Mechanical Technology

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40 Mechanical Technology — April 2016
⎪ Nota bene ⎪
Index to advertisers
Axiom Hydraulics..............................14
Bearings International........................36
BMG.......................................OFC,OBC
Bonfiglioli...........................................2
Bruton Spiralflite...............................13
Crown Publications...........................IBC
Hytec Holdings .................................11
Ingersoll Rand...................................26
SASSDA...........................................30
SEW Eurodrive..................................16
SMC Pneumatics...............................24
Tega Industries..................................33
Voith Mining & Metals........................15
Weir Minerals....................................10
World Power Products........................ 19
Industry diary
May 2016
Pump Guy: Larry Bachus
9-12 May, Johannesburg
16-19 May, Secunda
2KG Training
Phindi Mbedzi
Copperbelt Mining Trade Expo &
Conference 2016
12-13 May
Kitwe Showgrounds, Zambia
African Utility Week 2016
17-19 May
Cape Town, South Africa
+27 21 700 3500
Known for its use of best-in-class
technology, Murray & Roberts
Cementation has added 3D print-
ing technology to its capability portfolio
and believes that this will add greater
functionality during project design stages.
Allan Widlake, business develop-
ment executive at Murray & Roberts
Cementation, says the use of 3D print-
ing technology allows engineers to take
designs from CAD or other modelling
software and convert it into physical 3D
models. “The primary advantage is that
the physical model and the virtual model
are almost identical and the ergonomics
of the structure can be visually checked
to ensure functionality.”
It is significant that the first model pro-
duced by Murray & Roberts Cementation
is of the Ivanplats’ Platreef Shaft 2 head-
frame. The 1:260 scale model is an ac-
curate physical rendering of the headgear.
It was printed using ceramic as opposed
to plastics for aesthetic purposes and this
took just 17 hours.
“3D printing of structures allows for
the assessing of the constructability of
the design and we believe that this could
become a vital tool as it gives a far more
realistic perspective. In the case of the
headgear we were also able to confirm
that there is sufficient space to access
all components of the headgear from
a servicing perspective,” Widlake says.
3D printing, also called additive
manufacturing, is the process of creating
three-dimensional objects from a digital
model. Advances in 3D printing technol-
ogy have seen it become more affordable,
allowing reasonably priced models to be
produced and, from a planning perspec-
tive, this means that engineers can use
these 3D printed models to discuss with
crews exactly how the construction will
be done. This provides a much more
tangible idea of the construction required.
Murray & Roberts Cementation was
responsible for the design of Ivanplats’
mechanised, high tonnage Platreef Shaft
2 headframe. It will be the main produc-
tion shaft, capable of hoisting 6.0 Mtpa
of ore and transporting large mechanised
equipment between the surface and
underground.
By comparison with most steel frame
PGM headgear in South Africa, it will
be a considerable concrete structure –
100.5 m in height with a lined shaft
10 m in diameter. The headframe will
house all the equipment necessary for
operating the shaft, thereby reducing
the surface footprint. During sinking,
maximum use of permanent infrastruc-
ture was achieved in order to minimise
the changeover delay from sinking to
permanent conditions.
Shaft 2 will be 1 080 m deep and
will feature two high mass, high speed
40 t skips running at 18 m/s. It will also
be capable of conveying 40 t of material
or 225 people in a single deck using a
cage and counter weight arrangement. q
Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba
To be held at the Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC) in Sandton from 26 to 27
May 2016, the 2nd annual Southern African
Metals and Engineering Indaba will be of-
ficially opened by former deputy president
Kgalema Motlanthe.
The IDC’s Divisional Executive of
Corporate Affairs, Zama Luthuli, says: “The
Indaba provides an occasion for industry
players and Government to engage and
come up with solutions to address issues
impacting the sector.”
SEIFSA chief executive officer, Kaizer
Nyatsumba, says the Federation was de-
lighted to welcome the IDC on board “as a
strategic partner for the 2016 Metals and
Engineering Indaba”.
Some of the issues to be discussed during
the Indaba include: Moving forward or going
back: Is manufacturing in southern Africa do-
ing better than It did a year ago? Government
policy Interventions for a sustainable, glob-
ally competitive steel sector; Transformation
as a strategic weapon/business enabler in
Southern Africa; Partners, not adversaries:
how to forge a stronger partnership between
business and labour to improve southern
Africa’s international Competitiveness; and
several more.
For more information contact SIEFSA
communications manager, Ollie Madlala.
Mine developer adopts 3D printing technology
Printed using a ceramic material, the first 3D printed
model produced by Murray & Roberts Cementation is of
Ivanplats’ Platreef Shaft 2 headframe.