Motion Control & Drives


BMG Zambia’s power transmission solutions

October 2023 Motion Control & Drives

BMG’s Zambian operations in Lusaka and Kitwe provide power transmission components and support services to all sectors to ensure high productivity, reduced energy consumption, minimal downtime and long service life of systems.

“BMG is a complete process solutions provider to all sectors of industry, which means companies can access all essential quality branded products and essential support services from one reliable supplier. This integrated approach guarantees lower production costs and higher efficiencies,” explains Ian Smith, country manager for BMG Zambia. “We believe the introduction of a structured maintenance management programme, which can be implemented in-house or partially outsourced to a professional organisation, is critical to maximising production efficiencies in all industries.

“Maintenance of machinery can be a very expensive exercise, not only in terms of the cost of spare parts and labour, but also lost production due to machinery breakdowns or plant stoppages for unscheduled maintenance. Careful consideration therefore needs to be given to disciplined inspections and planned maintenance of all items of plant and production machinery. Over-maintenance can be almost as costly in terms of lost production as under-maintenance, so a careful balance is critical.

“There are several factors contributing to reduced downtime, lower maintenance requirements and lower operating costs. These include care in the initial design and manufacture stage of the plant, the selection of compatible quality branded mating components, and professional installation with particular attention to meticulous alignment of coupled components. Servicing of all sections of machinery in the factory should be carefully planned on the basis of the estimated time for each procedure or service in order to create a controlled work load for the maintenance staff. Even small faults in design, operation and maintenance can have a negative impact on productivity and safety.”

BMG’s proactive maintenance service, which encompasses predictive maintenance services including condition monitoring and oil analysis, is enhanced by advanced technical and design support across all functional disciplines. BMG’s maintenance and support services also include mobile breakdown, repair and maintenance support. These ensure production plants are up and running as quickly as possible following a breakdown.


BMG’s Power Transmission division is committed to keeping every plant in a fully productive output for as long as possible, without unnecessary maintenance or unplanned stoppages. As a result, output capacities are increased, without the investment in additional production lines and machinery.

Downtime as a result of breakdown or routine maintenance is a critical factor affecting efficiency and production. Stock is available for a wide range of standardised components. These are machined to accept taper-lock sleeves with bore sizes to suit a range of standard size shafts. They also facilitate easy fitting of these components to the shafts of machinery like motors and gearboxes. Installation time is reduced by eliminating the necessity for on-site machining.

Standardised components like V-belts, sprockets, couplings, slat top chain and belt systems, taper bushes, belt and chain tensioners, and geared motors accommodate broad power input and torque capacity requirements and a wide speed range.

The accurate installation of correct power transmission equipment ensures a long-term saving in equipment replacement costs, and reduced plant downtime and maintenance requirements. When alignment has been meticulously completed, it is critical that all components are securely located and doweled. This will ensure reduced wear, resulting in lower power losses, improved efficiency, and eliminated vibration. The net effect is an extended operating life for all drive components.

In belt and chain drives, the correct tensioning and accurate alignment of pulleys or sprockets also extends operating life of components. As a result of reduced friction, power consumption is lowered. Chain drives also require correct lubrication to ensure trouble-free operation. Grit and abrasive materials adversely affect the life of open chain drives.

The BMG team in Zambia works closely with customers in all sectors, including water and wastewater treatment facilities, mining, the food and beverage sector, and petrochemical plants. BMG also supplies and supports service providers to power generation and pharmaceutical plants, and ports, rail and road facilities.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

BMG achieves GBCSA Net Zero Waste Level 2 Certification
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG News
BMG has achieved Green Building Council South Africa Net Zero Waste Level 2 Certification after diverting more than 90% of operational waste from landfill, demonstrating how practical sustainability measures can deliver measurable environmental and commercial benefits.

Read more...
Osterwalder launches multi-plate, fully electric powder press
Motion Control & Drives
Osterwalder Technology has launched the MPneo 480, a 480 kN fully electric multi-plate powder press with up to six cross-pressing modules. Designed for hard metals, ceramics and advanced engineered materials, the press supports complex geometries and offers optional

Read more...
Ground helical racks for superior precision and durability
Motion Control & Drives
KHK USA has announced its ground helical rack series, engineered for smooth operation, high torque transmission and long-lasting performance in precision motion systems. The racks are designed for demanding environments such as machine tools, high-speed automation equipment and precision positioning systems.

Read more...
SpinDrive launches Magma X100 active magnetic bearing controller
Motion Control & Drives
SpinDrive has launched the Magma X100, a new active magnetic bearing controller platform for applications up to 150 kW. The platform brings oil-free, frictionless bearing technology to mobile machinery, semiconductor equipment and other high-speed rotating equipment at a cost comparable to conventional bearing solutions.

Read more...
Sealed split spherical roller bearings deliver rapid installation and reduced downtime
SKF South Africa Motion Control & Drives
SKF Cooper sealed split spherical roller bearings combine a split design with premium engineering to enable rapid installation and simplified maintenance, reducing mean time to repair by up to 70% and keeping operations running in sectors from mining to food and beverage.

Read more...
Internationally engineered valves support uptime in tough conditions
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG Valves, Actuators & Pump Control
BMG’s Fluid Technology division works closely with industry in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure that all valves, strainers and flow control equipment supplied meet the exact requirements of every application and also conform with stringent industry standards.

Read more...
Inclination sensors for motion control
ifm - South Africa Sensors & Transducers Motion Control & Drives
The JBC dynamic inclination sensor from ifm offers accurate angle measurement in the most demanding conditions, filtering out motion disturbances such as vibrations, shocks and vehicle dynamics to deliver reliable inclination values via IO-Link or programmable switch outputs.

Read more...
Inside the Giant Magellan Telescope with mechanical engineering at astronomical scale
Motion Control & Drives
Construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, set to become the world’s largest Gregorian optical infrared telescope, is well underway. While its scientific mission is to transform astronomy, its performance depends heavily on advanced mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic engineering.

Read more...
Drives cut energy use by up to 30% amid rising costs
Motion Control & Drives
Rockwell Automation’s PowerFlex 755TS variable frequency drives are delivering energy reductions of 10 to 30% in Africa’s industrial operations, with adaptive control and predictive maintenance features that cut downtime by up to 50%.

Read more...
Proportionate specification for hazardous locations
Motion Control & Drives
As automation spreads deeper into processing, handling and transport operations, motors are increasingly required to operate in spaces that sit on the edge of hazardous zones.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved