Modern Mining May 2021

CRUSHING, MILLING AND SCREENING

The MMD Group: from OEM to turnkey solutions provider

MMD Africa’s 115-staff member production facility in South Africa’s Ekurhuleni province was expanded to 6 000 m 2 in 2010, to enable this shift in focus. Market In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensu- ing lockdowns around the world, says director Janis Lombard, many execution projects on the African continent, which is served by MMD Africa, have been put on hold. “This is partly because many expatriate workers, especially from Australia, Europe and South Africa, were unable to reach their countries of employment on their usual work rotation schedules during the lockdowns.” He says many projects that went into execution are now on hold due to the pandemic. “Projects on the brink of moving into execution have been pushed back because of the uncertainty in the market following COVID-19 and the unknown cost factors brought about by its limitations.” He says many of the large capital projects sche­ duled to commence during 2020 and 2021 have been postponed by two to three years. “With mobilisation taking up to seven weeks with quarantine on both sides of the border, all costs are inflated,” says Lombard. “This is the downside of COVID-19.” On the upside, the company is now able to turn its attention to feasibility studies, one of its new points of focus as a turnkey solutions provider. “We have been busy during this time from an

The MMD Group of Companies, originally an OEM and service provider to big-tier mines, major mining companies and project houses, has recently expanded its capabilities to provide turnkey solutions ranging from feasibility studies to commissioning. By Mark Botha .

F ounded in 1978, minerals processing solutions company Mining Machinery Developments (MMD) is a UK-based concern specialising in processing solutions and machinery for the mining, quarrying and recycling industries. Working closely with its client base, the company’s 500-plus employees at 14 regional offices around the world design, manufacture, supply and service an extensive range of sizers; feeders; in-pit sizing and conveying (IPSC) systems; fully- and semi-mobile units and trans- porters, as well as surge loaders, among others. According to MMD Africa business development manager, Mark Peeters, the company, traditionally an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and service provider to big-tier mines and major mining com- panies and project houses, has recently expanded its capabilities to provide turnkey solutions ranging from feasibility studies to commissioning. “We have changed our value proposition from being an equipment supplier to being a turnkey solu- tions provider,” he says. “We consult with the client to ensure that the solution is suitable for their applica- tion and we take care of the rest, from pre-feasibility and bankable feasibility studies right up to commis- sioning and beyond.”

A mobile demining sizer by MMD Mineral Sizing being transported.

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26  MODERN MINING  May 2021