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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
OCTOBER 2016
6
DCD Heavy Engineering is nearing
completion of a 380 t base for a Caterpillar
dragline excavator to work at a coal project
in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
At 18 m in diameter, and comprising 16
individual sections, the contract to manufac-
ture the base locally was awarded in April
2015.
“This substantial project has been carried
out with real team commitment, extensive
planning and regular engagement with the
customer and employees,” says Kenneth Kok,
project manager at DCD Heavy Engineering.
“High efficiencies of over 100% in boiler-
making and welding, and a low weld-
repair rate, confirm the capacity of local
manufacturing to tackle large, demanding
projects.”
Kok says the pre-planning, the pre-testing
of welders, and the overall project manage-
ment resulted in the contract being delivered
on time, with a very high safety standard
maintained throughout the manufacturing
process.
“The project’s success began with an ex-
pert think-tank on manufacturing method op-
tions, leading to an innovative approach be-
ing applied to the construction of the base,”
he says. “Mock-up test structures were built
to simulate the confined spaces that welders
and grinders would encounter in the work
environment and steel templates were sup-
plied to ensure that we conform to drawing
requirements.”
He highlights the importance of good com-
munication and effective training. In this
project, regular meetings were held to check
planning instructions before issuing to the
works, and workshops with welders, boil-
ermakers and grinders reinforced the exact
tolerances and specifications required. The
health of employees working in welding and
grinding areas was also monitored at regular
intervals.
b
DCD builds colossal base for
a Caterpillar dragline
Local contract miner Atlantis Mining
has expanded its Terex Trucks fleet with
the recent purchase of three TR60 rigid
dump trucks. The new acquisitions will
complement its existing fleet of 16 Terex
Trucks units, some of which have clocked
up over 25 000 working hours and are said
to be still performing well.
The new TR60s have been deployed at
the Vaalbult Colliery in Mpumalanga, South
Africa where they are being used primarily
for the removal of blasted rock and hard
overburden. The large size of the TR60’s
bins and the high payload make them ideally
suited for this application.
Mark Johnstone, managing director of
Atlantis Mining, says the company’s asso-
ciation with Terex Trucks dates back to the
mid-1980s when it bought its first Terex 2366
and 2566 dump trucks.
The good performance of the haulers,
coupled with Atlantis Mining’s longstanding
relationship with Babcock since 2000
when the company was appointed as sole
distributor for Volvo Construction Equipment
in southern Africa, has ensured that Atlantis
Mining continues to expand its fleet of
Terex Trucks. Babcock was later appointed
the official southern African distributor
of Terex Trucks in October 2015 following
the acquisition of Terex Trucks by Volvo
Construction Equipment in June 2014.
“Currently we have 16 TR60s in operation
and they are all going strong,” says John-
stone. The trucks each run two 9,5-hour shifts
in a 24-hour period, five days a week, while
on Saturdays they are deployed to work at
quarries for two eight-hour shifts.
“The TR60s have a comfortable cab
that helps reduce driver fatigue. This is
complemented by air-conditioning, radio
and all the modern features that assist with
operator comfort. In addition, Terex Trucks
keeps things simple so the trucks are easy to
maintain and can be repaired by a mechanic
rather than an expert electrician and a
laptop,” adds Johnstone.
He adds that the simplicity of the trucks
means that minor problems and breakdowns
can be dealt with in-house and without
the need for in-depth training. Meanwhile,
serious cases that may arise are addressed
quickly by a trained Babcock technician who
is readily available on site.
b
Mining contractor expands Terex Trucks fleet
MINING NEWS
Atlantis Mining has just purchased three
more Terex Trucks TR60 units.
In a strategic initiative to restructure
and optimise its manufacturing footprint,
Caterpillar has decided to place its soft rock
room and pillar underground equipment
production under review and will stop taking
orders for this equipment.
The original equipment manufacturer has
announced its intention to pursue strategic
alternatives, including possible divestiture of
its underground mining room and pillar prod-
ucts. Caterpillar is to also discontinue the
manufacture of track drills.
However, Cat remains committed to
underground mining, which it sees as an
attractive and growing long-term industry.
It is seeking to concentrate its underground
mining product portfolio on those areas with
the highest support requirements and greatest
future opportunities. Barloworld Equipment
(BWE), Cat dealer for southern Africa, has since
assured its southern African customers that it
is business as usual and that the company will
continue to offer full service and support for all
Cat products already in the field.
Emmy Leeka, BWE CEO Designate, says
Barloworld Equipment and Caterpillar remain
committed and will continue to support all its
customers. He adds that the southern African
operation will not be significantly affected by
the Caterpillar product review.
“The two mechanised mining methods
used for underground coal extraction in Africa
are Room and Pillar, and Longwall mining
methods. Barloworld Equipment has less
than 5%market share of the underground soft
rock room and pillar segment. Therefore, this
decision will not significantly affect existing
business plans. We remain committed to
supporting our customers and the existing
fleet in operation.”
Barloworld Equipment’s soft rock Longwall
market share in southern Africa stands at
50%. Leeka says the strategy is to continue
to support and grow this segment. He adds
that Barloworld Equipment will be looking
at alternative competitive products to com-
plement the extensive drill and underground
range provided by Caterpillar.
b
Barloworld continues full support of Cat products under review
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At 18 m in diameter the dragline base
comprises 16 individual sections.