REBUILDS
Primed for overhaul
Sandvik Toro 50D mining truck full frame up rebuild in progress at QME in Ireland
With downturns , long equipment lead times and the pandemic , mines are getting better at working with OEMs and service providers on remans and overhauls to keep machinery running for longer , reports Paul Moore
Mining services and contract mining companies are often the best placed companies to provide the expertise and facilities to keep mining equipment running for longer , given that they work so closely with the mines and are often the ones operating the equipment in the first place .
Engineering remains the backbone of mining and is a focus that South Africa-headquartered Murray & Roberts Cementation continues to prioritise through its extensive capabilities in engineering services . “ More than ever , our customers are looking to us for engineering excellence that will underpin their safety , productivity and profitability ,” says Hercilus Harmse , Engineering Services Executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation . “ This means retaining a formidable base of local expertise , a well-resourced engineering facility and a range of specialised offerings .”
Located at the company ’ s 57 ha Bentley Park premises near Carletonville , south-west of Johannesburg , is some 9,690 m 2 of covered workshop space – constantly busy with a variety of engineering activities . The engineering personnel numbers almost 70 permanent , qualified technical staff , with more contractors brought in as work requires , says Harmse . The workshops link with the Murray & Roberts Training Academy , situated on the same site , to further develop hands-on artisan and technical skills .
“ Key at our Bentley Park facility is our rebuild and refurbishment workshop for trackless mining equipment ,” he says . “ We can completely refurbish equipment such as load haul dumpers , drill rigs and utility vehicles from a range of original equipment manufacturers ( OEMs ).”
Recent work has included rebuilding a remote
controlled LHD for one of its gold mining clients .
This work is conducted on equipment in Murray & Roberts Cementation ’ s own large fleet , as well as on behalf of mining customers . During 2020 , as an example , over 30 full rebuilds were conducted for customers , complete with on-site commissioning . “ Our long history in the sector gives us a depth of knowledge and systems that comply with the necessary ISO certifications , as well as the stringent specifications of OEMs ,” he says . “ We work closely with OEMs to ensure quality assurance and quality control in line with customers ’ expectations and codes of practice .”
The capability includes a fabrication facility for light , medium and heavy steel structures . The company ’ s fabrication and boilermaking expertise is applied in a number of applications , allowing complete new frames for LHDs and drill rigs to be built from scratch .
“ This local refurbishment and fabrication capability is part of our wider contribution to the skills base of the South African economy , which we must nurture in pursuit of inclusive economic growth ,” says Harmse . “ This local content is today a more formalised requirement in the Mining Charter , but we have been working this way for many decades .”
QME builds rebuild presence from Ireland base
QME ’ s main workshops and head office are located on the east coast of Ireland near Navan . The company has been in operation since 1985 , initially mainly servicing the Irish zinc mines led by Boliden Tara , but in recent years QME has become a leader in supplying top-quality remanufactured mining & tunnelling equipment to the open global market both as for sale machines and for its rental fleets . “ Our range of available new and used equipment is extensive and represents world-class manufacturers . QME can supply both specialist and standard underground and open pit mining equipment , serviced and maintained to the highest standard . Our workshops can offer from basic equipment repairs up to full frame up rebuild to OEM specifications . We strip the machine down to the frame , crack test , strengthen where required and then fully rebuild the machine back to OEM specifications using new or refurbished genuine OEM components and spare parts depending on end user requirements . We create a bespoke offering based on our client ’ s requirements offering flexible rebuild and refurbishment options to suit end users budgets .” It says its rebuild process allows the end user to schedule the rebuild at an appropriate time in the equipment life cycle and then extend its life span to get a second life at a fraction of the cost of a new machine . The time for rebuild is also significantly less than the current lead times for new machines thus allowing an increase in production rates . Completed project examples include a DUX scissor lift which was subject to a full frame up rebuild before returning underground . The frame up rebuild included a
Fitting of engine frame and components before assembly commences on a 5.5 t LHD rebuild at Murray & Roberts Cementation , Bentley Park
66 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2022