INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE
The andesite rock found at AfriSam’s
Eikenhof Quarry is one of the hardest and
most abrasive aggregate materials found
anywhere. Its strength and resistance to
wear is what makes Eikenhof’s andesite
a commodity that is sought after by the
asphalt industry. It is also what makes
it extremely challenging to work with.
Andesite is difficult to crush, says Eikenhof
works manager Yedwa Christopher
Mgxekwa. In addition to being hard to
crush, it is also hard on crushers. “Andesite
has a high crushing value compared to
other aggregate commodities. It is also
abrasive, so it is extremely tough on
the machines that handle it,” explains
Mgxekwa.
Equipment longevity was a problem at
Eikenhof Quarry before AfriSam turned to
Osborn for a solution. Mgxekwa says that
the quarry’s jaw crushers used to last only
five years.
In 2008, Osborn supplied AfriSam’s
Eikenhof Quarry with a new Osborn 47 x
60 Jaw Crusher. This was, however, no
standard jaw crusher, but a machine that
was meticulously customised by Osborn,
in collaboration with AfriSam, to tackle
Eikenhof’s challenging andesite rock.
Osborn worked closely with AfriSam to
modify and customise the design of
Eikenhof’s jaw crusher. Osborn product
sales manager Casper Booyse elaborates:
“We supplied Osborn’s heavy-duty jaw
frame designed for difficult applications.
Osborn consulted with AfriSam’s teams
on site to make sure that we supplied the
optimal machine for their tough application.
Tough rock no match for jaw crushers
An Osborn Jaw Crusher like this has delivered significant benefits at the
Eikenhof Quarry.
There was extensive engineering input,
with FEA calculations to determine the
correct specification of the components to
ensure minimal downtime on site.”
Osborn studied Eikenhof’s process
requirements. This analysis led to specific
modifications of the standard 50 x 60
Osborn crusher, including moving in the
back wall of the crusher, to offer a better
crushed product, Booyse explains.
Other modifications that were
undertaken by Osborn in order meet
Eikenhof’s needs included modifying the
unit’s standard spoke type flywheel to a
solid disc type flywheel. “This was done
to minimise the risk of Eikenhof’s hard
andesite breaking the standard flywheels,”
Booyse reveals.
This partnership between Osborn and
AfriSam has delivered significant benefits at
the Eikenhof Quarry.
Osborn’s innovative and impactful
design interventions have extended the
lifespan of Eikenhof’s jaw crusher from the
previous five years to an impressive eight
to 10 years.
Cargo Carriers calls for a holistic approach to carbon reduction
South Africa has implemented a carbon tax
to honour its international commitment to
reducing green-house gases (GHGs). While
an important and commendable move
by government, the premature taxing of
businesses that emit carbon from industrial
processes and through the combustion
of fossil fuels will have a major negative
impact on South Africa’s already-embattled
economy. This is despite the continued
effort made by many of South Africa’s
leading industrial participants to reduce
the impact of their operations on the
environment.
Cargo Carriers, a provider of
transportation solutions to South Africa’s
mining, agricultural, chemicals, construction
and steel sectors, continues investing in
8
OCTOBER 2019
information technology to improve the
monitoring of and efficient use of fuel, the
industry’s single largest input and biggest
contributor towards the release of carbon
emissions.
Driver training programmes have also
ensured the optimal operation of the
company’s large fleet of trucks. These
initiatives are complemented by robust
fleet maintenance and replacement
strategies, with preference given to
the procurement of sophisticated truck
technologies that incorporate clean engine
technologies. Moreover, the company
monitors the use of water and electrical
energy to inform measures implemented to
further reduce the footprint of its extensive
transportation operations.
The carbon tax, which was enshrined into
law in May 2019, is the culmination of an
eight-year process that commenced with
the publication of the carbon tax discussion
paper. This was followed by the carbon
tax policy paper in 2013; the carbon offset
paper in 2014; the carbon tax bill in 2015;
and the draft regulation on carbon offsets a
year later.
The first phase of the tax commenced
on 1 June and will end in December 2022,
and the tax rate is R120 per tonne of
carbon dioxide equivalent. Transport has
been classified under the ‘other’ section in
the carbon tax policy paper as an industry
that also emits GHGs, the lion’s share of
which is CO 2 , followed by small traces of
methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O)
www.equipmentandhire.co.za