Maptek’s new streamlined I-Site 8400 laser scanner is an ideal option for sites requiring routine survey, topographic and volumetric tasks. It is a lighter instrument (weighing only 12 kg), with internal digital compass, onboard controls, and USB memory storage. The maximum range of 1,000 m and accuracy within 20 mm suits most mine applications, such as daily pit pick-ups and stockpile monitoring/reconciliation.

The robust quality and ergonomic design of the I-Site 8800 laser scanner have been retained in the I-Site 8400, and it too is capable of handling large survey workloads in the field. Mobile scanning is conducted easily by fitting the scanner to site vehicles with the Maptek I-Site vehicle mount.

“The I-Site 8400 more than meets market demands for a ruggedised, simple topographic survey instrument,” said Athy Kalatzis, Manager of Maptek’s laser scanning business unit. “Data is captured and stored on removable memory by controls incorporated into the scanner. Connection to a tablet PC is optionally available for extra scan resolutions.”

Maptek says the I-Site 8400 meets the high standard it sets for all of its hardware. All components are extensively tested and quality assured. The scanner has been optimised to operate in surface conditions ranging from below zero to 50°C, and can also be used underground.

All data captured using the I-Site 8400 laser scanner can easily be viewed using Maptek I-Site Studio software, which has a host of features and tools to quickly turn scan data into valuable results, and is a preferred point cloud processing software for topographic and mine surveyors globally.

Larger operations often have more than one scanner to cover all bases. Operations with both I-Site 8800 and I-Site 8400 scanners will be able to optimise survey productivity by choosing the appropriate scanner for the task. “The economic I-Site 8400 is a flexible workhorse,” it says, “while the I-Site 8800 offers longer range and an integrated high resolution digital panoramic camera for specialised face mapping and geotechnical analysis.”

Croatia-based Dok-Ing, the manufacturer of the XLP Diesel Dozer, which has been widely used in South Africa’s deep platinum mines for a number of years, has developed a new Ultra Low Profile solution. The new machine has dimensions of 3,146 x 1,600 mm and a height of only 58 cm which puts the machine in the ULP equipment class. Dok-Ing states that its new offering is the only machine currently available in this size category.

New technical solutions to further enhance operating performance have also been incorporated into the new ULP dozer. The tracks enable the model to work on slopes of over 30° allowing working and driving flexibility on all types of mining surfaces that has not been possible to date. New systems have also been used to manage the built-in batteries to ensure safe operation, constant power and power consumption control. The low power consumption means it is capable of a working capacity of 700 t/h of ore without recharging. The recharging of the batteries allows up to 2.5 h of use and is conducted using a Dok-Ing high speed charger. The ULP dozer prototype has already been successfully tested in the South African platinum mines and is stated as having confirmed the expectations of the Dok-Ing research and development team. It has fulfilled the set criteria and, with some minor modifications, has now successfully completed the prototype phase. As such, the regular production of the dozer has already commenced, with two new machines prepared for delivery and several other units still in production.

The company believes that the successful completion of the ULP dozer project is just the start of a new generation of ULP equipment whose basic characteristics are their small size, low power consumption, reduced environmental impact with no exhaust gases, and higher productivity with a resulting increase in platinum production profitability. Dok-Ing has also started the construction of other ULP class mining machinery of which ULP bolter and drill rig prototypes will soon expected be completed.

Mutech, one of the UK’s leading electronics design and manufacturing companies, has pledged its charitable support to the National Coal Mining Museum for England (NCM) based in Overton, near Wakefield. The NCM, formerly Caphouse Colliery working mine, which ceased production in 1985, preserves the heritage of coal mining in England, attracting thousands of visitors annually from the UK and overseas.

Liz Orme, Development Officer for the NCM, explains: “With Mutech’s help we will continue to raise awareness of our exciting exhibitions and events as well as spread the word about the museum’s educational value for both children and adults. We are delighted that Mutech has chosen to support our work and we look forward to building a long term relationship with them in the future.”

Sarah Varney, Mutech Operations Director, comments: “As part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) we wanted to support a charity that would be relevant to our expertise in intrinsically safe mining equipment and therefore close to our hearts. In line with other sponsored museums, NCM’s funding will be reduced over the next four years, so the museum needs to attract donations, sponsorship, legacies and grants to continue to develop and expand. We are committed to helping the organisation keep the history of coal mining alive for future generations. Mutech is also looking forward to welcoming NCM personnel as guests of honour at our Christmas Open Day in December, and Mutech representatives will be visiting the museum in 2012.”

Mutech designs, builds and tests ATEX and MSHA approved products for customers in mining and other hazardous areas. A member of the Association of British Mining Equipment Companies (ABMEC), Mutech has 25 years experience in electronics design and manufacture of intrinsic safety equipment for leading worldwide companies.

Expert in intrinsic safety (IS) and other equipment for hazardous areas Mutech’s aim is to become a leading ‘Centre of Excellence’ particularly in life sciences. It specialises in providing bespoke solutions for demanding environments. Celebrating its silver jubilee in 2012, the company delivers a broad spectrum of electronics product development and manufacture.

There is new energy to harness the job-creating ability of the mineral sector, after the National Planning Commission admitted that South Africa had missed the boat during the recent commodity boom. But the industry and government need to be practical about how any new plans are to be brought to life, according to Roger Dixon, chairman of leading engineering consultants SRK Consulting.

In the run-up to the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town in February, Dixon highlighted the need to reassure investors - both local and foreign - not just about South Africa’s intention to reinvigorate the sector but its practical ability to implement its new commitment.

The much-praised National Development Plan, published in November 2011, made a frank judgement on the poor shape of the mining industry: despite the country’s clear mining potential - especially in minerals like platinum and manganese - the sector “has failed to benefit fully from the commodity boom of the last decade or more,” said the authors of the plan.

In fact, between 2001 and 2008, the sector shrank 1% a year while other mineral exporting countries grew by 5% on average; this has left the industry smaller than it was in 1994, and the nation has paid the price in lost job opportunities, tax revenue and foreign earnings.

“It is helpful that the NPC has been so candid about this, because everyone needs to realise that the mining sector can’t go on like this,” said Dixon. “The commission also made it clear that the reasons behind our poor performance still need to be dealt with: uncertainty in the regulatory framework and property rights; electricity shortages and rising prices; weakness in infrastructure, especially rail, ports and water; and skills gaps.”

He said research showed it was possible that mining could create between 100,000 and 200,000 jobs in the next 10 to 15 years, if these challenges could be addressed and mining could reach growth rates of 3-4%.

“We are seeing some good ideas coming out of the commission, and we must now generate the momentum to see these ideas into action,” said Dixon. “The question of how to implement the changes we need is a daunting one, and it is also constrained by our limited supply of technical, scientific and management skills.”

He lauded the government’s intention to allow for easier migration of strategic skills into the country, including the suggestion that foreign graduates from South African universities be given work permits for a period of time after successfully completing their studies.

“The mining sector could certainly benefit from the skills of foreign students who graduate from our mining schools,” he said. “Indeed, we should be making ourselves as attractive as possible to these kinds of professionals.”

Outside of the technical and financial issues that will be addressed at the Cape Town conference, there are broader social and political pressures that all stakeholders in the industry need to address - which the organisers have realised and built into the program.

“Around Africa, there is a growing urgency in the demand for jobs and a reasonable standard of living, and there are great expectations of the mining sector from the ranks of the poor and unemployed,” said Dixon. “While the relevance of this issue is not limited to mining companies, the conference itself has shown a growing interest in corporate social responsibility - and how mining in Africa relates to communities and their development.”

Dixon said that all delegates should take advantage of the global forum that the conference provides, to share practical solutions to the obstacles that prevent the continent’s minerals from benefiting wider communities within ‘host’ countries.

Marthinusen & Coutts (M&C), repairer of rotating electrical equipment, is close to completing an R8.6-million contract awarded in January 2011 by specialist winder consulting company DRA Technical Services (DRATS) on behalf of the client Konnoco Zambia, for the rewinding and refurbishment of the rock winder and man winder rotating machines for the Konkola North copper project. Konnoco Zambia is a subsidiary of Teal Minerals (Barbados), which is a Joint Venture owned by African Rainbow Minerals and Vale.
The rock winder was sourced from Deelkraal gold mine and M&C is conducting a complete rewind of the MG set AC drive motor, the two MG set DC generators and the two DC hoist motors. The man winder, sourced by DRATS from Chibuluma in Zambia, is undergoing a complete rewind of the DC hoist motor armature and refurbishment of the two field frames and five transformers for the winder.

Repair of the man winder’s field frames and transformers is being conducted at M&C’s dedicated rotating machinery repair facility in Zambia - the largest electro-mechanical repair facility on the Zambian and DRC Copperbelt. The remaining work has taken place at M&C’s Cleveland facility in South Africa. M&C will oversee the initial installation and commissioning of this equipment by the contracted winder supply companies, supervised by DRATS. Prior to commissioning in mid-2012, most of the equipment will be stored at the M&C Rotapro workshop in Benoni. Final commissioning on site will be conducted by M&C, involving activities such as setting the brush gears and making the halving joint connections.

This contract follows the recent successful repair of rock winder and man winder rotating machines, comprising drive motors and generators, for Great Basin Gold’s Burnstone mine near Balfour, Mpumalanga. Both winders were also secondhand machines sourced for the project by DRATS.

Eugene Lottering, High Voltage Administration Manager at M&C, says the company has established a close working relationship with DRATS and this has contributed to the success of the Konkola North Project contract to date.

DRATS’ Anthony Clark comments: “We regard M&C as specialists in their field. They have become our preferred contractor for this type of work, based on their direct experience with winder motors and the specialist expertise the company offers. M&C’s performance on the Burnstone project last year demonstrated not only their ability to apply this specialist knowledge, but also to conduct contract work to spec and on schedule.”

The Konkola North project demonstrates M&C’s engineering capability and, more specifically, its ability to design customised engineering solutions for customers using sophisticated technology. M&C has its own design room and has invested in critical equipment such as ‘full load’ test bays and crucial testing equipment enabling the company to manufacture and repair motors with unparalleled results.

Communities around the Australian state of Queensland will provide the many thousands of new employees needed to service Queensland’s resource sector expansion out to 2020, according to a QRC Growth Outlook Study released last week. Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche said that the study by Deloitte Access Economics with the co-operation of QRC member companies was an essential guide for industry, governments and communities in maximising the benefits to Queensland over the next decade.

The report is based on analysis of 66 resource sector projects either under study, committed or under construction. Combined they represent capital expenditure by 2020 of A$142 billion.

‘One of the report’s major findings is that if all identified projects proceed, Queensland’s minerals and energy industries will need another 40,000 workers-initially in construction over the next three years and then in operations for the remainder of the decade,’ Roche said.

‘In human terms, this is a re-run of the sector’s employment growth in Queensland over the past decade with direct employment rising from under 20,000 in 2001 to more than 60,000 this year.

‘However, the game has changed on a number of fronts with industries and regions being hit hard by global economic jitters.

‘It’s also no secret that the state’s resource communities are feeling the strain of the last growth surge and there is limited, if any appetite for another round given the lag-time in infrastructure and social service funding from governments. However, Bowen Basin resource project developers are currently factoring in an almost 25% increase in their residential workforce from the current 17,700 to an estimated 21,900 by 2020. Over the same period, the number of non-resident resource industry workers in the Bowen Basin could rise from 7,300 to 20,000 under a full growth scenario.

‘By 2020, just over half the Bowen Bowen resources workforce is forecast to be locally based. However, that should not detract from the fact that few regions anywhere in the country are likely to face population growth pressures of the magnitude projected for towns in that region.’

Roche said the QRC Growth Outlook Study shows that if all identified projects proceed, nearly 32,000 non-resident workers would be sourced from regions around Queensland, multiplying the economic benefits of the sector’s prospective growth across many communities.

‘The 25,000 people who have attended the state government’s Work for Queensland Mining and Gas Jobs Expos show that there’s massive interest statewide in opportunities to share in resource sector growth.

‘Armed with the rich data contained in the report to be released on Tuesday, Queensland is going to be better informed about the scope of both the opportunities and challenges ahead rather than reacting to forces shaped by economic revolution occurring in Asia,’ Roche said.