MechChem Africa April 2020

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Transfer chute specialist Weba Chute Systems has further upgraded its Broad- Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) rating to Level 2. According to Farouk Abrahams, sales director at Weba Chute Systems, it was a focusonskillsandenterprisedevelopment that led to the ratings improvement. “We continue to transformfromwithin to ensure that the business contributes Level 2 B-BBEE rating for transfer chute experts to economic inclusion and job creation,” Abrahams says. “Particular effort was recently invested in our supply chain, to reward those suppliers that embrace transformation while upholding the high- est levels of quality.” Formed more than 25 years ago in South Africa, Weba Chute Systems engi- neers and manufactures fit-for-purpose transfer chute solutions for mining and

industrial applications around the world. There are now over 4 500 of its installa- tions operating globally. Each chute’s engineered design con - trols the material’s direction, flow and velocity, reducing equipment wear and dust emissions. Abrahamsnotes that anempowerment deal in2014brought blackownership into the business and also helped foster the transformation of management control. “Our contribution to empowerment includes supporting skills training such as learnerships and internships,” he says. “For school leavers, we are also considering a bursary scheme focused on engineering skills that are aligned to the requirements of companies like ours.” He notes that Weba Chute Systems’ transformation journey – while helping build a more inclusive economy – helped customers to meet their own B-BBEE objectives. “By constantly raising our game to improve our empowerment rating, we are pleased to be adding further value by helpingour customersmeet their legal and operational requirements,” he says. The company’s position as a leading local supplier to the mining sector also contributes to growing the level of local content procured by mining companies, as required by the Mining Charter. www.webachutes.com

Second from right, Farouk Abrahams, sales director at Weba Chute Systems, says the company is constantly raising its game to improve its empowerment rating.

Bulk bag discharger with safety cage Flexicon’s newBULK-OUT™Model BFFBulkBagDischarger features a steel safety cage to prevent contactwithmoving parts during operation and automated unload- ing of bulk bags. The enclosure features externally-mounted controls and full height doorswithan IntrinsicallySafeRelay (ISR) that haltsoperationwhen thedoor isopen. The discharger is equipped with top-mounted receiving cups and a removable bag-lifting frame for forklift loading of bulk bags. Z-CLIP™strapholders at the frame extremities allow rapid, secure insertion and removal of bag straps. Amanual SPOUT-LOCK™ clamp ring positioned atop a pneumatically-actuated TELE-TUBE™ telescoping tube provides quick, dust-tight connections between the bag spout and hopper, and maintains downward tension on the spout as the bag empties to eliminate creases, folds or bulges that could hinder material flow. Additional flow promotion is afforded by FLOW-FLEXER™ bag activators that raise and lower opposite bottom sides of the bag at timed intervals, loosening compacted material and directing it into the discharge spout. As the bag lightens, the stroke of the bag activators increases, raising the bag bottom into a steep ‘V’ shape, while top-mounted POP-TOP™ extension devices elongate the entire bag, promoting total discharge with no manual intervention. The universal flanged outlet of the hopper allows connection of a rotary airlock or charging adapter to feed optional pneumatic or mechanical conveyors, or other downstream equipment. This unit is constructed of carbon steel with durable industrial finish, with stain - less steel material contact surfaces, or in all-stainless steel finished to food, dairy or pharmaceutical standards. sales@flexicon.co.za

Steel safety enclosure of BULK-OUT™ Model BFF Bulk Bag Discharger ceases operation of moving parts when safety interlocked doors are open.

28 ¦ MechChem Africa • April 2020