Capital Equipment News November 2017

MANUFACTURING

Sandvik has invested R15 million in a new production facility at its Jet Park, South Africa premises.

ESTABLISHING LOCAL PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES

In a vote of confidence in the local mining sector and the South African economy at large, Sandvik – despite the current headwinds – has made a substantial investment in a manufacturing facility for the local production of its underground load and haul equipment at its Jet Park, South African base, writes Munesu Shoko .

T hat the South African mining sector is still not out of the woods yet, despite improving commodity prices, is unde- batable. According to Statistics South Afri- ca, the mining sector’s performance during the first quarter of 2017 was slightly better than the first quarter of 2016, contributing 12,8% to the GDP, buoyed by rebounding commodity prices. However, the Chamber of Mines is concerned that policy and regulatory uncertainty have frozen new investment into the sector, noting that real mining GDP in 2016 (R226 billion) is smaller than what it was in 1994 (R242 billion). The industry made

Key specs Model

Sandvik LH115L

Engine

Deutz BF4M2012C 86 kW @ 2 200 rpm

Engine power

Fuel consumption at 50% load

16 ℓ /h

Tramming capacity

5 500 kg

Breakout force (lift)

89 kN

Breakout force (tilt)

117 kN

Total operating weight

15 700 kg

an accumulated loss of over R30 billion in 2015 and 65% of the South African platinum mining fraternity was loss-making this year.

Despite the worrying statistics, Sandvik has demonstrated its confidence in the long- term future of the mining sector in southern

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