Vacuum technology helps mining supplier
November 2017
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Tectra Automation supplied three Schmalz vacuum lifters to mining supplier RSC Ekusasa Mining’s packaging lines at its resin manufacturing facility in Johannesburg. Used to palletise boxes of the company’s RocLoc resin capsules at the end of three production lines, the lifters replace more manual, labour-intensive item handling, allowing the facility to increase overall packing efficiency and safety.
Used in roof bolting applications in underground mining, the company manufactures a range of different capsules in various lengths and diameters, as well as setting times from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. The company currently produces up to 45 000 boxes of resin capsules per month, with between 45 and 60 boxes per pallet.
“We began building this facility in 2013, and, with a central focus on a lean, efficient production process, the Schmalz vacuum lifters were part of the design from the start,” explains Alfredo Piroddi, general manager Resin at RSC Ekusasa Mining. “It brings the handling operation in line with international standards and enhances the productivity and safety of workers loading the boxes onto pallets.”
The three handlers – the Schmalz JumboFlex vacuum tube lifter range – provide an ergonomic solution with intuitive load lifting, lowering and releasing. “They are designed for handling lighter items up to 50 kg, and so were the ideal solution for these boxes, which weigh around 20 kg on average,” explains Malan Bosman, product manager Pneumatics at Tectra Automation.
“The lifters don’t just speed up the operation, they take the fatigue and physical strain away from the pallet loading process,” continues Piroddi. “Issues around worker health and higher levels of absenteeism associated with manual lifting and loading are eliminated by the enhanced ergonomic operation of the vacuum handling process.”
With health and safety of labour becoming more of an issue in South Africa, these considerations are becoming increasingly important. “The use of vacuum handling technology is definitely growing,” concludes Bosman. “With manual labour being both less efficient and less safe, more and more line managers are implementing it into their operations.”
For more information contact Malan Bosman, Tectra Automation, +27 (0)11 975 9700, [email protected], www.hytecgroup.co.za
Further reading:
CompAir introduces compressed air management solution
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
To maximise savings and extend the lifespan of compressed air systems, CompAir is launching the Compressed Air Management Solution powered by Ecoplant, an intelligent system in the cloud that represents the next level in operational management, and maintain the health
Read more...
Heavy impact, smart control
Axiom Hydraulics
Editor's Choice Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Every now and then a project lands on your desk that’s equal parts heavy machinery and fine control - a tantalising mix for any engineer. A client approached Axiom Hydraulics with a project exactly like this.
Read more...
Making lines safer with smarter connection
Hydrasales
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Imagine connecting multiple hydraulic lines or a combination of hydraulic, electrical and grease lines with one single, confident movement. That’s the everyday convenience operators get from Faster’s MultiFaster multi-coupling systems.
Read more...
Achieving clean and dry compressed air
Artic Driers International
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Compressed air is an expensive source of motive power so it makes good sense to supply clean, dry compressed air to your distribution system.
Read more...
Navigating ISO standards in hydraulic cylinder manufacturing
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
For hydraulics professionals, understanding and leveraging ISO standards is a powerful way to ensure quality and gain a competitive edge. Here is a guide to the most critical ISO standards for hydraulic cylinder manufacturing, showing how to use them to your advantage.
Read more...
Hydraulic system upgrades to boost performance and save money
CT Hydraulics (Nqoba)
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Those working with hydraulic or pneumatic systems know that keeping your machinery running at peak performance balances productivity and cost. As systems age, they often become less efficient, requiring more energy and more frequent repairs. The good news is that you don’t always need to invest in an entirely new machine to solve these problems.
Read more...
Top 10 questions about pressure and temperature gauges
SA Gauge
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Some questions never go out of date, and in our industry, a few have been asked for decades. At SA Gauge, we hear them every week. Here are the ten questions we hear most often, and the practical answers that can save time, money and frustration.
Read more...
Gauge maintenance and calibration tips for shutdown or restart periods
SA Gauge
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
As the year winds down, many plants across South Africa prepare for the annual shutdown. It’s also the perfect opportunity to give your pressure and temperature gauges the attention they deserve.
Read more...
Axial piston pump series for next-gen hydraulic applications
Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Moog has launched its new AXP Axial Piston Pump Series, a next-generation hydraulic solution engineered to deliver optimal performance, reliability and cost efficiency for industrial applications.
Read more...
The role of analogue gauges in a digital world
SA Gauge
Editor's Choice Pneumatics & Hydraulics
With so much focus on digital systems, remote monitoring and automation, it’s easy to assume that traditional analogue gauges have become outdated. Yet if you step into almost any plant, mine or processing facility, you’ll still find them in daily use, quietly doing their job without fuss.
Read more...
printer friendly version