Capital Equipment News December 2020

MINING NEWS

SKF Zambia increases equipment availability for Zambian mine

Non-destructive testing (NDT) undertaken by SKF Zambia on more than 90 mobile mining machines, and equipment operating on one of Zambia’s largest copper mines delivered massive savings for the customer over a six-month period. The mine, which is located in Zambia’s North-Western Province, is a key long-term customer of SKF Zambia. “We share a solid 15+ year relationship with our customer, sup- plying the mine with SKF bearings and seals as well as Lincoln Lubrication solutions over the years,” confirms key accounts manager at SKF Zambia, Mel Patel. Internal cracks on mobile machines are a chronic issue on the mine where heavy equipment operates round-the-clock. NDT works are thus fundamental to the mine’s predictive maintenance strategy planning. In addition to averting unnecessary downtime, huge parts procurement costs can be avoided through better planning around stocking of larger parts with longer lead times. The SKF Zambia’s specialist team conducts NDT works on 90 machines on the copper

mine every six months, completing two to five units per day. These include the mine’s most critical machines such as articulated dump trucks (ADTs), mine haul trucks, drill rigs, rock breakers and excavators that operate 24/7 as well as equipment including excavator buckets and booms. Additional inspections are also carried out on other components on the mine as required by the end-user. “Our NDT scope of work is comprehensive comprising aspects such as inspection of welds, castings, forgings, components, plates and rolled product piping; coating inspection covering all aspects of surface finishing; min- ing truck frame inspection; holiday testing, and Corrosion Under Insulation Detection using Lixi Profiler,” notes Patel. SKF Zambia’s NDT solution, which was rolled out in June 2020, included traditional and advanced techniques. Ultrasonic Testing, Magnetic Particle Penetrant Testing, Eddy Current Testing and painting and coating in- spection are some of the traditional methods applied by SKF Zambia. Some results following testing work

SKF Zambia team conducts NDT works on 90 machines on the copper mine every six months.

included the identification of frame cracks on various dump trucks and excavators. “We filed a report for repairs and, following the necessary repairs, we conducted a second inspection to ensure that all was in order,” says Patel. “By pinpointing issues and enabling the necessary repairs to be done before catastrophic failures, we delivered tremendous cost and time savings benefits to our customer.”. b integrity checking); inspection services; asset integrity management; and hydraulic services, which include oil condition monitoring, filtra- tion, varnish treatment, water removal and cargo pump refurbishment. “Ocean Atlantic representatives experienced our world class repair capabilities first-hand when they at- tended the Hytec customer open day in 2019. We have therefore agreed that all pumps and motors sent to Ocean Atlantic will be redi- rected to the Service Centre of Competence Hytec Repair Centre,” Viljoen explains. In considering Ocean Atlantic as a Hytec Sales and Distribution Partner, various aspects were taken into consideration. Among them are Ocean Atlantic’s technical expertise and years’ experience in the oil & gas industry; their in-country high quality workshop availability with the potential to conduct minor repairs (including stripping and assessing for repair); and their hose and fittings manufacture and supply capabilities. “In addition to these positive product and service attributes, the company afforded us the opportunity to jointly visit their customers and conduct a due diligence of their in-country capabilities,” Viljoen points out. “All of these, and their ongoing positive interaction with Hytec, contributed to us finding in their favour.” Ocean Atlantic has been awarded Hytec distribution rights for one year, ending in Au- gust 2021, after which a new contract may be negotiated. Hytec South Africa is a member company of the Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group of Companies. b

Hytec appoints new distributor in Angola

The Ocean Atlantic team in Angola.

tension leg platforms; fixed structure produc- tion platforms; drill ships; and jack-up rigs. “This is an exciting new focus area of busi- ness for Hytec, and Ocean Atlantic has the required skills and experience to successfully represent us in this industry,” says Petrus Viljoen, African development manager, Hytec Services Africa (HSA). “We at Ocean Atlantic are excited to now also have the support, product and service portfolio of Hytec as part of our growing Hydraulics business, and look forward to providing our existing and new clients with an expanded set of world class products and services,” adds Petter Eriksen, director of business development for Ocean Atlantic. Ocean Atlantic specialises in workshop services (choke valve refurbishment and

Ocean Atlantic in Luanda has been appointed the Hytec Services Africa (HSA) distributor for Angola, effective 1 August 2020, and will distribute Bosch Rexroth SA Group’s entire scope of products, services and technologies. In addition to increasing Hytec’s distribution capabilities in Angola, Ocean Atlantic brings the advantage of providing products and services to industries and applications not previously serviced by Hytec. Angolan industries that will benefit from Hytec’s products and services include mining, general industry and oil & gas, with the latter offering new opportunities for Hytec’s products and services. Some of these include providing its offering to floating platform storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels;

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