Modern Mining December 2016

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COVER STORY
16 MODERN MININGDecember 2016
The spate of orders is welcome
news for TAKRAF Africa, which
last year – like many other compa-
nies in the industry – had to ‘right
size’ aspects of its operations in
order to cope with the effects of the resources
downturn. Says Späth: “We emerged from this
exercise as a leaner, much more focused busi-
ness and we’re now reaping the rewards.”
The two most significant orders to be
secured are for a dual rotary wagon tippler for
the iron ore export market and a truck loading
facility, including associated conveyors, for a
new power station, both projects being in South
Africa. “These contracts were won in the face
of very stiff competition based on the quality
of our systems, our track record and, of course,
our competitiveness,” says Späth. He adds that
the systems being supplied under the new con-
tracts will have a high degree of local content
(although the tippler will be manufactured in
China).
The tippler will have a capacity of 8 000 t/h,
which offers unloading rates in excess of 100
wagons per hour. It will be supplied complete
with a positioner and ancillary equipment (hop-
pers, TAKRAF apron feeders and apron feeder
support platform), as well as a 98 m3/h reverse
pulse bag filter type dust extraction system.
The tippler is being supplied in conjunction
with TAKRAF in Germany, widely regarded
as a global leader in mining and bulk material
handling systems and equipment, including
conveyors, bucket-wheel excavators, stackers,
reclaimers and ship loaders and unloaders.
As evidence of TAKRAF’s capabili-
ties, Späth points to the fact that the group
was recently awarded the contract for the
10 000 t/h ore transportation system at
Codelco’s Chuquicamata underground mine in
Chile (see also page 41). TAKRAF’s innovative
belt conveyor system will overcome a number
of technical challenges including significant
elevation change from the underground mine
to the surface and will comprise a variety of
uphill tunnel conveyors that transport copper
ore from underground storage bins.
The conveyor system will be installed with
advanced gearless drive technology with the
uphill tunnel conveyors boasting the highest
drive power ever to be installed on a belt con-
veyor. In fact, total installed drive power for the
entire system will be around 55 MW.
“This is the type of industry-leading
Tenova TAKRAF Africa on a roll
Pictured here are (from
left) Paul Davies, General
Manager – Client Support
Services, and Richard
Späth, General Manager –
Engineered Technologies.
CAD drawing
of the innovative
semi-mobile Bradford breaker.
Tenova TAKRAF Africa, a leading supplier of advanced technologies, products and
engineering services to the mining and metals industries, is entering 2017 with
a very healthy order book after winning several major contracts
in recent months. Modern Mining recently spoke to two of
the company’s senior executives, Richard Späth, General
Manager – Engineered Technologies, and Paul Davies,
General Manager – Client Support Services, to learn more
about the new contracts and TAKRAF Africa’s strategy
moving forward.