Modern Mining September 2019

from comminution to tailings

handling castings of up to 1 tonne, is located at the Isando premises, while in Port Elizabeth we have our Heavy Bay Foundry which can manufacture castings up to 18 tonnes – and soon 24 tonnes, as it is cur- rently being upgraded.” The Alrode site performs pump and vibrating screen assembly and is also home to the Linatex® rubber facility. The facility is also starting to manu- facture Weir Minerals Africa’s first locally designed apron feeders. Singleton notes that Weir Minerals Africa’s net- work of service centres is extensive. “We have 20 branches and service centres in Africa, just over half of them in South Africa,” he says. “We understand that customers cannot afford downtime and we place huge emphasis on providing a fast, efficient response – in terms of backup and parts supply – to all mine sites, no matter how remote they are. Our goal is to be there wherever and whenever our cus- tomers need us.” To keep its customer base supplied with product and spares, Weir Minerals Africa operates a world- class supply chain across Africa with up to 5 000 items shipped each day from Alrode. The company has also recently upgraded its Kitwe, Zambia, dis- tribution facility to enhance its service offering to customers in Central and East Africa. Increasingly, Weir Minerals Africa is emphasis- ing its ability to provide integrated solutions to its customers. “We see ourselves as more than just

Above: Slurry and dewatering pumps are assembled at Weir Minerals’ Alrode facility. Left: New and reconditioned vibrating screens are built at the Alrode facility.

September 2019  MODERN MINING  19