Modern Mining April 2019

PRODUCT News

Osborn apron feeder for Cullinan interface project, Slade explains.

of sight but in a safe area, away from the potentially hazardous operation. RCT installed its ControlMaster Tele­ remote technology on two Komatsu D475-5EO dozers at the mine, comprising camera vision packages for an enhanced view of the operation. RCT also fitted the seating, monitoring screens and elec- tronic devices. The third mobile unit was equipped with drilling and blasting tech- nology supplied by Atlas Copco. MultiFab manufactured the steelworks at its workshop in Chamdor and fitted the shells with the necessary services such as power access, lighting, batteries, genera- tors, fuel tanks and radios, enabling RCT and Atlas Copco to complete the instal- lations with their respective software solutions. Recently, MultiFAB has secured orders for the delivery of two more units for a new client during 2019. Jason Bryden, MultiFAB, tel (+27 11) 762-1606 wide, the apron feeders can be supplied in lengths to suit customers’ requirements. They are offered with either electro- mechanical or hydraulic drives. The cast steel or manganese flights are designed to overlap to reduce spillage. The machines are constructed using traditional D3, D4, D6, D7, D8 and D9 track components. Osborn has, over many decades in busi- ness, developed a formula to determine the ideal size apron feeder for a custom- er’s requirements. “Factors like flights and chain type; start-up and running torque; chain factor of safety; start-up conditions; and running conditions are all consid- ered in the calculation. For drive sizing, we calculate breakaway torque; running torque; absorbed power; installed power; head shaft speed; and chain pull. Our vast experience and expertise ensures that end-users get the best machine and opti- mal performance,” says Slade. The Cullinan mine also employs Osborn screens and crushers. Seven new screens were ordered from Osborn when the mine set up a new tailings reclamation plant. In addition to supplying Cullinan, Osborn has exported equipment to Petra’s Williamson mine in Tanzania and Osborn equipment has also been operat- ing successfully for many years at Petra’s Koffiefontein and Finsch operations. Osborn Engineered Products, tel (+27 11) 820-7600, website: www.osborn.co.za

Mining and quarrying equipment special- ist Osborn has secured a significant order from Petra Diamonds for an apron feeder that will be employed at the diamond min- ing group’s Cullinan mine in Gauteng. This is the latest in numerous orders awarded to Osborn over many years by long-standing customer Petra Diamonds, says East Africa area manager Chris Slade. “We are very proud that Petra Diamonds has once again trusted its equipment needs to Osborn. This order for an Osborn D6C 1 500 x 6 000 apron feeder reflects the growing global demand for Osborn’s apron feeders, which combine competitive pric- ing with exceptional quality,” he states. Cullinan’s new Osborn apron feeder will be deployed in the mine’s shaft and plant

Eight Osborn apron feeders of the same size were installed underground at Cullinan as part of a previous order. These are successfully servicing the operation’s underground silos and crushing stations. A further five Osborn apron feeders have since been supplied to the operation’s pro- cess plant. With their heavy-duty construction, Osborn apron feeders are designed to handle feed sizes of up to 1 500 mmwhere no fines removal is required or where fines are removed by a separate dribble conveyor. “When the feed material is wet, sticky or clay like, and where other feeding equipment cannot handle it, the Osborn apron feeder is the ideal machine for the job,” says Slade. Osborn offers

a complete range of standard and extra heavy-duty a p r o n f e e d e r s suited for the most testing conditions encounte red i n the mining and quarrying indus- tries. Ranging in size from 900 mm wide to 3 500 mm

An Osborn apron feeder.

MultiFab delivers mobile stations to Botswana mine A South African company was recently commissioned to manufacture three mobile operator stations for the Orapa dia- mond mine in Botswana. This order marked a first for Africa, as these high-tech stations have never before been manufactured on local turf.

The units were built by MultiFab Engineering, a 51 % black women-owned company based in Chamdor, Krugersdorp, and fitted with technology from global software solutions provider RCT. “It has taken nine months of research and development to complete the units, and the teams that were involved are extremely pleased with being able to produce them in South Africa,” says Jason Bryden, MD of MultiFab. The mobile stations allow for capital equipment to be operated by means of remote-control tech- nology, 100 m away from where the machine is working. The machine operator sits in a protected cabin, ergonomically built and fitted with air-conditioning, and can therefore control the machine within the line

One of the completed mobile operator stations.

44  MODERN MINING  April 2019