Mechanical Technology February 2015

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Mechanical Technology — February 2015 7
⎪ Industry forum ⎪
In brief
Lloyd’s Register Energy has launched a new
risk-based Technology Qualification Guidance
Note. “Our new Technology Guidance Note
represents a recommended practice with a goal-
based approach to risk that can be applied to any
technology, from unconventional LNG offloading
arrangements through to subsea processing, and
even new wind and wave technology,” said John
Yates, Lloyd’s Register’s technical manager for
compliance operations.
FLSmidth is building on its 100 years of suc-
cessful business in the African region with the
announcement of a new equity structure. The
structure will result in a Broad Based Black Eco-
nomic Empowerment (BBBEE) ownership status
for its South African operations, in accordance
with the requirements for multinational suppliers
to the mining industry as stipulated in the South
African Mining Charter.
JCB , currently celebrating 10 years of engine
manufacturing, has won one of the biggest
engine supply deals in its history after securing
an annual contract worth around £4.5 million.
The milestone agreement will see the company
supply Terex GB Ltd with engines to power site
dumpers made at the firm’s Coventry plant. The
engines, made by JCB Power Systems in Der-
byshire, will be Tier 4-compliant Ecomax 55 kW
versions for use in the TA6 and TA6S dumpers.
Weba Chute Systems’ MD Mark Baller suggests
that there is a need to challenge conventional
thinking around chute systems and transfer
points, especially during the design stage. “The
expertise of chute manufacturers is essential
during the design stages of a project to eliminate
potential flow and maintenance problems at a
later stage,” he says.
Metso continues to expand its range of high ca-
pacity crushers by launching Nordberg GP7, its
largest Nordberg GP secondary gyratory crusher
to date. The new 58-ton crusher features the
most ideal combination of feed opening, cavity
design and capacity available on the market.
This ensures high crushing performance with
even the hardest feed and helps maintain op-
erational costs low. In addition, the crusher is
safe to operate and maintain.
All-electric CNC tube bending machines from
Unison have helped the specialist tube ma-
nipulation company Toolspec Manufacturing to
implement a flexible right-first-time manufac-
turing strategy, enhance production capability
and win a major export order worth £500 000.
Tshwane-based Rand Technical Service’s
(RTS), recently supplied spin filters to JB Switch-
gear Solutions for the variable speed drive (VSD)
panels the company has installed for a mining
project in the Northern Cape. These spin filters
are purpose-designed to accommodate a variety
of applications, and offer an extremely efficient
answer to the problem of heat and dust build-up,
according to Ian Fraser, MD of RTS.
During 2012, at the request of the Ward
10 Councillor and the deputy mayor of
the Ulundi Local Municipality, Robor
put in place the plans to erect a com-
munity hall for the community of Goqo
Residence.
The project started with the Buthelezi
Traditional Council making the land avail-
able. Robor had the land cleared and
erected a steel structure during 2013.
Once the steel structure had been erected
it became clear that the structure alone
would not be usable by the community
nor service the community’s full needs.
Robor then decided to build a complete
building around the structure and also
ensured that essential services were also
provided to the community.
Robor contracted Gonal Construction
to build the hall during 2014, with con-
Engen automates staff attendance with biometrics
Local biometrics solutions provider
Ideco has partnered with PayDay
Software Systems to implement an
automated time and attendance solu-
tion at Engen Ermelo.
Ideco supplied a MorphoAccess
MA500+ fingerprint reader, a high-
performance state-of-the-art fin-
gerprint identification terminal for
physical access control and time and
attendance, along with an MSO300
enrolment device.
Engen Ermelo previously calculated
attendance, salaries and wages on
paper sign-in sheets and then entered
them into their PayDay Payroll system.
Andrew Duggan, PayDay business
manager: Time and Attendance says
PayDay’s software helps businesses
like Engen manage their workforce and
track employees in an easier, more ef-
ficient and affordable way. “Companies
of all sizes and all industries are
increasingly implementing automated
time and attendance systems that
incorporate biometric time clocks.”
Says Ideco MD, Marius Coetzee:
“The device connects to the database
via LAN and the service collects the
in and out clocks at set intervals.
Employee shift rules are all setup with-
in the Payday Time and Attendance
software and the reports are generated
from the client’s computer. The MA
500+ series offers value-added retail-
ers and access control manufacturers
a reliable, powerful and scalable solu-
tion,” he adds.
Screening and vibrating equipment solu-
tions supplier Aury Africa has recorded an
impressive 20 % growth in 2014, while
meeting its R50-million turnover target.
Aury Africa managing director Mark
Houchin attributes this success to the
company’s proactive approach to doing
business in challenging market conditions.
“A major contributor to this success was
the establishment of our new 5 000 m2
manufacturing facility in Johannesburg.”
The company also invested R1-million
in two new looms, which has enabled
the company to manufacture locally,
while dramatically improving turnaround
times. “By streamlining operational ef-
Robor erects community hall for Goqo residence
tributions also being made by Kansai
Plascon, PPC, Jo-Jo Tanks and the
Ulundi Municipality. The official hando-
ver of the building to the commu-
nity by Minister Buthelezi took place on
December 10, 2014.
Robor has invested in a number of
socio-economic projects over the past
years, mostly in education through bur-
saries and sponsoring schools within the
company’s areas of operation.
Proactive approach overcomes challenging conditions
ficiency, we have maintained the trust
of existing clients, while attracting new
clients too. This is clearly evident in our
continued growth throughout the year,”
he continues.
Aury Africa has set similar growth
targets for 2015, despite volatility in
the local market. “The global market is
currently struggling due to severe con-
straints on commodity prices, and this is
certainly reflective on a local level. Our
value-added and personalised service
offering, together with quality products,
play a key role in sustaining these targets
for the foreseeable future,” says Houchin.