Exacting industrial gearbox requirements met for DRC mine
October 2021
News
SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa found its well-established capabilities and extensive experience tested to the full, when it was contracted by a new copper mine in the DRC to supply conveyer drives capable of operating in an extremely hot and humid environment where heavy downpours of rain are also common.
“One of the key considerations was to ensure sufficient cooling,” explains Andreas Meid, head of department, Engineering. “Fortunately, our upgraded X.e-Series gearbox, together with the different cooling fans that we have available, were up to the task.”
The high humidity in the DRC also meant the standard breather used in the typical southern African environment, for example, was unsuitable. “If we had used a standard breather, where the main consideration is keeping dust out of the gearbox, there would have been a risk of getting moisture inside the unit and reducing the life of the oil and components,” adds Meid. “Our solution was a Des-Case breather that removes the moisture from the air and prevents it from entering the gearbox.”
SEW-EURODRIVE’S journey with the DRC mine began in 2018, when it was contracted to provide gearbox units for the underground conveyors bringing the ore out of the mine. There were subsequent orders for processing plant conveyors and above-ground conveyors.
“We offered what we call a power pack, which comprises a gearbox, a motor and high-speed, low-speed couplings, all mounted on a common base plate,” explains Meid. “We imported the gearboxes from Germany and manufactured the base plates and everything else in South Africa to meet customer requirements. Then we put it all together and shipped it up to the DRC.”
Prior to shipping, testing was conducted at an independent facility with the client present, which gave peace of mind before the packs left South Africa. Once the packages arrived at the mine – in some cases a 4-week road trip exacerbated by Covid-19 border regulations – SEW-EURODRIVE technicians were there to oversee installation and commissioning. The mine began operating in June 2021 and all is proceeding to plan.
“It was not a simple project as the client’s requirements were stringent and there were a large number of units involved,” concludes Meid. “But ultimately, we delivered according to the requirements.”
Further reading:
New Würth Elektronik location in South Africa
News
A new Würth Elektronik branch has opened in Brackenfell, Western Cape. The location operates under the name Wurth Electronics South Africa and will serve local customers, as well as being responsible for markets in Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.
Read more...
John Thompson and BECS partner to deliver biomass energy solutions
ACTOM Electrical Machines
News
John Thompson, a division of ACTOM and South Africa’s leading provider of industrial energy solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions, a specialist developer and supplier of biomass energy projects. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the deployment of reliable, renewable steam solutions to industrial customers across Africa.
Read more...
Academy pumps out the next generation of experts
News
KSB Pumps and Valves has invested in a specialised training centre designed to equip internal and branch staff and certified partners with in-depth knowledge of KSB products and systems.
Read more...
Celebrating the power of diversity in the engineering sector
News
The engineering sector has historically been a male-dominated field, and to a large extent it still is. However, this is changing, and the shift is gaining significant momentum as more women begin to take up leadership roles, spearheading innovation and driving inclusive growth.
Read more...
Fifteen years of promoting innovation and supporting engineering excellence
RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa is celebrating 15 years of promoting innovation and supporting engineering excellence through DesignSpark, its pioneering online engineering platform.
Read more...
From the Editor's desk: What happened to the metaverse?
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
One of the most interesting technical crashes in recent years is the metaverse. As recently as 2022, it was white hot, with massive hype led by Meta. Even Bill Gates was saying that in two to three years
...
Read more...
Omniflex celebrates 60th anniversary
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
News
Remote monitoring specialist Omniflex is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Read more...
Nidec adopts Siemens Teamcenter for electric motor development
Siemens South Africa
News
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Nidec Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer and distributor of electric motors, has adopted Teamcenter X software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to achieve innovative motor development and supply to set new industry standards, including automotive.
Read more...
Yaskawa Southern Africa and Sol-Tech advance industrial robotics training
Yaskawa Southern Africa
News
Yaskawa Southern Africa has announced a strategic collaboration with Sol-Tech, a private vocational training institution based in Pretoria, to strengthen technical education in industrial robotics and support the development of future-focused talent for South Africa’s evolving manufacturing sector.
Read more...
Building skills and sharing knowledge for growth in Africa
SEW-EURODRIVE
News
As a leading provider of drive and automation solutions across the continent, SEW-EURODRIVE recognises that local insight and on-the-ground capability are critical to delivering effective sustainable results. The company continues to invest in people development and technical training within its network of African subsidiaries and partners, supporting the long-term growth of its customers and the broader industrial ecosystem.
Read more...
printer friendly version