Modern Mining January 2018

PRODUCT News

Tech Edge provides rope-handling system for Bakubung

Tech Edge’sWinches &Winders Division has successfully manufactured and installed South Africa’s first locally designed and built mobile rope-handling system for the Bakubung mine. Tech Edge won the tender, issued by WorleyParsons in April 2016, based on its reputation in the winder industry, extensive design capabilities and competitive pricing. The equipment was specifically designed to install head and tail ropes onto a four-rope, headgear-mounted Koepe friction winder at Wesizwe Platinum’s Bakubung mine in North West Province. The project commenced in mid-2016 and was commissioned for the rope-up in October 2017. The key deliverables consisted of four rope reelers, a large two-drum friction winch, a compression beam with deflec- tion sheaves, and four messenger winches, complete with a sophisticated, integrated, electrical control system. Maintaining a cost-effective price while

Friction winch, containerised control room and rope reelers in position under the headgear at Bakubung.

designing and manufacturing to satisfy the project specification was a major challenge. Design inputs adopted were conservative, due to levels of uncertainty governing friction coefficients for the lubri- cated tail ropes. A number of challenges were faced regarding the civil-mechani- cal interfacing of the equipment and the

logistics of delivering equipment to site. The performance of the rope-handling equipment has exceeded the design requirements, including all electrical and safety systems.  This gives the client com- plete control of the ropes, fully satisfying the project objectives. Bannister Erasmus, Tech Edge, tel (+27 11) 976-3063

January 2018  MODERN MINING  71