21 / 44
Mechanical Technology — February 2015
19
⎪
Materials handling and minerals processing
⎪
A line drawing of the current GS7
three-axle locomotive.
Leone, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The com-
pany’s selection of a customised Cat C18 engine
as standard in the Genset Locomotive was based
not only on the proven Caterpillar technology
but also on the ability of Barloworld Power, the
southern African dealer for Cat power systems,
to support it.
A joint solution
Barloworld Power’s relationship with Grindrod
Locomotives began some three years ago when
two stationary Cat generator sets were ordered
from Barloworld as part of a pilot project to drive
a 60 ton shunting locomotive. A joint initiative
between Grindrod, Barloworld Power and Cat-
erpillar led to a subsequent decision to change
to the head end power (HEP) engine that was
ultimately better suited to this application.
“The Cat C18 HEP engine is designed to
power the locomotive completely and no ad-
ditional generator sets are required, thus saving
space and cost,” explains Venash Raghunanan,
industrial sales manager at Barloworld Power
in Boksburg.
“The Cat C18 is a six cylinder inline engine
delivering 525 kW (703 HP) at 1 500 rpm. For
many years Caterpillar has been designing rail
powering engines which have proved successful
in a wide variety of conditions and applications
around the world, ” he points out, adding that
Cat engines traditionally perform well in this type
of rugged, continuous operation.
The collaborative project to find the perfect
power solution resulted in some minor changes
to the Cat C18 to suit Grindrod’s needs and
the company placed an order for six engines
with Barloworld Power. All models of Grindrod’s
Genset Locomotive will be offered standard with
the Cat engine supplied by Barloworld Power in
the future.
Raghunanan adds that while Barloworld
Power works with other OEMs in the rail sector,
powering up new locomotives and providing
replacement engines, the collaboration with
Grindrod has provided an excellent opportunity
to showcase the capabilities of this purpose-
designed and built Cat engine.
“We look forward to partnering with Grindrod
and its customers in ensuring that the locomo-
tives have long and productive lives. Our parts
availability, condition monitoring and fluid
analysis services, engine rebuild capabilities
and strong after sales team throughout southern
Africa will be critical for providing after sales
support wherever it is needed.”
“We believe the opportunities for movement
of commodities by rail, both within mining opera-
tions and to ports and beneficiation plants, will
form a significant and exciting part of Barloworld
Power’s future together with Caterpillar in south-
ern Africa.”
q