval for this engine. Cummins recently approved LE’s Monolec Ultra® Engine Oil (8800) as a 1,000-hour-drain-interval, long-service engine oil. How’d we do it? By implementing these two simple solutions: • Xamine™ Oil Analysis • Monolec Ultra® Engine Oil Read more about our engine oils and customer successes at www.lelubricants.com and then contact us to get started. +27 (0) 11 464 1735 | [email protected]