Mechanical Technology February 2015

⎪ Materials handling and minerals processing ⎪

Grindrod Locomotives has chosen the 525 kW C18 Cat engine, available in South Africa through Barloworld Power, as its standard power unit for its new range of GS7 diesel electric shunting locomotives for short haul materials handling applications. CAT-powered shunting locomotive for materials handling

R ail solutions for short hauls are not common on southern African mines, but with the technology available locally and the significantly larger tonnages that can be moved quickly, efficiently and safely, there are good reasons to consider rail as part of a mine’s internal hauling infrastructure. The GS7S3C diesel electric dc loco- motive, known as the Genset Locomotive, was developed by Grindrod Locomotives to provide customers with a cost effective solution for their shunting and short-haul operations. The Genset Locomotive is manufactured with a 525 kW (703 HP) C18 Cat engine as standard, and an in-house digital control system designed for affordability, low running costs and cleaner emissions. Robert Spoon, CEO at Grindrod Locomotives says the Genset Locomotive is unparalleled in the market as it offers fit-for-purpose tractive effort in shunting

and short haul rail operations. Grindrod Locomotives, based in Pretoria, provides rail engineering so- lutions to clients across the African continent. This includes the design, engineering and manufacture of locomo- tives and wagons to meet specific client requirements, as well as locomotive leasing, rolling stock refurbishment and locomotive and wagon maintenance. Bulk materials handling Clients vary from mainline rail operators requiring long haul locomotives to large and medium-sized mining operations with a need for short haul, branch line or shunting locomotives. The Genset Locomotive was specifically designed to meet the need to move bulk commodities within large mining and industrial opera- tions. “These units can be used to move thousands of tons simultaneously in the mining, heavy industry and manufactur- ing sectors – in short any business requir-

The GS7 range of Genset Locomotives was developed by Grindrod Locomotives for cost effective shunting and short-haul rail operations. The locomotives use Cat C18 engines supplied by Barloworld Power to drive three-phase ac generators. Depicted above is the 40 t, two-axle GS7S2C that can deliver 100 kN of continuous tractive effort and 140 kN on start up through its dc electric motors. ing large materials handling facilities over short distances,” says Spoon. “We are convinced that this product will excel in the niche for which it was developed.” A two axle option, the GS7S2C, also powered by the Cat C18 engine, is also available for applications where load tonnages are lower or for smaller more frequent hauls. “Several of these new locomotives are already operating successfully for a variety of end users, including Grindrod Operations, which performs short-haul and shunting services and transports ap- proximately 2.0-million tons per month of various bulk commodities from railway sidings and branch lines on behalf of major blue-chip mining companies and other bulk customers requiring special- ised rail-related services,” Spoon adds. Grindrod’s footprint extends into several African countries including Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra

The 60 t, three-axle GS7S3C has a continuous tractive rating of 150 kN and can achieve 200 kN on start up. Also powered by a CAT C18 engine through a generator and motor, it has a maximum speed of 90 km/h and the prototype is shown here hauling 915 t during load testing.

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Mechanical Technology — February 2015