Capital Equipment News October 2017

MINING NEWS

Booyco demonstrates PDS compliance to SACEA

There remains an ongoing need to inform and educate the mining industry as a whole in terms of compliance to the legislated requirements as well as the correct application of Proximity Detection System (PDS) technology. This is according to Graeme Jardine, general manager field services at Booyco Electronics, who says the company was recently afforded the opportunity to do this by the South African Colliery Engineers Association (SACEA). In presenting Booyco Electronics’ PDS offering to SACEA members, the company’s MD Anton Lourens discussed the differentiators the Booyco PDS offers users of trackless underground equipment in hazardous and fiery environments. “The presentation was followed by a practical demonstration and although this could not be conducted underground and was done on surface, the advantages of the Booyco PDS were evident to all that attended,” says Jardine. Included in the demonstration was the operational functionality of the Booyco Continuous improvement efforts and taking cognisance of new legislation have brought about an unbeatable offer from equipment manufacturer Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology in driving unprecedented numbers of mines to opt for from-the-bottom-up rebuilds of equipment rather than more traditional selective rebuilding and repairs. The company’s Jet Park rebuild workshop is a hive of activity as a significant number of machines cross the floor to get a new lease of life. Sandvik’s strategy to rebuild machines, including all-new components from the frame up, has been a revelation and at approximately 65% of the cost of a new machine represents an offer that simply cannot be ignored. The “Reborn” strategy means that used Sandvik equipment is stripped to the frame and rebuilt with all new components before being delivered to the customer with the same warranty as a new machine. What’s more, each piece of equipment is brought up-to-date with the latest specifications, including operational, safety and comfort features found on new models. According to Sandvik operations manager, Andre van der Heever, this is part of the reason why reborn equipment makes sense as it brings the equipment in line with new health, safety and environmental

PDS as well as its full intervention capabilities. Jardine explains that notably should the operator fail to stop on his own accord, it is possible for the vehicle to be stopped when using the Booyco PDS and interfacing with the OEM. The practical demon- stration was conduct- ed using a Fermel LHD equipped with the Booyco PDS and this highlighted the locally manufactured product’s

Booyco Electronics recently presented its PDS offering to SACEA members.

capability on the newest equipment avail- able. In addition, a simulation was done using an older model diesel engine that was trailer mounted and supplied by ECS. This showed that the Booyco PDS works equally as effectively and with the same level of compliance on previous generation equipment.

“Contrary to misinformation that had been circulating in the industry, being able to demonstrate the intervention capability on a much older diesel engine not only proved that this is possible but has rubbished the idea that it is not possible to use the PDS on diesel driven equipment,” adds Jardine. b

Sandvik’s Reborn services give machines new lease of life

Reborn services are available for any Sandvik underground hard rock equipment.

legislation. the productivity, efficiency and operational performance is also brought up to the same specification equivalent to new equipment. “Customers are aware that tighter standards are being applied and as a result they are mitigating the risk of liability arising from accidents involving non-compliant equipment. They are opting rather for genuine OEM services instead of supposedly ‘cheaper’ options,” says Van der Heever. Apart from the benefits mentioned before, the reborn service saves time and is less complex as it cuts out the need to strip and evaluate each machine, obtain Equally important,

quotes for repairs or replacement and then reassemble it. Reborns are simply stripped, the frame repaired if necessary and a complete kit is purchased to undertake the repairs including new cabs, motors, transmissions, harnesses and everything else that is required. With all the parts at hand the machine is simply reassembled, tested and made ready for delivery. Where traditional rebuilds take an average of six months to complete, the reborn route allows customers to implement it as a scheduled maintenance intervention and halves the time a machine is out for repairs. This obviously has a significant impact on their production. b

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