Modern Mining January 2022

SUPPLY CHAIN News

Weba steps in to save mine’s endless chute worry height,” he says. “By contrast, our chute’s controlled flow meant that the mine did not even have to apply its dust suppression system.”

High wear rates on a conventional chute at a large diamond producer in Botswana were costing the mine dearly – in both repairs and downtime. The custom-engi- neered solution from Weba Chute Systems not only drastically reduced maintenance, but also cut dust levels. “This could not continue and the mine needed a long term solution which is why we believe they came to us for a proposal,” says Hilton Buys, regional manager at Weba Chute Systems. “Senior experts from our company visited the site to take a care- ful look at the conditions the chute needed to deal with, and we took our conclusions back to our design office.”

Among the chal lenges were large lump sizes in the ore stream, contributing to build-up of material in the chute and regular choking, says Buys. Also, while Botswana’s dry season is long, the rain that does fall causes considerable problems to the flow dynamics. The kimberlite on the mine – depending on which part of the pit it comes from – can become very sticky in wet weather. “We therefore had to pay particular attention to flow angles, and the design had to effectively accommodate both wet and dry conditions,” he says. The concept design – which included quick-release lips on dead boxes – was approved by the mine and the final design, manufacture and suc- cessful installation was conducted. Adding to the complexity was that the feed end of the primary crusher was some eight metres below ground level, while the crusher itself stood about 10 m tall. The chute had to be positioned below the rock box which stores the material from the crusher discharge, channelling the stream into the Weba chute at a transfer height of nine metres to the conveyor belt. “The conventional chute also created excessive dust through uncontrolled rock velocity over this considerable transfer As the local distributor of the high quality Sykes diesel driven pump range, Integrated Pump Rental generally uses the appropriate Sykes wet end for each pump design, usually coupled to a Kirloskar die- sel engine – a well-respected and popular brand. However, the brands of key com- ponents can be chosen by the customer according to their preference, says Du Toit. “We then design and construct the fuel tank and base or trailer unit, the scale of which depends on the pump’s intended working conditions, mobility and fuel consumption,” he says. “The mate- rial of construction must also be carefully selected, based on factors like water acidity and abrasiveness.” In the case of high acidity, for instance, stainless steel is the preferred material,

After installation, Weba Chute Systems gave the customer a 12 month guarantee on this chute, as it does with all its new chutes. This, which comes with regular inspection reports, assures the customer that the per- formance will meet their expectations. “These inspections allow us to monitor wear, so we can advise the customer on what action is required so that they can schedule maintenance and avoid unex- pected downtime,” Buys says. Installed in 2017, the chute is still operating with little maintenance, having been delivered at a highly competitive price compared to the one it replaced. “Designing a long lasting chute is not just about creating a box with some rein- forcing where you think there will be wear,” he says. “It is an endeavour that must be scientific, based on in-depth analysis of material and flow conditions.” Buys highlights the importance of ask- ing a range of technical questions about the specific application so that the design answers those needs. The latest software and modelling tools are then applied by the Weba Chute Systems team to guide the most effective design.  while more abrasive applications can be served with a coated S.G. iron material. The solution is put together by a team that includes qualified draughtsmen and experi- enced boilermakers, electricians and diesel mechanics. “Our performance driven approach ensures that all the necessary specialists collaborate closely in turning the custom- er’s requirement into reality,” he says. “This includes hands-on involvement by top management, making for quick decisions, innovative solutions and a fast process all round.” The result is a top quality locally assem- bled pump which draws on readily available components and can be delivered within tight timeframes. Customers can also rely on Integrated Pump Rental’s well-known service levels to ensure ongoing mainte- nance and optimal uptime. “Our versatile team, combined with the wide range of Sykes pump capacities, allows us to locally build pumps for every application – from small-scale contract

Side view of a cone crusher feeding through Weba’s crusher discharge chute onto conveyor.

Locally built diesel pumps for every application application and discuss options with the customer, advising on a solution that suits both the operational requirement as well as their budget.”

With its expertise and experience in cus- tom-building diesel driven pumps locally, Integrated Pump Rental ensures their cus- tomers get exactly what they need with a short lead time. “Our in-house capability allows us to design and build pumps to any required specification,” says Steve du Toit, rental development manager at Integrated Pump Rental. “Part of our process is to assess the

Part of the Integrated Pump Rental team at its in-house pump build facility.

46  MODERN MINING  January 2022