SOUTHERN AFRICA SUPPLIERS
control system is compatible with the MST conditional monitoring platform, Helix, for machine condition monitoring. This platform delivers geospatial digital twins and real-time telemetry, enabling predictive maintenance and operational optimisation, according to MST, which is owned by Komatsu. Battery equipment, like the 4 tonne WX04B LHD, further supports the drive towards technological innovation and“ going green” initiatives.
Komatsu’ s commitment to safer mining extends beyond equipment to service and skills development. In Zimbabwe, for example, this ethos is reinforced through Mine Machines, a trusted partner with 36 years of experience in the mining industry. Its portfolio includes warrantied rebuilds, spares supply and on-site operational maintenance tailored to local conditions.“ The Mining Skills Training Centre in Zimbabwe offers modular curriculums for operators, artisans and managers, backed by advanced training technologies,” the company added.“ This dedication earned Mine Machines the‘ Best Contractor’ SHE Award 2025 from Zimbabwe’ s second largest PGM mine, underscoring alignment with Komatsu’ s safety principles.”
The company concluded:“ Southern Africa’ s mining sector is not just adapting – it is leading. Through collision avoidance compliance and Komatsu’ s advanced loaders and trucks, UVB’ s specialised utility vehicles and digital analytics platforms like Helix, the region is shaping a future where safety, productivity and sustainability converge.”
Driving innovation forward
Comprehensively supporting the mining sector with commodity-specific drive train solutions, SEW-EURODRIVE has cemented its reputation as a trusted partner to the industry – a testament to its customer-centric approach, National Sales and Marketing Manager, Jonathan McKey, says.
“ Twenty years ago, we secured our first major power pack contract for a platinum mine in Limpopo,” McKey recalls.“ That project marked the beginning of our deep involvement in mining and today our gearboxes, motors and coupling combinations are operating in almost every mining environment across the continent.”
From platinum and gold to coal, copper and beyond, SEW EURODRIVE’ s engineered drivetrain solutions have become integral to mission-critical applications, underscoring the company’ s strong track record and ongoing commitment to the mining sector.
“ As in every industry we serve, the success of our power packs lies in a systematic responsible approach that begins with a clear understanding of what the customer really needs,” McKey says.
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“ We don’ t just develop application-specific solutions – we take it a step further by building a sustainable cost-effective supply chain and long-term support ecosystem to back those solutions well into the future.” With mining, the company’ s journey began in the platinum sector, where SEW EURODRIVE developed gearbox solutions specifically engineered for the prevailing conditions on site.
“ It was vital to understand the gear ratios, power requirements and velocities commonly used in platinum operations,” McKey says.“ That insight allowed us to rapidly grow our footprint in that segment, expanding into neighbouring operations and quickly growing our customer base. From there, we moved into chrome mining.”
As SEW EURODRIVE expanded into new commodities, it applied the same principle – understand the application first, then develop fit-for-purpose drivetrain systems. In chrome, this meant developing a new stocking standardised gear ratio and power rating for its power packs. When coal mining became the next target segment, the unique characteristics of that environment called for another redesign – this time with lighter material and faster conveyor speeds requiring adapted solutions.
“ Today, we are arguably the dominant force in mining across Africa when it comes to industrial gearbox solutions,” McKey says.“ That position wasn’ t built overnight. It was the result of a highly informed, step-bystep expansion that has seen the company entering each commodity with a clear operational plan and investing heavily in building our local capacity to support it.”
That investment began with local assembly, first introduced at SEW EURODRIVE’ s Nelspruit facility in 2006. Over time, this evolved into a significantly expanded local production and warehousing operation at the company’ s head office in Aeroton, Johannesburg – where a Phase 2 expansion is now nearing completion.
Scaling innovation
As the industrial sector undergoes rapid digital transformation, conveyor systems – once regarded as passive infrastructure – are emerging as intelligent data sources. Shaun Blumberg, COO of South Africa-based Tru-Trac, notes that at the centre of this shift is the belt scale.
“ This technology was historically focused on weighing material flow but is now transforming into a strategic tool for real-time production visibility, process optimisation and predictive analytics,” he says.
Tru-Trac’ s AccuTrac™ AI-enabled Belt Scale platform represents the leading edge of this evolution, the company says. Rather than being a retrofit of outdated hardware, it has been designed around the principle that mass flow measurement should be dynamic, contextual and adaptive – not static and reactive. Developed in partnership with Germany-based SHG, the system fundamentally changes the way material flow is measured and managed in industrial environments.
Blumberg explains that conventional belt scales rely on assumptions such as constant belt speed, consistent loading geometry and stable mechanical conditions. In reality, these factors vary: belts stretch, rollers wear unevenly and bulk density fluctuates. This leads to drift in measurement accuracy, frequent recalibrations and reduced confidence in the data.
He explains:“ The Tru-Trac AccuTrac AI Belt Scale does not rely on static assumptions. Instead, it continuously learns from the conveyor’ s operating behaviour and compensates for factors such as drift, vibration and anomalies in the load profile in real time.”
At the core of the system is a fusion engine that processes inputs including belt speed, load cell output, vibration patterns and environmental conditions. Adaptive algorithms then generate a normalised computational mass flow that more accurately reflects true material movement in demanding environments, according to
Tru-Trac’ s AccuTrac AI-enabled Belt Scale platform has been designed around the principle that mass flow measurement should be dynamic, contextual and adaptive
International Mining | JANUARY 2026