INDUSTRY EQUIPMENT: MINING
process plants, vitally important to ensure
maximum plant efficiency.
“In most cases a stacker is a crucial
component of any continuous processing
system. A mine always needs non-stop
feed of material into its processing plant
and remotely operated machines that can
pile material and then reclaim it efficiently
and reliably at a constant rate to feed the
plant,” says Steyn.
Modernising mining
A number of factors in the global economy
have recently conspired to create an
environment where operations can only
survive if they become more efficient and
productive. In the mining and quarrying
industries, for example, reducing operating
costs has become paramount. Moreover,
mines need to eliminate human fatalities
and address health and safety concerns,
while at the same time start contemplating
climate change, and how to manage
carbon emissions. This is what
the modernisation of the
mining industry is
all about.
Owning or leasing a large fleet of ‘yellow
equipment’ that hauls, stockpiles and
re-handles material might seem enticing
on a balance sheet in the short term, but
over the life of mine using automated
Stacking and Reclaiming equipment might
just be a better bet. The initial capital
outlay of investing in these machines
looks daunting though, but, according to
Steyn, enough research has been done to
prove that the operational costs decrease
considerably in comparison to yellow
machines. “Yes, you can use front end
loaders and trucks and mobile equipment
to stockpile product, but operationally it’s
much more expensive and even more
important, a lot less reliable and
efficient,” he says.
‘Yellow equipment’, or stackers?
Whether to use ‘yellow equipment’
or stackers and other automated bulk
materials handling machines in your mining
operation, ultimately depends on which
wound causes the least pain: high initial
capital cost, or incremental life of mine
costs. Unfortunately, one cannot buy half
a stacker, whereas the fleet of ‘yellow
equipment’ can be acquired or leased one
unit at a time to suit the initial budget.
“On a balance sheet, and especially in the
first few years, it looks so much better
to invest in ‘yellow
thyssenkrupp designs and manufactures stackers locally in
South Africa.
22
NOVEMBER 2019
www.equipmentandhire.co.za