Capital Equipment News June 2018

MINING NEWS

Eliminating the paper and pen checklist procedure While design developments in vehicle ergonomics continue to mitigate human error, there remains the need to ensure the safe operation of all construction,

specific vehicle or range of vehicles. Once the operator has been verified, the Booyco Electronic Checklist will start running through a wide range of preset parameters that can be configured according to individual operation requirements. The easy to read display shows both text and images, making it operator friendly, and each item being checked requires a simple “yes” or “no”. The checklist itself is randomised to ensure that the operator

completes it in its entirety. The Booyco Electronic Checklist is divided into critical and non-critical items, further facilitating that preventative maintenance is carried out on equipment. As an example, should a low oil level be detected, the vehicle will be inhibited from moving until this is rectified. However, should a low fuel level be detected, the vehicle will be allowed to start and drive to the nearest fuel bowser. ❂

earthmoving and mining machinery. Leading electronic safety equipment supplier, Booyco Electronics has again leveraged technology to provide an effective option that eliminates the need for the physical clipboard prestart checklist that is still used by so many operators. And more significant than taking away the paper and pen procedure, the software system allows for the inclusion of no-go and go parameters that will determine whether the driver may operate the vehicle. The specially developed software system is easily integrated into vehicles to facilitate confirmation that all the requisite prestart checks have been done by the operator. This is essential not only from a safety perspective, but also to ensure that the vehicle is in sound running order. An important first step is that the system is able to identify whether the operator attempting to access the vehicle has the authority and capability to do so. Once the vehicle ignition is switched on, initial checks will validate the operator according to vehicle type and the operator’s current licence. This ensures that only licenced persons can operate a Oil multinational ExxonMobil, and its authorised distributor of lubricants in South Africa, Centlube, has successfully completed an optimum oil drain interval (ODI) study for Stefanutti Stocks. The objective was to increase the oil drain intervals on Stefanutti Stocks’ fleet of Komatsu HD 465 rigid dump trucks, and therefore decrease operational costs, reduce their environmental footprint and expand their productivity on sites. The key approach to the Stefanutti business was to identify key suffering points in its operations. This was achieved through a comprehensive lubricants survey performed across key areas. The aim of the assessment was to identify the critical areas in their business where lubricant products and services support would improve the operational efficiencies where it really mattered in the Stefanutti Stocks business. The ODI study was conducted over three months, and followed a performance- monitoring protocol, provided by ExxonMobil. A key focus was to assess the

The specially developed Booyco Electronic Checklist system is easily integrated into vehicles to facilitate confirmation that all the requisite prestart checks have been done by the operator.

ExxonMobil completes oil drain interval study for Stefanutti Stocks

performance of Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40 as a preferred engine oil for Stefanutti Stocks’ mixed fleet, in place of the competitor engine oil. “We conducted regular used-oil analyses, and carefully monitored the test vehicles’ performance during the ODI study, and were able to increase the oil drainage intervals from 250 to 1 000 operating hours,” says Colin Henneberry, lubrication field engineer at ExxonMobil South Africa. “We are confident in recommending the oil used in the study, Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40, to Stefanutti Stocks. It provides high thermal and oxidation stability, which results in reduced sludge build-up and deposit formation, as well as increased viscosity.” 16 of Stefanutti Stocks’ HD465 fleet are now using the new Mobil lubricant. “Based on our assessments during the field test, our conservative estimate is that this particular fleet will work an additional 5,95% (or 44 hours) on the Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40,”

says Jerome Christian, Stefanutti Stocks construction & mining business unit’s engineering manager. In numbers, this translates to the following improvements per annum: Safety: 608 hours (the overall hours of exposure reduced); Environmental care: 17 328 l (the decrease in litres used); and Productivity: R4 749 591 (revenue saving, direct and indirect). “Through the ODI project we achieved our goal of reducing downtime, increasing equipment availability and improving safety risk for Stefanutti,” says Henneberry. “Stefanutti has been identified as a Planned Engineering Service account by ExxonMobil, through which we will implement a strong engineering business approach that includes mutual planning, objective execution, Benefit Documentation and an annual business to discuss engineering progress against planned targets. We are excited to drive our value approach to businesses, and contribute to industry.” ❂

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