Conveyor belt scales are indispensable components for measuring bulk materials in mining and industrial operations – but their value is compromised if accuracy is poor.

“The ability to measure moving material in real time allows mines to monitor their mass balance and to ensure that the correct volumes are being fed by conveyor into various plant functions, for instance,” says Tinus Ludik, Sales Manager Bulk Materials Handling at Tru-Trac. “Operating under demanding conditions, belt scales must ideally remain not only functional but accurate – which is why we have developed solutions which stand out in terms of quality, repeatability and accuracy.”

Ludik notes that belt scales can also become less accurate over time, so there needs to be regular calibration to ensure that any extreme deviation is quickly rectified. When accuracy errors are high, a plant is prevented from operating at optimal productivity as plant operators can never be sure whether they are overloading critical equipment like mills.

Standards
“To avoid these risks, Tru-Trac’s range of belt scales are designed and manufactured to the highest standards, so operators can be confident of the readings they receive,” he explains. “This allows plants to operate at their highest efficiencies, with reliable data being provided for decision making.”

Separation or process solutions for commodities from chrome to iron ore must comply, or exceed, any mining company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. This is where a holistic separation solutions technology provider like Gravitas® Minerals can co-create an optimal solution based on its 40 years’ collective experience in commodities, technologies, and systems.

“We provide technologies that have a low carbon footprint that can recover and reuse scarce resources, such as water, and produce minerals that are much leaner,” says Gravitas® Minerals Chief Executive Tebogo Kale. The end product has a much higher value, in addition to less tailings deposition, which ultimately mitigates the client’s environmental liability and reduces costly rehabilitation measures.

ESG goals

A key aspect of Gravitas®’ approach is offering a process guarantee to derisk clients’ projects, ensuring they achieve their ESG goals in a sustainable manner. “The biggest value driver for us as Gravitas® is our process knowledge and collaborative partnerships,” highlights Kale. The technology provider understands different systems for different commodities and designs customised solutions.

Related Articles
Hytec Fluid Technology strengthens service offerings with Filtration Group Industrial partnership.
Hytec Fluid Technology strengthens service offerings with Filtration Group Industrial partnership
2 days ago
Its values are building longstanding client relationships, constantly improving and innovating, and being accountable and ethical in everything it does.

“We co-create sustainable mineral separation solutions based on our extensive process knowledge and collaborative partnerships,” says Kale. For example, Gravitas® has partnered with Fluid Systems (Dewatering), MetQ (Spirals), and Magquip (magnetic separators) to ensure it provides an extensive range of fine mineral separation technologies. From these technologies, using its flowsheet development and process integration capability, it is able to find suitable solutions for clients.

Gravitas® also stands out for its innovative technologies. “Our overall capability is very broad now,” Kale says of Gravitas®’ growth and development over the years. “If you look at our value chain, we start with our clients from a grassroots level because our aim is to co-create. We do not just propose a one-size-fits-all solution.”

Instead, as an important first step, Gravitas® interrogates the most pressing pain points its clients are experiencing in their operations. “Something that is very close to my heart is our customer journey. From the day we interact with the client, it becomes a journey with the customer, up until the solution.”

Key to Gravitas®’ partnerships is the development of their own technologies, which are at the forefront of the company’s innovation. The company has developed modular systems for both materials and commodities, including pilot systems for the beneficiation of tailings and run-of-mine material. They have also developed modules that recover 90% of water while producing a stackable product.

Gravitas® offers gravity separation for high-capacity fine mineral separation using a water-only process in the form of its Optima Separator. Magnetic separation provides for the separation of paramagnetic ultrafine material such as iron ore, chrome, and manganese by means of the SuperMag™ unit. Finally, ultrafine dewatering is available for dewatering and desliming at 50 micron.

“We are able to supply test units in order to give our clients proof of concept, so they have peace of mind in getting a viable solution tailor-made for their requirements,” adds Kale. “Our strategic focus is growth through technology adoption and to be a trusted partner for our clients in a range of commodity sectors.”

Kale concludes: “Our solutions-based approach brings people and technology together for the purpose of co-creation,” concludes Kale. This approach, which places the triple bottom line at the heart of their partnerships, ensures that Gravitas® is not only meeting but exceeding industry standards in sustainability and client satisfaction.”

Adjustable chocks from SKF will play an important role in the world’s largest visible/near-infrared telescope, the ELT, which is currently under construction in Chile

An unsung product from SKF’s catalogue – the adjustable chock – has played a key role in the construction of a huge telescope.

The European Southern Observatory’s Extremely Large Telescope (ESO’s ELT), now being built in Chile, will be the world’s largest visible/near-infrared telescope on completion in 2028. Its 39m-wide main mirror comprises 798 separate hexagonal pieces, attached to a base structure using steel flanges and SKF Vibracon adjustable chocks.

“Each flange sits on four adjustable chocks,” says Marco Colussi, a structural engineer at Italian engineering firm Cimolai, which is responsible for assembling the mirror. “The ability to readjust each mirror segment is key to the success of the telescope.”

Each low-profile Vibracon unit typically allows up to 12 mm of adjustment. However, the application needed up to 15 mm of adjustment – meaning several design tweaks were needed.

First, Cimolai inserted extra washers, allowing the adjustment range to be extended to 15 mm. This had to be performed with a positioning accuracy of tenths of millimetre, across the 39 m span of the mirror. The chock also had to fit into a limited design space – which was restricted to 25 mm in height.

In addition, the chocks were installed upside-down, to help Cimolai meet the stiffness requirements of the system. The high stiffness helps to reduce the weight of the mirror – which improves the telescope’s stability and performance.

Overall, the main mirror will use more than 9,500 SKF Vibracon SM 16 ELP-ASTR low-profile chocks – 12 for each mirror segment. Chocks are individually surface treated, to give them consistent quality and extend their performance in such a demanding environment.

The ELT will cost an estimated €1.4 billion to build. It will, among other things, search for exoplanets and study early galaxies. Hard to think that, for its vast size and cosmic ambitions, its success will rely partly on adjustable chocks just three inches in diameter.

1. Choose the right specification
Thickness – The thickness of the tank is very important. It is always recommended to use thicker fuel transport trailers for sale, especially when transporting large amounts of fuel.
The thickness of materials used in construction is an important factor in determining the service life of your palm oil tanker semi-trailer.

Tank capacity – You can choose according to the storage tank capacity. This will depend on the amount of fuel you want to transport to meet your needs.
Our diesel fuel trailer for sale has different capacities, 20 cubic meters, 35cbm, 40cbm, 60cbm.

Petroleum trailers for sale tank shape – There are different tank shapes. These include round, oval, and rectangular.

2. Choosing between carbon steel and aluminum tanker trailer
Steel fuel trailer for sale is usually a stronger construction in terms of withstanding weight compared to those of aluminum construction. This is an important factor to note in your choice of the fuel tanker.

The steel option is cheaper compared to the aluminum semi-trailer due to the manufacturing processes involved. It is easier to manufacture with steel than aluminum.

On the other hand, aluminum offers the best fuel capacity by volume due to its lightweight. The main challenge with an aluminum semi trailer is the costs due to the complexities involved in welding aluminum.

However, if you are taking into consideration how much fuel to transport at ago, then this would be the best option for you. It will increase your cost efficiencies during operations.

3. What liquid you want to transport
Different liquids have different requirements hence the material used for building petrol, diesel and edible palm oil tanker truck trailer will be different.
Different liquids have different chemical and physical characteristics that go a long way into determining the choice of truck fuel tanker trailer for sale to make.

Petrol and Diesel – Petrol tanker for sale used in the transportation of petrol and diesel are usually made of carbon steel. A carbon steel semi fuel tanks for sale is a low-cost construction and most importantly, it is easy to process.

Cooking oil – This is usually transported in an aluminum tanker trailer because it can avoid contaminating liquids. The fuel trailer for sale made of aluminum is also of a big advantage when it comes to clean-out.
Again, the semi fuel tanks for sale body are completely encapsulated using insulation materials that help in minimizing the loss of heat.

4. The Price of Palm Oil Tanker for Sale
The petrol tanker price is composed of chassis price, modification price, and optional equipment. Different chassis, different engines, different national exhaust emissions, different tank volumes, and different indeterminate factors make up the price of the gasoline tanker.

Green hydrogen must be produced efficiently to minimise the costs of production and demand for renewables.
* Conversion of electricity to hydrogen currently creates an energy loss of roughly 30% but there are technologies available today to reduce this loss.
* Efficient converters can increase the overall efficiency of green hydrogen production by roughly 1% – enough to power London for almost four years.

A new Danfoss Impact paper reveals that with hydrogen production set to consume more than half of today’s electricity demand by 2050, energy efficiency in its production is paramount. Decisive steps must be taken to scale its production for use in the hard to abate sectors, without putting an unmanageable strain on renewable energy production or
financial resources.

Danfoss calls for a nuanced approach to green hydrogen, because it will play a critical role in the transition away from fossil fuels. However more focus needs to be put on how we use and produce green hydrogen in the most efficient way, lowering cost and the demand for renewables.

Crucially, hydrogen production should be recognised as a limited resource that must be strategically allocated to sectors that are otherwise challenging to decarbonise such as heavy industry and long-distance transport.

_”The potential of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier is immense,”_ stated Mika Kulju, President, Danfoss Power Electronics and Drives. _”But it must be produced efficiently to minimise costs, and we need to deploy it judiciously. To maximise its impact, which is paramount, green hydrogen should be channelled into sectors where alternatives to fossil
fuels are limited, ensuring the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”___

With green hydrogen production requiring immense amounts of electricity, energy efficiency in its production is vital to its sustainability. While current green hydrogen conversion processes incur an energy loss of approximately 30%, existing technology can minimise this loss. For instance, efficient converters converting alternating current (AC) to
direct current (DC) for electrolysers can increase overall production efficiency by roughly 1%. Though seemingly small, a saving of 1% of the electricity demand in 2050 for hydrogen is enough to power London for almost four years.

Hydrogen holds significant promise in many countries’ climate strategies, with substantial funding programmes underway globally. However, rapid action is necessary. To realise the goals set by the Paris Agreement, global electrolysis capacity must reach more than 550
GW by 2030. Green hydrogen production can grow massively by 2030, but cost challenges are hampering deployment.

In fact, hydrogen-dedicated renewable energy capacity is expected to grow by 45 GW between 2022 and 2028 [1], some 35% lower than forecast a year ago due to slow progress on real-world implementation, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its latest Renewables report.

_“Hydrogen is no silver bullet, but we need to speed up cost-efficient, green hydrogen production because there is no doubt that hydrogen will play a crucial part in the green transition,”_ stated Mika Kulju.

Recovering excess heat from electrolysis is another vital energy efficiency measure. Hydrogen production creates incredible amounts of excess heat. In the EU alone, about 114 TWh can be recovered already by 2030, enough to cover Germany’s current domestic heating more than two times.

Mika Kulju added: _“The potential of recovering excess heat from electrolysis is so enormous that it would be a severe policy mistake not to consider it when planning future energy infrastructure. That’s also why it’s so critical to set the right regulatory and economic framework for an efficient large-scale rollout of hydrogen.”_

The new Danfoss Impact paper, _“Green hydrogen: A critical balancing act”_, presents a balanced approach to hydrogen where efficiency and affordability play a key role.

Key takeaways:

* By 2050, hydrogen production will require more than half of today’s total electricity demand.
* Green hydrogen should be considered a limited resource and prioritised for sectors that are otherwise hard to decarbonise.
* Hydrogen currently remains concentrated in traditional applications, but a rapid upscaling in hard to abate sectors like heavy industry and long-distance transport is necessary.
* Green hydrogen must be produced efficiently by minimising the cost, energy loss, and energy demand of its production.
* Conversion of electricity to hydrogen currently creates an energy loss of roughly 30% but there are technologies available today to reduce this loss.

Transnet is currently under significant scrutiny due to the recent Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) which ranked South Africa’s ports among the lowest of 405 evaluated worldwide. The challenges faced by the country’s ports have been further exacerbated by inclement weather conditions, impacting their operational efficiency. The latest Cargo Movement Update (CMU), prepared by Business Unity South Africa and the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, highlighted a significant week-on-week decline in container handling capacity, dropping from 8,244 to 5,737 containers daily. This 30.3% decrease in throughput capacity is attributed primarily to extreme weather conditions and equipment breakdowns, which have severely disrupted port operations.

The Port of Durban, one of the major ports in South Africa, experienced closures to incoming traffic due to adverse weather conditions. Additionally, the Eastern Cape ports faced operational challenges due to strong winds and vessel ranging, further impacting the overall efficiency of port operations. These disruptions come at a time when the global sea freight industry is grappling with intensified capacity shortages. The container shipping market has been particularly affected, with notable issues such as Maersk ceasing operations of a trans-Pacific service just eight weeks after its commencement, and nearly 50% of westbound Asia-Europe sailings failing to meet their scheduled departure times due to ongoing port congestion in Southeast Asian hubs.

Amid these capacity challenges, global freight rates have continued to rise for the ninth consecutive week, with a 13% increase recorded last week. Since the end of March, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index has seen a 76% increase, with no signs of decline in the near future. The containership charter market also remains strong, with rates increasing by 10% last week, further compounding the challenges faced by the global supply chain sector.

In response to these manifold challenges, public sector ocean freight executives in South Africa and beyond have criticized the World Bank’s latest CPPI. Locally, a logistics principal who requested anonymity suggested that the CPPI does not provide a fair comparison, as it lumps together ports with vastly different sizes and service-related dynamics. This critique raises questions about the validity and accuracy of the World Bank’s data metrics, especially given the institution’s disclaimer that it cannot guarantee the accuracy of its research.

The criticism highlights a broader issue within the global port performance assessment framework. The varying conditions and operational contexts of different ports make it difficult to create a standardized measure that accurately reflects the performance and efficiency of each port. This disparity is evident in the case of South African ports, which are facing unique challenges that are not necessarily comparable to those faced by ports in other regions.

The current situation underscores the need for more nuanced and context-specific evaluations of port performance. While the CPPI provides a useful benchmark, it should be complemented with other assessments that take into account the specific conditions and challenges faced by individual ports. This approach would provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of port performance, helping to identify areas for improvement and inform targeted interventions.

The current CPPI ranking has highlighted the serious difficulties that South African ports confront, which are made worse by bad weather and equipment failures. Complicating matters further are the wider problems plaguing the global maritime freight business, such as declining capacity and growing freight rates? The necessity for more complex evaluations that take into account the distinctive circumstances of various ports is brought up by criticisms of the CPPI’s methodology. To guarantee effective and reliable port operations, addressing these issues would call for a coordinated effort from all supply chain sector players.

DP World is pleased to announce that its Market Access Consumer business, Deep Catch Group, has opened a world-class cold storage facility, Lusaka Commercial Cold Store (LCCS), in Lusaka, Zambia. The LCCS is a groundbreaking project that is set to revolutionise the cold storage industry in Zambia and provide cold storage solutions to local clients, principals and customers.

The facility is the first of its kind in the country and will offer state-of-the-art cold storage facilities to meet the needs of local meat, poultry, and fish producers, as well as the thriving hospitality and retail sectors.

Deep Catch, a diversified and vertically integrated business engaged in the wholesale, distribution, and cold storage of perishable foods, has a proven track record of providing strategic cold storage solutions in South Africa and Namibia, and is now extending this solution to Zambia.

Mohammed Akoojee, CEO & MD: sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, said: “This is a significant milestone for DP World in Southern Africa. The LCCS is set to transform the cold storage environment in Zambia by enhancing the availability and quality of locally produced and imported perishable products. Given its strategic location, advanced infrastructure and commitment to excellence, the LCCS will undoubtedly play a vital role in driving economic growth and the seamless flow of goods in Zambia.”

The LCCS is built to accommodate Zambia’s unique climate and boasts various dedicated areas, including a bulk freezer section, a chiller store, a dry goods storage area, and a processing zone for food handling. The facility will also incorporate a receiving and dispatch area, complete with efficient mobile and static pallet handling systems. Once fully operational, the LCCS will have the capacity to accommodate up to 5,500 pallets distributed across the freezer, chiller and dry storage sections. This expansive capacity ensures that businesses relying on cold storage solutions can effectively manage their inventory and meet the demands of their respective industries and customers.

Bruce Denyer, Head of Market Access Consumer: sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, said: “The development of the LCCS is in line with Deep Catch’s expansion strategy to establish a strong cold chain footprint in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. The LCCS will play a pivotal role in facilitating the efficient importation of affordable protein products, while simultaneously supporting local food producers in reaching their markets. This world-class facility will adhere to the highest industry standards and provide exceptional logistics support to our customers.”

By providing integrated end-to-end logistics, and leveraging our global footprint and unrivalled infrastructure, DP World is reimagining the global supply chain. We are building better ways to bring goods to more people, by making the flow of trade smarter, faster, and more sustainable, ensuring we can all thrive in ways we never thought possible. By improving the efficiency of moving local goods across the globe, DP World is actively contributing to regional economic growth and changing what’s possible for Africa and her people.

The Kasumbalesa border post, a vital gateway for cross-border trade between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been experiencing significant challenges. As a key logistics provider across Sub-Saharan Africa, Alistair Group is committed to transparency and proactive problem-solving.

Alistair Group recognises the importance of efficient logistics in fostering economic growth and regional integration. The challenges at Kasumbalesa, which include congestion, delays, and infrastructure limitations, have a profound impact on trade flow and economic activities in the region. In response, Alistair Group has implemented several strategic measures:

Enhanced Coordination: We have intensified our coordination with local authorities, customs officials, and other stakeholders to streamline border processes and reduce delays.

Technology Integration: Leveraging advanced logistics and tracking technologies, we are improving the transparency and efficiency of our operations, ensuring timely and reliable deliveries.

Infrastructure Investment: Alistair Group is investing in infrastructure upgrades and maintenance at key points along our routes to enhance the overall logistics network.

Capacity Building: We are committed to training and empowering our workforce, ensuring they are equipped to handle the complexities of cross-border logistics.

Redirection: We have redirected a substantial amount of cargo through alternative borders, leveraging lower congestion to optimise our operations.

Integrated Pump Technology, a leading provider of pump solutions to the mining industry, will use Electra Mining Africa to highlight its recent appointment as an official Godwin distributor as well as its position as a pump supplier of choice in Africa.

Already recognised as the sub-Saharan distributor for the world class Grindex submersible pumps, the company has now expanded its portfolio to include the highly sought-after Godwin diesel-driven dewatering pump range.

Jordan Marsh, Managing Director of Integrated Pump Technology, emphasises the company’s goal of becoming a leading single-source provider of pump solutions. “The addition of a solid range of diesel-driven pump solutions allows us to cater to a much wider spectrum of applications,”says Marsh. “Godwin recognised our team’s extensive experience with both electrical and diesel-driven pumps, making us the ideal partner to expand their footprint in Africa.”

Distributor network

Integrated Pump Technology’s strategic distributor network ensures extensive reach and high levels of support in major mining areas across South Africa, as well as Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and the DRC. The company’s strong presence on the Copperbelt underscores its capability to support both large and small mining operations with its expanded range of pump solutions.

Cost effective and agile rental solutions for dewatering will take centre stage at IPR’s (Integrated Pump Rental) exhibition stand at Electra Mining Africa this year, as well as its quality range of slurry and sludge pumping equipment.

“Showcasing our growing range of rental pump dewatering options, we will also be celebrating our partnerships with world leading pump OEMs Atlas Copco and Toyo,” says Lee Vine, Managing Director at IPR. “The past year has seen us grow our formal collaboration with Atlas Copco and the great results are there for all to see.”

Featuring strongly at IPR’s stand will be the range of Atlas Copco diesel self-priming pumps and submersible units, says Vine, which the local market has embraced for its quality and performance. Also on show will be the range of Toyo heavy duty slurry pumps, and IPR’s in-house designed SlurrySucker dredging unit.

“There has never been a better time for mines, industry and other sectors to rent their pumping solutions from IPR,” he explains. “Pump rental allows companies to conserve their capital, and avoid high interest rates when borrowing for equipment purchases. Other key advantages are that customers incur no overhead costs with rental, and can rely on us to keep everything running smoothly.”