Steel Construction Vol 40 No 3 - Mining, Industrial, Import/ Export | Page 32

INDUSTRY NEWS: in brief

Industry news in brief
Customised welding cost
calculator, an Air Products
innovation
In today’s current economic climate,
the trend is for large manufacturing
organisations is to consolidate work areas,
which makes for more economical gas
usage. However, it is sometimes a challenge
to forecast gas volumes and to calculate the
most cost-effective long-term usage. To this
end, Air Products’ Welding Specialist, Sean
Young makes use of a customised welding
cost calculator, an Air Products innovation,
which assists the customer in making the
planning process.
Young spends much of his time advising
customers on how their choice of gas mix
can have a profound impact not only on
the weld quality, but on long-term costeffectiveness.

“As an active gas, carbon dioxide used to
be the gas of choice – and while it can
be effective for a faster and deeper weld,
because it is quick freezing, it tends to
cause spatter. Using a mixture of active
and inert gases, such as our Magmix 3 can
reduce post-weld activity – leading to a
better weld for the long-term.”
Choosing a gas mix depends entirely on
the type and thickness of the metal to be
welded. Air Products supplies argon for TIG
(tungsten inert gas) welding of aluminium,
copper, mild steel and stainless steel, and an
argon mix for thicker aluminium or copper.
“At Air Products we are passionate about
providing a service which goes far beyond
supply of product. We provide a close
analysis of specific requirements and
match those with recommendations on the
correct welding procedure, shielding gases
and filler material.”

“Sometimes it can take a bit of convincing
that the cheapest option is not always the
most cost-effective. But for a customer
who is looking to make sensible long-term
decisions, choosing the best gas mix for
a specific procedure can save money and
increase efficiencies in the long run,” says
Young.

Most exciting opportunities
now l ie in deep-level mining

BELOW LEFT: Air Products’ welding specialist –
Sean Young.

“Our drive towards digital mining
solutions brings focus not only to capital
optimisation, but also towards improving
operating costs. Our mining and minerals
processing expertise, together with our
operational performance expertise, allows
us to add value to clients’ bottom line by
concentrating on the business lifecycle,”
Seyfried elaborates.

FAR RIGHT: Hatch is developing technology for the
mine of the future.
BELOW CENTRE: The main shaft at Impumelelo.
Hatch focuses on leaner mining solutions to cut
costs.
BELOW RIGHT: Kevin Seyfried from Hatch.

30 Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 3 2016

A blend of people from different
generations, together with a wealth of
experience and new ways of thinking,
allows Hatch to tap into leaner mining
solutions for the mine of the future, asserts
Kevin Seyfried, director mining AEM,
associate at Hatch.

Depending on the specific client
requirements, Hatch focuses on safe and
speedy ramp-up, reliable equipment and
achieving a stable operational state, in
addition to operational improvement and
value generation.
“We do work ranging from large capital
projects to operational improvements. We
have designed underground deep-level
mines for some of the most challenging ore
bodies in the industry. Our experience in
the deep-level mining, dewatering, hoisting
and refrigeration spheres, and other typical
underground solutions, have allowed us to
become an industry leader in these areas,”
Seyfried points out.
“Some of our most exciting opportunities
now lie in the deep-level mining space,”
Seyfried highlights. As the environment
gets less safe and less conducive for people
to work in, innovative solutions have to be
developed, especially, but not limited to,
narrow tabular ore bodies.