22
Mechanical Technology — February 2014
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Materials handling and logistics
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B
ased on the quality of its
apron feeders, which are
“renowned for performance
and durability”, Osborn has
secured the orders for eight apron
feeders and two modular plants says
marketing director, Martin Botha.
“Four new stockpile apron feeders –
1 500 mm x 6 000 mm in size – are
to be supplied to the Kansuki Sulphides
expansion project in the Democratic
Republic of Congo,” he reveals.
“Four apron feeders also form part
of an order awarded to Osborn by long-
standing customer Petra Diamonds.
The machines are to be employed at
the Koffiefontein Mine in the Northern
Cape, along with two new Osborn 3648
modular jaw crusher plants that have
been ordered, and will be utilised
underground.”
The two Osborn modular crushing
plants include 35 t capacity truck dump
hoppers, 48”x16’ vibrating grizzly feed-
ers, 36x48 Telsmith jaw crushers and
1 200 mm wide discharge conveyors
mounted onto their modular frames.
“ The f ou r Osbo r n Had f i e l ds
Modular plants, apron feeders and export
Johannesburg-based Osborn wrapped up 2013 with a healthy order book,
including orders for apron feeders and modular plants. And while Chinese
machines are pouring into Africa, the equipment manufacturer is quietly
making its mark in the People’s Republic, having secured its first ever export
order to China, for a modular plant for iron ore processing.
Osborn marketing director, Martin Botha, stands on an Osborn 3648 modular jaw crusher plant.
Osborn has won a R20-million export
order from a Chinese iron ore operation
for a modular plant.
1 200 mm x 8 000 mm apron feed-
ers will be feeding into the hoppers
mounted on the modular frames,”
Botha explains.
He believes that the Osborn modular
plants offer “substantial benefits” for
customers such as Petra Diamonds.
“The pre-designed modules reduce the
engineering requirement for new plant
construction. A further advantage is that
the plant can be disassembled quickly
and relocated to another site. One of
its outstanding features is a heavy duty
modular frame. The standard discharge
conveyor is 7,0 m long, however, we
have manufactured an 11 m long
discharge conveyor to meet the client’s
requirements,” he adds.
The two modular plants – each
weighing some 70 t – will be dis-
mantled and transported by road to
the mine. The scope of Osborn’s order
includes the supply of the equipment,
its re-assembly underground and
commissioning.
Botha says, “Our long term relation-
ship with Petra Diamonds, the quality
of our equipment and the fact that it is
100% South African manufactured con-
tributed to Osborn’s success in securing
this order amid competition from other
players, including Pilot Crushtec and
ELB Equipment.”
Botha concludes: “Installations at
Okorusu in Namibia, Diro Manganese
in the Northern Cape, at Cluff Gold’s
Kalsaka Mine, Matty Investments in
Zambia, MGC Crushing in Mozambique
and the Storm Diamonds’ Kao Mine in
Lesotho all bear testament to the suc-
cess of Osborn’s modular plants.”
Chinese order
The Chinese order for an Osborn modu-
lar plant is, says marketing director,
Martin Botha, “a ground-breaking one.
It is an exciting and significant turn-
around to see a South African machine
shipped to China, while machines
