Page 58 - Modern Mining
Basic HTML Version
product news
56
02.13
Index to advertisers
ADT Security
IBC
Afrimat Limited
9
Air Liquide
50
Alien Systems & Technologies
52
Barloworld Power EPG
IFC
Becker Mining South Africa
43
Bell Equipment
31
Booyco Electronics
17
Brelko
48
Bruker South Africa
55
Capital Conferences
40
Classic Seminars
Insert
Condra Cranes
30
Horne SA
8
Hytec Fluid Technology
51
ifm Electronic SA
OBC
K’Enyuka
54
KEW Foundries
16
Kopex Africa
22
MDM Technical Africa Pty Ltd
28
Minova RSA
36
MMD Mineral Sizing
24
Multotec Group
53
New Concept Mining Pty Ltd
42
Projects IQ
25
Royal HaskoningDHV
7
RSV
2
Sarens South Africa Pty Ltd
47
Schneider Electric
OFC
srk consulting
5
Tenova Mining & Minerals
14
Transcor Truck Hire
11
TWP
13
Veyance Technology
49
Volvo Penta
45
Mobile crane hire company Johnson Crane
Hire recently completed one of the biggest
lifts in its recent history when it set two fur-
nace units, each weighing 400 tons, in place
at a local refinery.
Johnson Crane Hire is the only crane
hire company on the African continent with
a Liebherr LR 1750 (750-ton) lattice boom
crawler crane in its fleet and this heavy duty
crane was deployed to the refinery site dur-
ing a recent planned shutdown to lift the two
massive furnaces into place. Johnson Crane
Hire also conducted another smaller lift of a
tower weighing 94 tons.
“Although our customer, a lifting special-
ist, did a rigging study for these lifts, we con-
ducted our own study to ensure the furnace
lifts were both possible and safe to perform,”
says Peter Yaman, GM of Johnson Crane
Hire’s Heavy Lift Division. “We also conduct-
ed our own risk assessments and generated
method statements.
“The giant LR 1750 is generally able to
handle higher lifts and heavier loads to fur-
ther radii than any other crane currently avail-
able locally. It was mobilised about three
weeks prior to the lift date to ensure it had
been load tested and that we were ready and
waiting to meet the customer’s lift date from
the moment the customer gave us the go-
ahead. Knowing that the crane and crew, in-
cluding a back-up operator, were standing by
Big lift by Johnson at local refinery
just outside the site area took some
pressure off the customer who was
under severe time constraints.
“The lifts took place within an
established plant area, directly af-
ter the original furnaces were de-
molished. We assembled the crane
nearby and had placed the crane
mats in the working area prior to
the demolition. Both furnaces were
almost fully assembled and the big-
gest challenge we faced was the
very limited space in which we had
to conduct the lifts – clearances
were extremely tight. This particu-
larly tested our crew’s skills when it
came to arriving at the correct tail
swing radius.”
On the furnace lifts, a superlift
counterweight of 360 tons was used
to balance the weight of the furnac-
es. Johnson Crane Hire had import-
ed a 600-ton capacity hook block
for the 750-ton crane, although on
the day its existing 400-ton capacity
hook block proved sufficient.
“Safety was the primary driver on
this project,” says Yaman. “All Johnson Crane
Hire crew members had to pass full medical
examinations and go through the refinery’s
safety induction programme, as well as an
additional site-specific induction focused on
the area in which we were going to work. Our
team also adhered to Johnson Crane Hire’s
stringent safety principles.”
Alison Dickson, Johnson Crane Hire,
tel (+27 11) 455-9258
According to Johnson Crane Hire, its LR 1750 crane is gener-
ally able to handle higher lifts and heavier loads to further
radii than any other crane currently available locally.
As part of a planned extension to increase
mine capacity to 11 Mt at the Moatize coal
mine in Mozambique, Vale, one of the world’s
leading mining companies, has signed a ma-
jor contract with Metso to deliver 110 heavy
duty slurry pumps.
In addition to the pumps, all of which are
specially designed for the demanding con-
ditions associated with mining, the contract
also covers initial start-up and commission-
ing, together with service training and assis-
tance for the first six months of operation.
Comments Graham Van Bosch, Regional
Sales Manager, Slurry Handling Solutions,
Metso South Africa: “This pump contract with
Vale is another good example of Metso’s glob-
al project handling capabilities, utilising our
experts based in South Africa, Portugal and
Brazil. As the biggest single pump order ever
received in South Africa, this represents a real
breakthrough for Metso in Mozambique.”
All equipment will be shipped to the
Moatize coal mine situated in the central part
of Tete province, where Vale started coal pro-
duction in August 2011.
The Moatize delivery – which will be com-
pleted by the fourth quarter of 2013 – con-
sists of heavy and extra heavy duty horizontal
and vertical spindle spillage pumps specifi-
cally designed and sized for the given ap-
plications, most of which are considered as
arduous.
High Chrome Iron alloy is the material best
suited for coal applications providing excel-
Metso wins Moatize slurry pump order
lent abrasion resistance with a good corro-
sion resistance. This material has proven it-
self time and time again at a variety of coal
mines throughout the world with enormous
success, says Metso.
The most aggressive duty for the Moatize
application, as with all mines, is the cyclone
feed pumps where the Metso XM400 pump
has been selected. This extra heavy duty de-
sign was specifically chosen because of its
large diameter impeller, which enables the
pump to operate at minimum rpm, reducing
impeller tip speed and hence rate of wear.
The inlet diameter is such that the inlet veloc-
ity is also at a minimum, reducing both abra-
sion and impact wear.
Graham Van Bosch, Metso,
tel (+27 11) 961-4000/4154,
e-mail:
