Modern Mining December 2018

BULK MATERIALS HANDLING

TAKRAF Africa ends 2018 on a high

well as a 98 m 3 /h reverse pulse bag filter type dust extraction system. With unloading rates in excess of 100 wagons per hour, the tippler has the ability to tip two wagons simultaneously. “The project has drawn upon the global expertise of the TAKRAF group, with design of the advanced dual-wagon tippler being car- ried out in partnership with Ashton Bulk of the United Kingdom. “TAKRAF is a global leader in the supply of wagon unloading systems, with a recent major tippler project also in Guinea,” adds Späth. In line with TAKRAF Africa’s ‘best country’ sourcing policy, the tippler was manufactured in China, with TAKRAF and Ashton Bulk engi- neers from South Africa, Germany and the United Kingdom on hand, together with the cli- ent, for quality assurance prior to shipping of the tippler. All ancillary equipment was manu- factured locally. Coal-fired power Ongoing demand from this sector in 2018 saw TAKRAF Africa make good progress on a fast track conveyor project for a coal-fired power station’s tippler extraction system. In addi- tion, the Eskom Kusile project in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is progressing ahead of schedule. “The flagship Kusile project has given us the opportunity to showcase not only our technical and project management ability to handle mega and complex material handling contracts, but also our unwavering commitment to safety and the environment,” says Späth. The multibillion-rand project was awarded in 2010 covering the stockyard, limestone and terrace handling systems, with a fourth, the coal truck unloading system, awarded in 2017.

Key supplier TAKRAF Africa ends 2018 maintaining its long- held position as a leading materials handling specialist servicing the African continent – a reputation it established some 100 years ago through its heritage as a Bateman com- pany until being acquired by Tenova in 2012. It now forms an integral part of the globally renowned TAKRAF group.

“ W e saw demand in 2018 from across a wide spectrum of sec- tors, ranging from our mainstay, mining and coal power, to ports and terminals and various industrial businesses, including cellulose, sun- flower seeds and cement,” says Richard Späth, TAKRAF Africa General Manager – Technolo- gies. “While we have extensive track records in industries such as cement, recent years have been quiet and it was encouraging to see the renewed demand.” Iron ore In October 2018, TAKRAF Africa unloaded a dual-wagon rotary tippler at the Port of Saldanha on the west coast of South Africa for transport to site at a major iron ore project. “This has required detailed planning, from embarkation in China to the brownfield site where the infrastructure needs to be carefully negotiated in moving the 22 m long and 10 m wide tippler,” notes Späth. The contract, placed with TAKRAF Africa in 2016, covered supply of a dual-wagon tip- pler, complete with positioner and ancillary equipment, including hoppers, TAKRAF apron feeders and apron feeder support platform, as

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34  MODERN MINING  December 2018