Mechanical Technology February 2015

⎪ Industry forum ⎪

Robor erects community hall for Goqo residence

In brief Lloyd’s Register Energy has launched a new risk-based Technology Qualification Guidance Note. “Our new Technology Guidance Note represents a recommended practice with a goal- based approach to risk that can be applied to any technology, from unconventional LNG offloading arrangements through to subsea processing, and even new wind and wave technology,” said John Yates, Lloyd’s Register’s technical manager for compliance operations.  FLSmidth is building on its 100 years of suc- cessful business in the African region with the announcement of a new equity structure. The structure will result in a Broad Based Black Eco- nomic Empowerment (BBBEE) ownership status for its South African operations, in accordance with the requirements for multinational suppliers to the mining industry as stipulated in the South African Mining Charter. JCB , currently celebrating 10 years of engine manufacturing, has won one of the biggest engine supply deals in its history after securing an annual contract worth around £4.5 million. The milestone agreement will see the company supply Terex GB Ltd with engines to power site dumpers made at the firm’s Coventry plant. The engines, made by JCB Power Systems in Der- byshire, will be Tier 4-compliant Ecomax 55 kW versions for use in the TA6 and TA6S dumpers. Weba Chute Systems’ MD Mark Baller suggests that there is a need to challenge conventional thinking around chute systems and transfer points, especially during the design stage. “The expertise of chute manufacturers is essential during the design stages of a project to eliminate potential flow and maintenance problems at a later stage,” he says. Metso continues to expand its range of high ca- pacity crushers by launching Nordberg GP7, its largest Nordberg GP secondary gyratory crusher to date. The new 58-ton crusher features the most ideal combination of feed opening, cavity design and capacity available on the market. This ensures high crushing performance with even the hardest feed and helps maintain op- erational costs low. In addition, the crusher is safe to operate and maintain. All-electric CNC tube bending machines from Unison have helped the specialist tube ma- nipulation company Toolspec Manufacturing to implement a flexible right-first-time manufac- turing strategy, enhance production capability and win a major export order worth £500 000. Tshwane-based Rand Technical Service’s (RTS) , recently supplied spin filters to JB Switch- gear Solutions for the variable speed drive (VSD) panels the company has installed for a mining project in the Northern Cape. These spin filters are purpose-designed to accommodate a variety of applications, and offer an extremely efficient answer to the problem of heat and dust build-up, according to Ian Fraser, MD of RTS.

During 2012, at the request of the Ward 10 Councillor and the deputy mayor of the Ulundi Local Municipality, Robor put in place the plans to erect a com- munity hall for the community of Goqo Residence. The project started with the Buthelezi Traditional Council making the land avail- able. Robor had the land cleared and erected a steel structure during 2013. Once the steel structure had been erected it became clear that the structure alone would not be usable by the community nor service the community’s full needs. Robor then decided to build a complete building around the structure and also ensured that essential services were also provided to the community. Robor contracted Gonal Construction to build the hall during 2014, with con- Screening and vibrating equipment solu- tions supplier Aury Africa has recorded an impressive 20 % growth in 2014, while meeting its R50-million turnover target. Aury Africa managing director Mark Houchin attributes this success to the company’s proactive approach to doing business in challenging market conditions. “A major contributor to this success was the establishment of our new 5 000 m 2 manufacturing facility in Johannesburg.” The company also invested R1-million in two new looms, which has enabled the company to manufacture locally, while dramatically improving turnaround times. “By streamlining operational ef-

tributions also being made by Kansai Plascon, PPC, Jo-Jo Tanks and the Ulundi Municipality. The official hando- ver of the building to the commu- nity by Minister Buthelezi took place on December 10, 2014. Robor has invested in a number of socio-economic projects over the past years, mostly in education through bur- saries and sponsoring schools within the company’s areas of operation. www.robor.co.za

Proactive approach overcomes challenging conditions ficiency, we have maintained the trust of existing clients, while attracting new clients too. This is clearly evident in our continued growth throughout the year,” he continues.

like Engen manage their workforce and track employees in an easier, more ef- ficient and affordable way. “Companies of all sizes and all industries are increasingly implementing automated time and attendance systems that incorporate biometric time clocks.” Says Ideco MD, Marius Coetzee: “The device connects to the database via LAN and the service collects the in and out clocks at set intervals. Employee shift rules are all setup with- in the Payday Time and Attendance software and the reports are generated from the client’s computer. The MA 500+ series offers value-added retail- ers and access control manufacturers a reliable, powerful and scalable solu- tion,” he adds. www.ideco.co.za Aury Africa has set similar growth targets for 2015, despite volatility in the local market. “The global market is currently struggling due to severe con- straints on commodity prices, and this is certainly reflective on a local level. Our value-added and personalised service offering, together with quality products, play a key role in sustaining these targets for the foreseeable future,” says Houchin. www.auryafrica.co.za

Engen automates staff attendance with biometrics Local biometrics solutions provider Ideco has partnered with PayDay Software Systems to implement an automated time and attendance solu- tion at Engen Ermelo.

Ideco supplied a MorphoAccess MA500+ fingerprint reader, a high- performance state-of-the-art fin- gerprint identification terminal for physical access control and time and attendance, along with an MSO300 enrolment device. Engen Ermelo previously calculated attendance, salaries and wages on paper sign-in sheets and then entered them into their PayDay Payroll system. Andrew Duggan, PayDay business manager: Time and Attendance says PayDay’s software helps businesses

Mechanical Technology — February 2015

7