MechChem Africa August 2018

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Integrated approach offers added value to mining projects

Drum tipper with integral flexible screw conveyor The new TIP-TITE™ Drum Tipper from Flexicon with integral flexible screw conveyor allows volumetric feeding of bulk material from drums into downstream processes free of dust. Ahydraulic cylinder raises and seats the drum rimagainst adischarge cone, afterwhicha second hydraulic cylinder tips thedrumtoanangleof 45°, 60° or 90° with a motion-dampening feature. At full rotation, a pneumatically-actuated slide gate valve opens and charges the conveyor, which meters the material volumetrically according to infinitely adjustable user controls. As the flexible screw rotates, it self-centres within the tube, providing ample clearance be- tween the screwand the tubewall to eliminate or minimisegrinding.Theflexiblescrewistop-driven beyond the point at which the material exits the conveyor, preventing contact with bearings or seals. The conveyor is able to transport bulk mate- rials from sub-micron powders to large pellets, whilst the gentle rolling action of material pre- vents the separation of blends. The rugged inner screw is theonlymovingpart contacting productmaterial, resulting in reduced maintenance and increased reliability. A broad range of screws with specialised geometries is available to handle free- and non-free-flowing materials, including products that pack, cake or smear in other types of conveyors. The unit accommodates drums from 115 to 200 ℓ weighing up to 340 kg and measuring 915 to 1 220 mm in height. www.flexicon.co.za

On display at Zest WEG Group’s large outdoor standat ElectraMiningAfrica this year will not only be its growing range of products but also its integrated approach that offers customers significant added value in the execution of large projects. One of the new products being launched at the event is the WEG Motor Scan solution. This innovative device fa- cilitates the monitoring of electric motor performance fromamobilephone andwill helpmines to avoid unplanned downtime. According to Alastair Gerrard, in- tegrated solutions executive at Zest WEG Group, the group’s entrepreneurial approach to aligning with customer re- quirements has led to the cost-effective packaging of its offerings. “In today’smining sector, it is no longer enough to come to themarketwith a good product,” says Gerrard. “It is increasingly importanttopartnerwithcustomersinthe designanddeliveryof integrated solutions that will enhance their bottom lines and achieve lower cost of ownership. “Moving with the trend of tailor-made solutions that leverage off our extensive

WEG Motor Scan monitors motor data and stores it in the cloud, providing access via App and IoT platforms. portfolio, our integrated solutions ap- proach will provide significant benefits to customers.Italsostrengthensourabilityto supplyandmanage largeprojects,” he says. Also of interest will be WEG’s recent acquisition of steam turbine manufac- turing specialist TGM, which has a well- established referencebase in theBrazilian market. Together with this, Zest WEG Group is growing its energy generation offering to include solutions in the renew- able energy space. www.zestweg.com

From hearing protection to integrated harness systems,MSAAfrica offers indus- tries such as petrochemicals and oil-and- gas the latest technology to guarantee worker health and safety in hazardous environments. For example, the Latchways Personal Rescue Device (PRD) is a lightweight, unobtrusive integrated safety harness system from MSA Africa contained in a small backpack andattached toa full-body harness. It has beendesigned tobe used in conjunction with a fall protection system or anchor point. Latest PPE for hazardous environments The patented components of the Latchways PRD fit neatly into the back- pack, allowing workers to carry out their daily tasks unhindered. Indeed, the back- pack becomes part of the daily Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required for those working at height. Intheeventofafall,theMSALatchways PRDsuspendstheworker,whoisthenlow- ered to the ground gently in a controlled descent. The device features a 20m spool of Aramid rope, released at a controlled rate via an integral braking mechanism. The innovative design uses quality com- ponents and a limited number of moving parts so as to guarantee 100%mechanical integrity.

Unlike competitor rescuekits, theMSA Latchways PRD requires no specialist training, as it is simplyworn in conjunction with a standard full-body harness, and is activated by simply pulling the release cord. Its user-friendliness is enhanced by the fact that pre-use checks are minimal. The Latchways PRD range from MSA Africa includes a Workman Premier and Workman Utility full-body harness. A rescue pole is also available, which can be used by a third party to activate the

Flexicon’s new TIP-TITE™ Drum Tipper feeds material directly into downstream processes volumetrically, while creating no dust.

Latchways PRD in the event of a worker at height being incapacitated. The res- cue pole is 800 mm when retracted, and 3 400 mmwhen extended. www.msa.co.za

The Latchways PRD range fromMSA Africa includes a Workman Premier and Workman Utility full-body harness.

August 2018 • MechChem Africa ¦ 35