SA French supplies Saltec passenger hoists to Zambian mines

Safety and operational reliability are key for equipment that operates on mines, and even more so when this machinery is responsible for the vertical movement of personnel. SA French will supply two Saltec T1 0.5 t passenger hoists to copper mines in Zambia. The two hoists will facilitate the movement of personnel, together with light tools and equipment, up the shaft headgear framework.

Louw Smit, sales manager at SA French, says that the order was secured as a turnkey contract which includes the supply, installation and commissioning of the two hoists at two different mines in the region.

“Vertical transport solutions always need to comply with stringent safety parameters and the Saltec passenger hoists incorporate advanced security systems including a speed regulator and an overspeed emergency braking system on an independent pinion,” Smit says.

These features will ensure that mine personnel are able to undertake maintenance activities safety and efficiently, optimising the productivity on the mines. Smit says that the integral emergency brake on the Saltec hoist will bring the cabin to a gradual stop in the event of overspeed conditions during descent.

The Saltec hoists will be installed to reach a maximum height of 72 m and will be programmed to stop at five different levels on the headgear frame.

Manufactured by Torgar, Saltec passenger and material hoists feature rack and pinion drives ensuring reliable operation. This type of system also requires minimum maintenance and is considered the safest for vertical travel.

Constructed as a heavy duty elevator which is engineered to operate under the worst conditions, the Saltec hoist is manufactured from hot dipped galvanised steel and aluminium. The high strength cabin is equipped with loadcells to avoid overloading, while the sophisticated electronic control system has a functional user-friendly panel.

“SA French has a long association with customers on the African continent, both in the mining and construction sectors, and has a sound understanding of the often harsh operating conditions in which the equipment has to function,” Smit says. “This enabled us to recommend the optimum vertical transport solution to the mines.”