Modern Mining June 2023

COVER STORY

Brelko targets Nip Guard patent in the US Following the success of its locally patented Nip Guard, an innovative product developed in 2018 and rolled-out to the South African mining industry, Brelko, a Johannesburg based conveyor cleaning equipment supplier to the mining sector, has been granted a US patent on its innovation. By Nelendhre Moodley .

T he company continues to broaden its horizons by developing technologically advanced products that target zero harm, and is testing the boundaries established by international bodies with its Nip Guard Safety Device. Underpinning the push for safe products is the global and local drive towards zero harm, which has seen the South African mining industry’s annual mining fatality rate reduced from over 200 a few years back to averaging between 50 and 60 deaths. “This impetus by the mining sector is what drives the develop ment of innovations such as the Nip Guard, which works to reduce operator injuries and thereby helps miners keep a clean bill of health,” says Brelko’s MD Kenny Padayachee. The patented Nip Guard safety device has been adopted at most major mines in South Africa including Anglo Platinum, Assmang, Eskom, Exxaro, Kumba, Northam and Tronox and Brelko has added this to its range of local and international patents. Targeting improved worker safety at conveyor belts, the Nip Guard was designed to prevent unnecessary injuries that are known to happen around pulley nip points and pinch point hazards. “Brelko applied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) – the federal agency for granting US patents and registering trademarks – for a patent on the locally developed Nip Guard. However, the process of acquiring a patent in the US is lengthy and rigorous and required team effort, including the pres ence of our research and development team and both local and US lawyers. “Ahead of being awarded the patent, Brelko was required to pen a white paper explaining the difference between a Nip Guard and a conveyor belt scraper, given the belief that the two products are interchangeable, which is a major misconception,” Padayachee explains. Where conveyor belt scrapers (intended for use in conveyor bulk material handling applications) are installed in direct contact

A Robotic Machine in operation at the Brelko factory.

with the conveyor belt for the removal of residual fines (carry-back) that remain on the conveyor belt, nip guards are primarily intended for use in conveyor bulk material handling applications as fixed guards to prevent worker exposure to conveyor pulley nip points, also known as ‘pinch points’, ‘in-running points’, and ‘draw-in points’. “Nip guards offer the most reliable form of continuous pro tection for dangerous nip points around the head, tail, and drive pulleys,” says Padayachee. “At Brelko, we place people above profits. Our concern around safety does not only extend to our own employees, but to everyone who works with our machinery. We understand we have a respon sibility to ensure that those working on our machines are as safe from injury as possible. The Nip Guard is a product that provides safety and efficiency and can increase productivity due to less down time,” he explains. The Brelko Nip Guard has been manufactured according to various mounting standards including SABS, CEMA, Australian and PROK. It requires low maintenance, operates in all conditions and, because of its robust construction, has longevity – all of which con tribute to lower expenses and increased productivity. Brelko drives sustainability Underpinning the conveyor belt cleaning specialist’s focus on local isation, has been its strong desire to become self-sufficient in terms of security of power and water supply. Currently, South African businesses and citizens alike face unprecedented rates of loadshedding and water-shedding. According to Padayachee, if businesses are to survive and thrive, they need to become proactive and find alternative solu tions for uninterrupted water and power supply. Having taken the decision to become independent, and thereby ensure the company is able to keep its manufacturing facility oper ating 24/7, Brelko has invested a total of R21 million in installing over 3.5 megawatts of solar power per day. Since first installing solar power, a project rolled out in three stages over the past three years and which cost around R15 million,

A Brelko Nip Guard installed at Grootegeluk Coal Mine.

6  MODERN MINING  June 2023