Modern Mining May 2019

PRODUCT News

Motor rehabilitation keeps ‘wettest’mine pumping site bearing store, and taking the lead in returning the motors to full service.

art repair and manufacturing facilities – in Johannesburg, Benoni, Sasolburg, Rustenburg, Harare and Kitwe. Supported by a network of technically equipped part- ners throughout Africa, it provides services not only in Africa but globally. Marthinusen & Coutts, website: www.mandc.co.za

Marthinusen & Coutts’ Cleveland Engi­ neering Services Division, a division of ACTOM (Pty) Ltd, recently teamed up with the Marthinusen & Coutts Kitwe facility in Zambia to rehabilitate medium voltage pump motors in one of the wettest mines in Africa. A pump OEM had approached Marthi­ nusen & Coutts, reportedly the largest after-market service provider of electri- cal and mechanical rotating machines in Africa, to assess several underground pump motors. There was an urgency to the situation due to the risk of flooding should there be any undue interruptions in pump- ing operations. Investigations revealed that the motors driving the pumps were in a poor condition, with this severely affecting the availability and the performance of the pump chambers. This required the initiation of a detailed refurbishment programme, involving the procurement of spare parts, the setting up of an on-

Where possible, the motors were repaired in situ – thus avoiding any possi- ble crisis of underground flooding – while others were removed for full refurbish- ment. The highest level of engineering

practices was followed dur- ing repairs, re-installation and commissioning. Ongoing support is also being provided, includ- ing the training of mine maintenance staff, the development of installa- tion and commissioning specifications, conducting of regular site inspections, management of spares, and continual engagement with mine engineering management. Marthinusen & Coutts operates six state-of-the-

Marthinusen & Coutts technical personnel inspecting oil levels on a 3 300 kW pump motor.

May 2019  MODERN MINING  59