48
MODERN MINING
February 2014
PRODUCT News
Global equipment supplier FLSmidth,
which claims to be the mining industry’s
undisputed leader in deep level hoisting,
has initiated a five to seven year strate-
gic plan to expand its mine shaft systems
business. The plan will see it growing
organically, filling gaps in the market
and building the skills and experience to
become a one-source solution in the mine
shaft business worldwide, just as it is in the
mineral processing and cement industries.
This follows a formal integration of the
company’s mine shaft systems capabili-
ties in South Africa and Canada in 2012
to form a dedicated business unit within
FLSmidth. The mine shaft systems offering
comprises two distinct product lines serv-
ing a common and unique sector of the
mining industry – mine hoisting and mine
shaft equipment technology. FLSmidth’s
South African office is the global technol-
ogy centre for hoist design while its office
in Orillia, Canada, serves as the global mine
shaft equipment technology centre.
“ The new bu s i ne s s
unit jointly markets these
complementary product
lines which share the same
primary customer base,”
Wendy Norman, FLSmidth’s
Sales Manager responsible
for mine shaft systems, says.
“This is already proving an
effective consolidation of
the strong Dorr-Oliver®,
EIMCO® and Vecor® brands
and technologies, with the
combined scope of these
product lines adding up
to an extensive range of solutions for the
global mining industry.
“Both these product lines have long-
standing individual histories and robust
track records dating back many decades
– in fact, the combined operations have
been in mine shaft systems for more than
100 years. FLSmidth has installed more
than 90 % of the world’s Blair hoists and
has supplied numerous drum hoists larger
than 4,27 m in diameter.
“Since mine shaft systems was estab-
lished as a business entity last year, we’ve
started to see growth in our market share
within our traditional market strongholds
in North America and sub-Saharan Africa
which is directly attributable to the cross
selling of existing products by a dedicated
team.
“The mine shaft systems team has a
depth of expertise that enables us to offer
customdesigned equipment for maximum
output,” she continues. “Our people spe-
cialise in recommending improvements
based on problem areas in existing equip-
ment. While FLSmidth will never be a shaft
sinker or a shaft equipper, we have every
intention of growing our product lines to
offer more of the infrastructure around the
shaft. We believe there is major opportu-
nity to grow in these areas worldwide.”
At present, FLSmidth is carrying out
several hoist relocations from mines that
have reached the end of their life to new
mines, and also with a view to introducing
product improvements to older technolo-
gies. Between 2000 and 2010 the company
undertook nearly 30 product improve-
ment projects, from complete relocations
to technology upgrades.
Recently the mine shaft systems team
began installing a Blair Multi-Rope (BMR)
production hoist at Glencore’s Mopani
copper project in Zambia. This 5,5 m by
1,5 m hoist incorporates four drums and
is one of only about 50 BMR hoists of this
kind in the world.
FLSmidth also recently supplied two
6,5 m diameter, tower-mounted, four-rope
Koepe winders with deflection sheaves
to Impala Platinum’s No 16 Shaft near
Rustenburg — the first Koepe winders to
be used within this mining company. The
mechanically identical winders cater for
payloads of 25 000 kg for the rock hoist
and 22 500 kg for the personnel hoist.
In February 2012, FLSmidth received
an order for a second hoist for Royal
Bafokeng Platinum’s Styldrift operation
in Rustenburg. This follows the successful
commissioning of the FLSmidth-designed
winder for the mine’s main shaft in 2011.
The 5,5 m by 1,8 m double drum produc-
tion winder was installed early in 2013.
Terence Osborn, FLSmidth, tel (+27 10) 210-4820
Installation of the 80-t drum shaft for Mopani.
Shaft systems business poised for growth
