Modern Mining January 2019

PRODUCT News

Weba technology combats dust

safety. The hydraulic pump on the machine is fitted with a retraction pump that absorbs any residual oil in the system providing a much smoother operational experience. The Safe Man System (SMS) protects opera- tors by minimising the risk of crushing. Another popular range is the ATJ line of access platforms which includes the 180ATJ with an 18 m reach, the 200ATJ with a 20 m reach and the 280TJ reaching 28 m with an access platform with a 4 m telescopic jib that redefines the up-and-over capabilities of this type of machine. In its telehandler range, JCH Platforms includes the lightweight M420H Buggy, which brings various benefits as it can be employed on a building slab to move material over horizontal distances too. Telehandlers will usually only reach as far as 18 m or the third floor of an average build- ing, where they will place material near the edge of the slab. The Buggy provides a solution, feeding the various work areas efficiently and quickly; its low profile allows it to operate between floors, as the height restriction is less than 2 m. Johnson Crane Hire, website: www.jch.co.za over a duration agreed with the customer,” states Potgieter. The data is then profiled into a scatter plot, considering factors such as lump size, belt speed, relative humidity, wet-bulb temperature, wind conditions and material type. He says that a normalised profile can be created after the scatter data has been cal- culated, showing dust versus lump size in increasing order; this plots the data in such a way that the customer can easily refer- ence the prevailing dust levels against the lump size. “The lump size will affect the dust lev- els, based on size, speed and material type, and factors are calculated for each of these aspects,”he says.“Belt speed will also affect the dust levels, depending on the tonnage per hour traveling through the chute; the tonnage per hour is in turn linked to the material type and lump size.” By ensuring that its chutes are engi- neered and designed according to the specific transfer and ore application, Weba Chute Systems can ensure ultimate flow control, managing the velocity and impact of the material, and reducing wear and tear on the chute. This is turn reduces spillage, dust, noise and conveyor damage. Weba Chute Systems, website: www.webachutes.com

In the interests of workplace health and safety, Weba Chute Systems has developed and patented certain flow designs for its equipment that keep dust levels as low as possible. According to Izak Potgieter of Weba Chute Systems, it is especially the smaller particles of around 0,3 micron in size that have the most serious impact on human health. “Spores and contaminants associ- ated with dust and aerosol can adversely impact human health, causing a range of

platform and telehandler offering avail- able from others in the market with access platform units ranging from 12 to 28 m and telehandlers from a lightweight two ton- ner to a 9 ton unit. Each unit in the Johnson Crane Hire fleet has its own special design and unique capabilities facilitating use by customers in varying applications. “One of our more popular smaller units is the ManGo 12 access platform, with a working height of 12 m,” says van Rensburg. “Unlike most access platforms, this unit is designed with the same access issues from respiratory infections to toxic exposure,” says Potgieter. “In particular, the transport of metals and metalloids in atmospheric dust around mining opera- tions may lead to increased human exposure to toxic contaminants.” The company has therefore invested in the latest technology to profile the dust secretion of conventional chutes used in mines, showing how the custom-designed Weba chutes address this occupational hazard. “Dust secretion has been a major issue for most mines,”he says.“When they invest in aWeba Chute System solution, we apply our latest technology to profile the dust secretion of the conventional chute, and compare this to the Weba chute once we have installed it.” He notes that Weba Chute Systems has monitored and measured dust secretion at numerous plants and sites in order to do a full analysis of dust particles being gener- ated during the transportation of minerals on conveyors and through chutes. “Using a handheld dust meter, we are able to gather data in 30 second intervals, with 0,003 split seconds per measurement

Measuring 0,3 micron dust particles at a transfer point with the Weba Chute Systems handheld system.

JCH Platforms raises the bar in access rental With 40 years in the lifting business, Johnson Crane Hire’s expansion in 2017 into the access rental space has given custom- ers a whole new range of access solutions, according to Ramona van Rensburg, sales representative at JCH Platforms.

Investing in a new fleet of telehandlers and access platforms from materials han- dling leaders Manitou, JCH Platforms has further augmented its value-added offering to customers, along with its vital expertise in safety and lifting regulations. The fleet separates and enhances the

capability as a scissor lift, making it a lightweight machine for both construction and industrial mar- kets but with the advantage of an articulated boom to overcome any vertical restrictions that a standard scissor lift would have.” Some of the improved safety measures that come from the Manitou range include galvan- ised steel baskets making them less likely to corrode and profiled mesh floors for better traction and

Each unit in the Johnson Crane Hire fleet has its own special design and unique capabilities facilitating use by customers in varying applications.

70 _ MODERN MINING _ January 2019