Tag Archives: eMalahleni

Martin Engineering recognises 20 years of growth in Africa

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Martin Engineering has celebrated its 20th anniversary of growth across the African continent, recognising its roots in the South Africa-based business, Scorpio Conveyor Products, it acquired in November 2003.

Two decades after this activity, Martin Engineering has grown significantly, with employee numbers increasing 10-fold to almost 200 people, and a customer base that now spans 10 countries and a range of industries across Africa.

The business also has plans for further growth thanks to a team of technical experts and an innovative range of products that deliver cleaner, safer and more productive materials handling, it said.

Joining the 20th anniversary celebrations was global CEO, Robert Nogaj, who travelled from the USA to visit Martin’s regional headquarters in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, South Africa, to meet employees and business partners who have played a key role in Martin’s success.

Nogaj said: “The African continent is a global supplier of essential minerals and metals, and an important market for Martin Engineering, so I am delighted to be spending time with colleagues to celebrate 20 years’ supporting producers here in South Africa and across the continent.

“Over the past two decades, we have made substantial investments in our production facilities and introduced new technologies that have helped our African business to grow and evolve. Yet the most important investment we have made is in supporting and developing our people, fostering talent and promoting diversity in the workplace.

“This is no better evidenced than by the recent appointment of Fran van der Berg as General Manager for Africa. What makes Fran’s achievement even more remarkable is that she began as a temporary member of staff in our marketing team 12 years ago and has proved herself in a number of roles before becoming General Manager. It’s great to see such personal development and we hope her achievement will inspire many others to aspire to leadership roles, regardless of their gender or background.”

Martin is among the engineering firms in South Africa that have achieved ISO45001 (health and safety management) accreditation, reflecting the company’s commitment to maintaining high safety standards and fostering a true safety culture. The team has also achieved B-BBEE Level 2 in South Africa, demonstrating the significant steps taken to promote black economic empowerment, through training programs and an approach to community development that prioritises the employment and support of local people in each operating location.

Robert Whetstone, Martin’s Area Vice President for Europe, Middle East, Africa & India, who also took part in the 20-year celebrations, said the firm’s involvement in Africa has brought huge benefits to Martin Engineering globally: “As a company we’re renowned for having unrivalled know-how and expertise when it comes to solving common problems faced by bulk materials handlers in many foundation industries, from mining and quarrying to fertilizers and freight.

“In Africa we have a team of engineering professionals who have been able to export their specialist knowledge – along with new ways of working and their characteristic can-do approach – to benefit customers in other parts of the region and around the world. This is another demonstration that there is great strength in the diversity and empowerment of our people and that ultimately, we are better together.”

Mato ready to show off new primary, secondary conveyor belt cleaners at Electra Mining

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

Mato is set to unveil a range of new belt cleaners at Electra Mining Africa 2022, in Johannesburg, in September, using the platform to highlight plans to expand its supply footprint.

Having been founded with a specific mandate to manufacture and supply mechanical conveyor belt fastening systems, Mato Products, a Multotec Group company, says it has become a household name in belt lacing equipment and clip fasteners. The two product ranges remain the company’s bread and butter, confirms Managing Director Benjamin Sibanda.

However, when Sibanda took the reins at Mato, initially as General Manager back in 2015, one of his immediate tasks was to diversify the company’s offering, which prompted the move into belt cleaning systems. To mark its first foray into this market, the company displayed its first units at Electra Mining Africa 2016.

In 2019, Mato landed its first major contract to supply and maintain belt cleaners for a leading colliery in the South African coal region of Emalahleni. This was immediately followed by another major contract, this time at a Botswana colliery for both the plant and underground operations. Since then, the company’s belt cleaning range has gained significant momentum in the market, particularly in the coal sector.

Going forward, however, the focus is to further grow the supply footprint into other commodities beyond the mainstay market of coal. The plan has already been put into action with a recent contract to supply a gold mine in Gauteng, South Africa. Elsewhere, the company is due to sign a major belt cleaning contract with a Botswana-based diamond mine, which will represent its largest deal to date.

“We have traditionally enjoyed major success in the coal market, but we believe that now is the time to expand into other commodity areas such as gold, diamond, iron ore and platinum,” Sibanda says. “To achieve this, we will pivot Multotec’s existing footprint into areas we have never been before.”

The market expansion strategy will be buoyed by a range of new offerings to be displayed at Electra Mining, which is scheduled to take place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre from September 5-9.

“Our main focus this year will be nothing else but belt cleaners,” Sibanda says.

One of the new offerings on display will be the MDP & MTP primary belt cleaner, which replaces the locally made MCP3-S model. Initially, it will be imported from Mato Australia, the manufacturing hub for the Mato Group, but, following Mato Products SA’s recent appointment as the group’s second manufacturing hub, the new primary belt cleaner will be produced locally.

Unlike the old MCP3-S which used the spring tensioning system, the new MDP & MTP comes with a compression spring.

The downside of the spring tensioning system is that, over time, it gets fatigued, especially in tough ores with heavy vibrations. Once you lose the spring tensioning, Sibanda says, the belt cleaner is deemed ineffective.

“Instead of pulling in the blade onto the drive pulley system as the means of tensioning, the compression spring now allows us to compress the blade onto the drive pulley,” he said. “This approach offers a longer life, even in applications with heavy vibrations.”

Another new offering making its debut is the MUS3 secondary belt cleaner, designed to fit in small and restricted conveyor areas where limited space is available. It is also suitable for reversing conveyor belts such as feeder belts or belts which have roll back.

Completing the new line-up will be the MUS2 Duro, an upgraded version of the MUS2, which has a parallelogram designed into the cushion. This facilitates a constant blade angle attacking the material flow allowing automatic adjustability within the cleaner for when belt thickness varies.

“Previously, the MUS2 had a buffer and the tungsten blade separate from each other,” Sibanda says. “This presented major problems, especially in aggressive applications with high vibrations. As part of our own local design improvements, the tungsten tip is now moulded onto the buffer as one unit and has been implemented for the range globally as the best version, making the MUS2 Duro a more robust and long-lasting belt cleaner than the previous MUS2.”

Mentis Africa helps prepare mine rescue drill for action

Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Mentis Africa is helping prepare South Africa’s Chamber of Mines for potential industry accidents by supplying positive-grip, pressed-section planks and walkways from its Die-Line range for the chamber’s rescue drilling unit based at Colliery Training College (CTC) at eMalahleni in Mpumalanga.

The walkway’s non-slip features, combined with its high strength to weight ratio, made it ideal for the vehicle-mounted drilling unit, according to Rene Lombard, External Sales Representative at Mentis Africa. The walkways and planks have been installed all around the drill vehicle to facilitate easy movement of personnel.

“Its positive serration ensures good traction even in muddy and wet conditions, enhancing the safety and efficiency of people working on the drill during a mine rescue mission,” Lombard said. “Significantly, Mentis Die-Line walkways are lightweight so, while being very strong, adds little extra weight to the vehicle.”

The rescue drill is on 24-hour standby to be deployed, with the assistance of CTC staff, in the case of mine accidents. It can drill a 150 mm diameter hole into the underground area where an accident has occurred, allowing the area to be assessed by camera, and for food and water to be supplied.

It is also capable of drilling a hole of 635 mm in diameter, down which a capsule is lowered to bring trapped mineworkers to surface.

“The Mentis Die-Line products are simple to install, requiring no specialised tools and minimal welding or clipping to supports,” Lombard says. “All the necessary bolts, nuts, washers, fishplates, jointing channels, saddle clamps, splice plates and mesh clips are provided.”

Lombard noted that the Mentis Die-Line walkway sections – plants with 2 mm thickness and walkways sections with a 2.5 mm thickness – can be provided in either 500 mm or 750 mm widths at a standard length of 2.4 m.

“Where the walkway or panel is subject to a corrosive environment – like harsh chemicals or saltwater – the mild steel construction can be bitumen-dipped or galvanised,” she says. “This allows these versatile products to be used in a wide variety of applications.”