Technology and innovation
A copper and cobalt mine in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) has ordered another overhead
crane from a Johannesburg-based
company. This brings the number
of cranes that Kamoto Copper has
deployed in its workshop to eight.
The cranes, manufactured by
Condra, are used in the workshop
during the expansion of the mine,
which is being overseen by the
consulting engineers, Senet, another
South Africa-based company.
Kolwezi Lifting Solutions,
Condra’s authorised agent for
the DRC, is managing the crane
installation and servicing. Kamoto
has also ordered spares for the cranes,
which the company says is worth
R1.5-million.
The eighth crane weighs three
tons, has a span of nine metres, and
boasts a five-metre lift. Its seven
predecessors include a 10-ton double-
girder overhead crusher maintenance
crane with a 20m span and a very
high lift of 19m.
The six remaining cranes comprise
two three-ton, nine-metre-span
machines and four 3.2‑ton, 17m-span
Expanding with cranes
The three Condra overhead cranes (finished in yellow) ordered by Kamoto Copper in the DRC, is
nearing completion in Condra’s Johannesburg factory.
single-girder electric overhead
travelling cranes; the latter completed
on schedule in April of this year,
despite a very short lead time of less
than two months. All these machines
have short lift heights of about four
metres. The total value of the eight
cranes together is about R6-million.
It remains a challenge to
ensure that communication
systems function optimally in
underground mines. Mining
Mirror recently discovered
a system that might fit the
part. Becker Mining’s Smart
Com leaky feeder system
boasts, according to Andrew
Trentelman, senior general
manager: electronics at Becker
Mining South Africa, multiple
simultaneous voice and data
radio channels, with low
intermodulation noise levels.
“This ensures clear and reliable
communications underground, The Smart Com leaky feeder system has multiple simultaneous voice and data radio channels, with
at all times. It is a modular
low intermodulation noise levels.
design and features the option
system information, helping in system
indicators as standard. This unit facilitates
of local and remote diagnostic
maintenance, troubleshooting, and overall
fault finding and system troubleshooting
amplifiers, with manual and automatic
system confidence. Mines are usually
by quickly being able to identify the
gain control, to ensure every installation
remote to major cities and established
faulty component, thus reducing
and subsequent maintenance procedures
infrastructure, which makes access to
downtime and repair costs. This amplifier
are safe and effortless,” says Trentelman.
communication specialists and services
is suitable for smaller installations, where
The Smart Com VHF leaky feeder
difficult for the mining sector,” says
remote diagnostics may not be necessary.
system has been designed with local
Trentelman.
“Remote diagnostics provides critical
diagnostics via three on-board LED
[36] MINING MIRROR AUGUST 2018
Zero communication leaks