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Mechanical Technology — November 2015
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Materials handling and minerals processing
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n conjunction with a longer machine life
and reduced cost of ownership, the new
feeder breaker is aimed, primarily, at opti-
mising bord and pillar mining operations.
“In essence, it will assist the underground
mining sector increase and streamline produc-
tivity while reducing operational costs,” says
PC Kruger, capital sales manager responsible
for the Buffalo product line at FLSmidth in
South Africa. The manufacturing facility for
Buffalo feeder breakers is situated in eM-
alahleni, the heart of South Africa’s coal fields.
“The new Buffalo high capacity feeder
breaker was designed in partnership with vari-
ous customers following an intensive analysis
of underground mining operations and their
key performance indicators,” Kruger says.
“After four months of intensive detailed design
and testing, we commissioned and officially
launched the first prototype in May 2015.”
In parallel with this, product optimisation
has been completely rolled out across the
FLSmidth underground feeder breaker product
line. Efficiency enhancement forms part of
FLSmidth’s global strategy.
The months following the launch have
already revealed the new product’s suc-
cess. Between June and September 2015,
FLSmidth successfully delivered seven Buffalo
high capacity feeder breakers to various mines
around the Witbank coal fields. “Our custom-
ers are satisfied the equipment meets and
exceeds operational and safety requirements,”
Kruger states.
Subsequently, FLSmidth is negotiating
with various customers to supply and deliver
another six units before the end of December
2015. “We are looking forward to building on
this success throughout 2016.”
Kruger explains that Buffalo feeders have
always been recognised for their ability to op-
erate within the harshest South African mining
environments and have become synonymous
Buffalo high-capacity feeder breakers
FLSmidth has launched a new Buffalo high capacity feeder breaker product range, aimed, primarily, at
optimising bord and pillar mining operations.
In response to low commodity prices and a worldwide need for improvement
in operational efficiencies within the mining sector, FLSmidth has launched
a new Buffalo™ high capacity feeder breaker product range.
with reliability and performance. The com-
pany started out as a small, privately owned
product business in 1975 called McCarthy
Mine Machinery. Through various acquisi-
tions, Buffalo became part of Denmark-based
FLSmidth in 1999.
“With the latest design technology at our
disposal and through FLSmidth expertise, the
company adopted a weight-optimised modu-
lar design for its new range of Buffalo feeder
breakers – without sacrificing health, safety
or quality. This philosophy not only achieves a
safer manufacturing environment but also de-
creases delivery lead times,” Kruger outlines.
By utilising variable speed technology and
on-board PLC control, a 20 tonne shuttle
car can be offloaded in just 40 seconds.
Spillage at transfer points is also minimised
thanks to the mainframe’s design, which is
fit-for-purpose for several different shuttle
car suppliers.
Kruger notes that fire suppression systems
can be incorporated and fitted at a customer’s
request. The feeder breaker can also be con-
verted or upgraded into a feeder breaker/sizer
combination if an in-section sizing solution
is required.
“The FLSmidth team involved in this lat-
est Buffalo innovation is very excited about
the new product line and believes this is
the beginning of a new era for the brand.
With a wide range of products being built
at our facility in eMalahleni and continuous
design improvements, in combination with
other FLSmidth products, we are able to
assist customers in increasing the lifetime of
equipment, and deliver on our ‘One Source’
business philosophy,” Kruger adds.
“We aim to further penetrate the global
market by utilising the FLSmidth global foot-
print and the favourable exchange rates in the
current depressed economic environment,” he
concludes.
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