October - November 2013
MODERN QUARRYING
19
AT THE QUARRY FACE
WITH
PORTLAND
for the past year, and is really pleased that she has
been appointed as plant operator in the quarrying
division. “She is doing well,” Moosa confirms, “she
is keen and asks a lot of questions, which we are
always pleased to answer. She has been a great
help to me already, and we are training her further
in her new position.”
He says the quarry is extremely busy and is
pulling out all stops to meet its many orders.
Products include 6,0 mm, 9,0 mm, 13 and 19 mm,
G4, G5, G6 and G7, and it was clear to see that the
quarry was working hard at keeping 19 mm on the
floor, because of its Power Construction contract
for the resurfacing of the R44 between Klapmuts
and Wellington, among others.
Above and left:
The primary
plant at the Portland operation.
Top:
The Portland operation in
Durbanville.
Portland’s new quarry manager Zain Moosa with MQ
editor Dale Kelly. The state-of-the-art computerised system
was installed by Technoserve.
OUP
The company’s triple-deck screen is working
well and the new feeder into the primary is prov-
ing its worth.
The computerised upgrade was carried out
by Technoserve, and is a Scada system with a 500
tag licence. There are four state-of-the-art Belco
cameras which monitor all aspects of the plant. All
cables on the plant have been replaced, with old
underground cabling currently being removed.
Schneider has been responsible for the contactors
and with the new softstarter, the plant is saving on
electricity costs.
Looking at the system in action,
MQ
was able
to see start up of the tunnel feeders onto the C4
belt. At the time of my visit, the plant was set at
30 Hz, to choke feed the crushers. Moosa is particu-
larly proud of the new system’s lockout system and
couldn’t wait to demonstrate how it works.
On my visit, I noticed that new workshops are
under construction, together with a brand new
canteen. The old canteen is being converted into
an oil store. “We are pumping out stone at the
moment,”Moosa says,“so our plant isn’t very pretty
right now. But this will be rectified very soon.”
For new readers, the Portland group was
