Bosch Holdings engineering the new Mkuze sugarcane facility in KZN
April 2021
News
Bosch Holdings was appointed as the consulting engineer for the design and project management of a new cane trans-loading station in Mkuze. The new facility will assist small-scale sugarcane farmers in the Makhathini region, on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The new rail side facility incorporates the design and installation of advanced equipment, including a new spiller, which is capable of offloading road vehicles at a rate of over 300 tons per hour, over a 24 hour period.
“A decommissioned spiller was sourced by Bosch Projects, in collaboration with Bosch Trading, a subsidary of Bosch Engenharia of Brazil,” says Bosch Holdings’ Bill Yeo. “After dismantling and refurbishment, the spiller was shipped to Durban, where it arrived in record time, reducing the project timelines by six months. The spiller design has been upgraded by Bosch Engenharia engineers to have a pull-out force of 50 tons and the hooking bar has been modified to accommodate the dimensions of South African vehicles. Other modifications include conversion to a frequency of 50 Hz and a robust control system that is suitable for harsh outdoor agricultural conditions.
“The Bosch Holdings team is proud to be part of this initiative that will benefit nearly 2000 small-scale sugarcane farmers. From the beginning of the upcoming sugar season, cane grown in the Makhathini region will be transported by road to the new trans-loading facility at Mkuze and transferred by the spiller, from road trucks to rail wagons, for transportation to the Felixton mill.
“With the new trans-loading station, small-scale farmers, who have been struggling with crippling transport expenses for some time, are expected to benefit from a total savings in operational costs of about R6,8-million per year. This initiative also creates jobs during construction and operation of the rail siding. Another significant benefit will be a reduction in the volume of trucks on congested roads.”
Bosch Projects, which has served the global sugar industry for over 60 years, works closely with its sister company, Bosch Engenharia, to develop high-performance equipment that adheres to stringent international quality standards and meets exact requirements for cost-efficiency and optimum productivity in the sugar sector.
Bosch Trading acquires and supplies both new and refurbished plant and equipment from Brazil, on behalf of South African sugar clients. This service is a significant benefit in reducing project costs and reducing installation timelines.
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