Modern Mining August 2016

PRODUCT News

Fast-track solution for fast-track projects terparts and they are assembled off-site in factory-controlled conditions.

tions. “All our containerised housings are built from scratch. We install all the nec- essary fittings and claddings, based on individual customer requirements,” says van Niekerk. This approach is in line with Shaw Controls’ strategy of keeping manufactur- ing in-house to reduce costs and maintain close control over quality. The company says that the strategy is working consider- ing that its order book for all its solutions, including its leading range of MCCs, is five times the size it was a year ago. A sizeable share of this comprises orders from blue-chip mining houses and international engineering companies involved in brownfields and greenfields mining projects in Africa. Van Niekerk says the company’s close affiliation to the min- ing industry means that it has to comply with the highest standards in the design and manufacture of MCCs and panels. This includes all quality and safety standards adhered to by Australian engi- neering firms, who are dominant players in the African mining industry. These are more stringent than those followed in South Africa, and this compliance has given Shaw Controls a competitive edge when tendering for projects across the country’s borders. This is complemented by Shaw Controls’ IEC 61439 certification which proves the integrity of its panels. As van Niekerk points out, these stringent tests require a high capital outlay and, for this reason, only a few South African companies have been certified. “We have subjected our products to all these tests, and re-verified the out- come of the tests in 2014. This is one of the reasons why we are so busy,” he says. Shaw Controls, tel (+27 11) 434-8100

The fast-track nature of many large indus- trial and mining projects on the continent has seen an increase in the demand for containerised housing for Motor Control Centres (MCCs). These stations are quicker to establish on site than their brick-and-mortar coun-

specialist manufacturer Protal. The design, stitching and make-up, however, are under- taken locally providing a local solution. The first samples were produced in January 2016, subsequent to thorough testing by the Aitex Laboratory in Spain. This product is available as a one or two- piece overall. Surgetek stocks and distributes accompanying electrical protection clothing such as the 8 cal/cm² arc-rated double layer Nomex balaclavas; 18 cal/cm² arc-rated face shields and helmets; 32,8 cal/cm² arc-rated Dehn gauntlet gloves; and water and heat and electric shock-resistant safety boots. Sikhumbuzo Ngwenya, Surgetek, tel (+27 11) 792-1303/4/5 There is no limit to the size of the MCC stations, with containers connected side by side or stacked on top of each other to provide the necessary space. Being a modular solution, individual containers are easily transported to the project site and then erected. Shaw Controls’Chief Commercial Officer, Johan van Niekerk, notes that the company has supplied these solutions tomany project sites including Eskom’s Medupi Power Station project and the associated Exxaro Grootegeluk expansion programme. A division of Zest WEG Manufac­ turing, Shaw Controls manufactures the containers at its 12 000 m 2 manufacturing hub in Robertsham, Gauteng, to customers’ specifica-

View of the Shaw Controls MCC and panel manufactur- ing facility.

Industry-first for underground arc flash protection Surgetek, a specialist in lightning and surge protection, electrical safety, and test and measurement equipment, has launched what it says is an industry-first, high visibil- ity, 15 cal/cm² arc-rated low voltage overall, the highest cal-rated low voltage overall in the industry. Its high-visibility is attributable to its unique bright yellow colour which was developed for mines whose personnel become difficult to identify when wearing the conventional dark blue 12,4 cal/cm² rated low voltage overall in dimly lit under- ground environments.

The lightweight, brightly coloured arc-rated material was sourced from PPE

Index to advertisers Afrimat Management Services 72 ALCO-Safe 18 Allied Crane Hire 9 Aury Africa 53 B&E International 48 Babcock IBC Barloworld Equipment OFC Belaz Africa 11 Bell Equipment 66 Beowolf Mining 13 Booyco Electronics 7 Brelko Conveyor Products 75 DRA Projects 26-27 FLSmidth OBC

Sandvik Mining

60

Franklin Electric Hytec Holdings

59 63 70 34 14 73 54 64 56 24 52

Scania

2

Johnson Crane Hire Joy Global Africa

SEW

37-40

Simantel – Caterpillar

22 62 50 41 65 71 68 15 19 17

Maelgwyn Mineral Services Africa

Tenova TAKRAF/Tenova Delkor

Marthinusen & Coutts

ThyssenKrupp

Metso Minerals

Transcor Truck Hire

MMD Mineral Sizing Africa

Wearcheck

MSA

Weba Chute Systems

Multotec Group

Weir Minerals Winder Controls

Novatek

PANalytical Powermite SA French

IFC

Wirtgen

67

5

WorleyParsons

76  MODERN MINING  August 2016