Modern Mining September 2017

PRODUCT News

Coal mining customer opts for Sykes dewatering pumps

Integrated Pump Rental reports that one of its surface coal mining customers recently purchased eight Sykes CP 150 self-priming, diesel-driven pumps from the company. Lee Vine, MD of Integrated Pump Rental, says that most significantly the order was placed following a short-term

rental solution provided to the mine dur- ing the rainy season. “Dewatering remains a critical activity in opencast mining operations and we were able to assist this customer at short notice over a weekend,” Vine says. Within hours of having received the request for assistance, Integrated Pump Rental had supplied and installed eight-diesel driven pumps with 2 000 metres of lay-flat hose. Integrated Pump Rental focuses on pro- viding fit-for-purpose dewatering solutions to industry and Vine stresses that it is not just about moving pumps into the market. “The Sykes pumps, which were hired out to the mine, were selected because we knew these units would be able to deal with the volume of water that needed to be transferred, and we were confident that the pumps would offer the The patented components of the Latchways PRD fit neatly into the back- pack, allowing workers to carry out their daily tasks unhindered. Indeed, the back- pack becomes part of the daily Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for those working at height. “There is a legal obligation to have a comprehensive rescue plan in place when individuals are working at height,” Abry stresses. In the event of a fall, the MSA Latchways PRD suspends the worker, who “We choose our materials for construc- tion based on customer requirements and budget. For instance, we can offer SAF2205 wetted parts with a mild steel pedestal and 304SS actuator. The combinations are endless and we are here to ensure that our customers are suppliedwith the combination that meets their requirements completely. “We believe we offer the best solutions available, whether it’s corrosion or abrasive, or a combination of both. We can also cater for high temperature applications, as well as supply the valves with our in-house pneu- matic actuators to suit the application with

reliability required,”Vine says. The Sykes CP 150 self-priming diesel- driven pump offers a maximum head of 60 m with a flow rate of 172 litres per sec- ond. It is also capable of handling solids with a particle size of up to 77 mm. “To put this dewatering capacity into perspective, one pump would be capable of draining the London 2012 Olympic Swimming Pool in just four hours,”Vine says. The eight pumps are trailer-mounted for ease of movement, and offer the mine the versatility of being able to move the units to where they are needed on the mine site. The Sykes pumps feature cleverly designed automatic priming capabilities based on a Venturi system that can deliver suction lifts of up to 9 m. Lee Vine, Integrated Pump Rental, tel (+27 72) 627-6350 is then lowered to the ground gently in a controlled descent. The device features a 20-m spool of Aramid rope, released at a controlled rate via an integral braking mechanism. The innovative design of the MSA Latchways PRD only uses quality components and a limited number of moving parts so as to guarantee 100 % mechanical integrity. The MSA Latchways PRD requires no specialist training, as it is simply worn in conjunction with a standard full-body harness, and is activated by simply pull- ing the release cord. Its user-friendliness is enhanced by the fact that pre-use checks are minimal. “Periodic inspection is required at least annually, or more frequently, to comply with corporate PPE inspection schedules,” says Abry. The descent device, harness, and backpack should be checked for any signs of damage, corrosion, or chemical attack. The Latchways PRD range from MSA Africa includes a Workman Premier and Workman Utility full-body harness. A rescue pole is also available, which can be used by a third party to activate the Latchways PRD in the event of a worker at height being incapacitated. The res- cue pole is 800 mm when retracted and 3 400 mm when extended. MSA Africa, tel (+27 11) 610-2600

Integrated Pump Rental reports that one of its surface coal mining customers recently purchased eight Sykes CP 150 pumps from the company.

MSA Africa introduces integrated harness system MEAIR, MSA Middle East FZE.

Any safety-related incidents when working at height often necessitate self-rescue as the front-line or most rapid-response tactic. To meet this need, MSA Africa is introduc- ing its Latchways Personal Rescue Device (PRD), an integrated harness system. This lightweight, unobtrusive rescue device is contained in a small backpack attached to a full-body harness. It has been designed to be used in conjunction with a fall protection system or anchor point, notes Nicolas Abry, Business Development Manager, Fall Protection,

Afrivalve expands C-Tech knife gate valve range Afrivalve, the sales division of specialist valve manufacturer eDART Slurry Valves based in Johannesburg, recently delivered DN800 C-Tech valves to a customer in Africa for use on a mineral processing plant.

Due to the recent expansion in factory facilities, Afrivalve now manufactures up to DN800 as a standard with larger sizes upon request. “Being a local manufacturer gives us the flexibility to give customers exactly what they need,” says Group Marketing Manager Greg Hopton. “With mining and heavy industrial applications having their own complex challenges, we are able to tailor- make the valves accordingly.

fail safe packages where needed.” Gregor Hopton, Afrivalve, tel (+27 11) 791-1411

46  MODERN MINING  September 2017