Capital Equipment News July 2019

COVER STORY

On the floor The first Trio ® screen to be manufactured locally is the TIO6162. The 3,5-t double- deck screen will be deployed at a hard limestone crushing plant in the UAE. The machine’s screen body is designed to eliminate stress fatigue. Side plates are made of hot rolled steel; plasma cut and have CNC punched holes with stiffener plates around the vibrating mechanism. One piece cambered deck frames are fabricated steel, stress relieved and huck bolted to the side plates. The second machine on the floor when we visited the assembly facility was the Enduron ® DHG27/64, weighing 14 t, and measuring 2,7 m high by 6,4 m wide. The machine is engineered to order, and will be deployed in a chrome application. “In terms of application, we went through a rigorous process of design and engineering with the client to make sure that the machine meets the exact specification,” says Masekwameng. The machine has a 95% efficiency with a linear motion. Quality and safety In manufacturing, quality control is a process that ensures customers receive products free of defects and which meet their needs. Weir Minerals Africa employs stringent quality control processes – from materials to manufacturing, assembly and final testing. In terms of quality, the Weir Minerals Africa facility is ISO 9001:2015 accredited. The ISO 9001:2015 certification reiterates that the primary focus of an organisation’s quality management programme is to meet customer requirements, and exceed expectations in terms of the quality of products and services. The standard expects organisations to understand their objectives before establishing a quality management system. This, in turn, requires companies to take a fresh look at their current quality processes. External and internal issues that affect quality are considered with end goals defined towards achieving consistent customer satisfaction. This is central to Weir Minerals’ operating philosophy. “These accreditations are not easy to attain. They are a true measure of our commitment to product quality. We always make sure that every product delivered to the customer is of the highest quality,” says Masekwameng. Safety is also a very important parameter at the facility. The Weir Minerals’ facility is OHSA 18001 accredited, which is a strong

Weir Minerals Africa now manufactures Trio ® screens at its Alrode facility.

The provision of labour to support expanded manufacturing activities was required, which feeds directly into the company’s local employment creation drive.

Weir Minerals Africa employs stringent quality control processes – from materials to manufacturing, assembly and final testing.

sign of the company’s commitment to its employees’ health and safety. OHSAS 18001 certification enables the company to manage operational health and safety risks and improve performance. In 2018, Weir Minerals Africa achieved a TIR (Total Injury Frequency Rate) of 0,12 – far below the targeted 0,5. TIR is a

calculation used in industry which takes into account the number of lost time and medical treatment injuries measured against the total hours worked on a monthly basis. “Weir Minerals Africa has a safety-first culture that is demonstrated by these closely monitored statistics,” concludes Masekwameng. b

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