Capital Equipment News May 2021

MANUFACTURING

The new manufacturing facility in Johannesburg.

SMT Scharf’s new Johannesburg manufacturing facility

After 15 years of representation in South Africa, German engineering company SMT Scharf has opened a newmanufacturing facility in Johannesburg, following interest generated by its rubber-tyred mining solutions. Capital Equipment News approached Shaun Amos, the company’s MD, to find out more about this venture. By Mark Botha .

R ail-based transport burg. Working in conjunction with its Canadian subsidiary, the facility will build both new and remanufactured underground mining equipment for customers around the world. The new facility, says MD Shaun Amos, has doubled the company’s output capabilities and demonstrates SMT Scharf’s commitment to the African mining sector”. He says the new facility also serves as the regional manufacturing and support hub for SMT Scharf’s monorail and chairlift products. solutions company SMT Scharf Africa has officially opened its new manufac- turing facility in Johannes-

A manufacturer of derailment- proof monorails and floor railways in underground mining and tunnel construction, the SMT Scharf group develops, builds and services transportation equipment and logistics systems for underground mining and tunnel construction for mineral and coal mines. “Our core product is captivated railway systems for underground mining,” says Amos. “These systems can transport personnel and materials up to 45 tonnes on gradients up to 35 degrees.” He says the company’s “ancillary products” include chairlifts for the mining industry, and the development and installation of rail and cable

management systems. According to Amos, trends such as automation, real-time data management, conversion to electric drives and increasing networking as a result of digitalisation are “reshaping mining”. In line with this, the company expanded its portfolio in 2018 with the acquisition of Canadian mining company RDH Mining, a supplier of electric vehicles harnessing lithium-ion battery technology for underground mining. SA representation The company, which has had representation in South Africa over the past 15 years, took the step

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