MechChem Africa January-February 2025

Sandvik Rock Processing expands and localises screen media supply MCA visits the Johannesburg facilities of Sandvik Rock Processing and talks to Riaan Steinmann and Phumi Motsamai about the company’s expanding local operation, which offers local customers a more agile and resilient service.

H aving acquired Kwatani vibrating screens and SP Mining’s screens and train loader businesses from Schenck in recent years, Sandvik Rock Processing has now integrated all these operations into its global structure. In terms of vibrating screens and screening media, the Kempton Park facility focuses on the fabrication of screen assemblies, while the company’s Crown Mines facility is han dling the manufacture of an ever expanding range of screening media. “Here at our Crown Mine facility, we manufacture for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with local production of our screen panels supporting these markets. We use polyurethane and rubber for our screen ing media, with customised formulations and special designs to address screening challenges. We also produce wedge wire for dewatering screens,” says Riaan Steinmann, operation director for Screening Solutions for the EMEA region. “At our Crown Mines facility, we pro duce screen media panels for use in both new vibrating screens and for aftermarket applications across Africa,” adds Phumi Motsamai, Sandvik Rock Processing’s re gional manager for Screening Media and Wear Protection. In terms of a manufacturing strategy, Sandvik Rock Processing is aiming to reduce

transportation costs, improve screening efficiency, and so support sustainability for customers. This is all part of a strategic focus to be number one in screening, and to provide a world-class customer experi ence by bringing the company’s globally renowned product offerings closer to local customers. In support of this strategy, the local screen media manufacturing capacity from the Crown Mines facility in Johannesburg is being systematically expanded. “Investment in this facility builds on our screen media product offering and supports the local manufacture of our capital equipment, while ensuring we meet expanding aftermarket demand,” continues Motsamai. “Local manufacturing of screen media is a very exciting story for Sandvik Rock Processing, in that we don't just manufac ture for South Africa or for our own vibrat ing screens. We can design, customise and manufacture for the whole of Africa,” she says. “We supply into all the mining hubs of Africa, and our locally made panels are being shipped to Europe, the Middle East, as well as to India,” she says. “Before our recent acquisitions, Sandvik screen media was manufactured in Europe. We have now raised our local manufacturing capability and capacity to meet demand across the

African market, which is a fast growing market right now,” Motsamai explains. Hence the decision to invest, consolidate and expand manufacturing here in Africa: a truly exciting story for South African manufacturing! “Screen media panels are consumables, and the aftermarket is the fastest growing sector of our business, so we have spe cifically focused our efforts on being able to custom design media panels for any screen ing application,” Steinmann adds. This customisation capability has been achieved through investments, in the tool ing library and processing capability of Sandvik Rock Processing’s Crown Mines manufacturing plant. “Polyurethane (PU) is at the core of our offering, but we also offer specialty Sandvik Rock Processing rubber compound panels, specifically formulated to optimise screening performance and enhance resistance to impact and wear abrasiveness.” On the quality side, Motsamai assures that Sandvik Rock Processing’s locally manufactured screen media products are

Sandvik Rock Processing’s screen media manufacturing facility exemplifies the company’s dedication to producing reliable solutions for the mining and aggregate industries.

6 ¦ MechChem Africa • January-February 2025