PRODUCT FOCUS
Improving operational efficiencies
Improved efficiencies within Transnet Freight Rail significantly reduce lead times of materials to
export customers.
HPE Africa — specialists in
earthmoving and construction
equipment — was awarded a tender
by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) to
supply 10 specially adapted excavators
for its Richards Bay facility, as part of
an initiative to improve operational
efficiencies at the port.
“TPT selected the 26 ton Hyundai
R260LC-9S excavator series for this
project, as these robust machines meet
specific performance specifications,
including best-in-class power and a
six-ton lifting capacity throughout the
required working cycle, at the required
12rpm minimum swing speed,” says
Alex Ackron, managing director of HPE
Africa, a part of the Capital Equipment
Group (CEG), a division of Invicta
Holdings Limited. “The scope of this
project required these excavators to
be mounted onto mobile straddle
carriers, for the efficient unloading of
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materials — including coal, chrome, and
manganese — from freight rail cars.
Straddling design norms
“The TPT-approved straddle carrier
design, which was developed through
TPT and HPE Africa’s close teamwork,
adheres to Transnet’s stringent
performance and safety standards.
These specially adapted straddle carriers
allow locomotives and rail carriages to
pass safely beneath the structure. For
additional safety, this design only allows
the operator to enter and leave the
straddle if the excavator is orientated at
35 degrees to the tracks, preventing an
unattended straddle from being struck
by a moving train. Excavators have also
been fitted with specially designed
1.6m³ heavy-duty buckets and 2.5m³
coal buckets, to maximise a railway car’s
unloading speed.
“As part of HPE Africa’s commitment
to support South African business,
approximately 35% of the project value
for modifications was outsourced to
local businesses within KwaZulu-Natal
— easily exceeding Transnet’s local
content requirement for this tender,”
says Ackron.
HPE Africa commissioned a Richards
Bay-based engineering company to
manufacture the straddle structures for
the Hyundai excavators for this project.
According to the lead design engineer
at the engineering works, the straddle
design is pinned instead of bolted, to
ensure quick assembly time and reduced
maintenance requirements.
To meet specific Transnet
specifications, these Hyundai excavators
were supplied with an enhanced operator
cab, featuring an improved suspension
seat, operator-friendly control cluster,
reverse camera, and Hyundai’s Hi-Mate
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