QUARRYING AFRICA ISSUE MARCH/APRIL 2022

MARCH/APRIL 2022

PREMIER INFORMATION HUB FOR THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN QUARRYING SECTOR

MARCH/APRIL 2022

PREMIER INFORMATION HUB FOR THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN QUARRYING SECTOR

AFRISAM FERRO QUARRY

PIONEERING DEMANDDRIVEN PRODUCTION 28

Prevailing against supply chain disruptions

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Digitalisation holds the promise for aggregate producers

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Step-change in efficient and safe blasting

VOL. 1 ISSUE 2

COMMENT

INNOVATE OR DIE

MUNESU SHOKO Publishing Editor Email: munesu@quarryingafrica.com

LinkedIn: Munesu Shoko

Quarrying Africa

MAKE no bones about it, the quarrying industry, just like many other sectors of the economy, is undergoing an intense period of change. Having often been criticised for failing to embrace innovation and technological enhancements, there is seemingly a better understanding of the innovation imperative. The choice facing companies today is simple: innovate or perish.

In the face of some recent difficult years, exacerbated by the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, quarrying companies have been compelled to adopt innovation to reduce overheads and improve efficiencies. Those that will survive today’s economic environment and succeed in tomorrow’s are those willing to continually reinvent themselves, their processes, their products and the way they go about their business.

As you will see in the lead story of this edition, AfriSam is doing exactly that to meet constantly evolving market conditions and new demand patterns.

To run profitable operations in the face of a challenging business environment – influenced by a steady decline in the demand for construction materials – its Tshwane-based Ferro Quarry has adopted a demand-driven operating model, where production is based on actual customer orders rather than market projections.

The new model enables a synchronised, closed loop between customer orders, production scheduling and execution.

With this reinvented paradigm, there is a good bet that AfriSam will remain ahead of the curve and be around to reap the rewards in the future.

In this edition of Quarrying Africa, we also cast the spotlight on digitalisation in quarrying. At a time when even the most fundamental elements of business success are being re-evaluated and redefined, one thing has increasingly become clear: technology is no longer a “nice to have”; it is a “must have”.

Traditionally, there have been many

barriers to quarries adopting new technologies, primarily the economies of scale, but in an increasingly digital age, digital transformation has become a distinct possibility as digital tools, data collection and advanced analytics have all evolved.

Digital transformation is about leveraging all the digital tools at the industry’s disposal. From a cost perspective, there are many readily available digital tools which quarries can take up so as to accelerate their digital revolution as well as to fundamentally transform how they operate and make decisions.

It is best to start small by adding to existing technology. Sensors are the starting point for digitalisation as they are where data is created. It’s true that almost every earthmoving machine in today’s world has utilised certain sensors.

Digital transformation is, however, not an isolated technological project. Instead, it is the combination of numerous projects that transform every aspect of an operation to be digital-first. One of the necessary steps in the digital transformation journey is automation.

Automation is an opportunity for African quarries to improve their safety, efficiency and productivity. The major barrier to implementation of automated systems, especially in Africa, is that there are still uninformed viewpoints on their practicality and costs.

In conclusion, the time to develop an innovation orientation is not tomorrow or next year. It’s now. Quarrying companies should start to actively search for new, better, more productive ways of doing things. While change by its very nature can be disruptive, it is very much needed, because let’s face it, everything around us is evolving and changing the rules and dynamics of the business and market as a result. To remain relevant and successful, quarrying companies must start to see their core competencies through the lens of the latest technologies. a

March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com |

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CONTENTS 20

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West African opportunity abounds

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Midmar Crushers demonstrates commitment to zero harm

06 07 07 2

INDUSTRY NEWS

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PPC Zimbabwe launches US$40-million solar project ‘Blast-off’ for Hillhead 2022 Health and safety management is no box-ticking exercise

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LEAD STORY

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PIONEERING DEMAND-DRIVEN PRODUCTION Publishing Editor: Munesu Shoko Admin: Linda T. Chisi Design: Kudzo Mzire Maputire Web Manager: Thina Bhebhe

Quarrying Africa is a premier information hub for the subSaharan African quarrying sector. It is a valued reference tool positioned as a must-read for the broader spectrum of the aggregates value chain, from quarry operators and aggregate retailers, to concrete and cement producers, mining contractors, aggregate haulage companies and the supply chain at large.

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© Quarrying Africa Quarrying Africa, published by DueNorth Media Africa, makes constant effort to ensure that content is accurate before publication. The views expressed in the articles reflect the source(s) opinions and are not necessarily the views of the publisher and editor.

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various thought leaders and contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Quarrying Africa team.

Quarrying Africa prides itself on the educational content published via www.quarryingafrica.com and in Quarrying Africa magazine in print. We believe knowledge is power, which is why we strive to cover topics that affect the quarrying value chain at large.

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Digitalisation holds the promise for aggregate producers

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Step-change in efficient and safe Blasting

Printed by:

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Bridging the technical skills gap

Contact Information

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Plugging the skills gap in the quarrying industry

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Corporate Partners

Email: munesu@quarryingafrica.com Cell: +27 (0)73 052 4335

March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com |

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REGIONAL FOCUS – WEST AFRICA

WEST AFRICAN OPPORTUNITY ABOUNDS Several African governments have prioritised infrastructure development as a catalyst for growth recovery. This is particularly apparent in West Africa, where well-targeted infrastructure programmes are expected to play a significant role in improving poor economic performance and boosting economic transformation. Quarrying Africa looks at some of the key projects in the region.

17 The region comprises 17 countries, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Liberia, Niger, Mauritania, the Gambia and Sierra Leone.

526-million

West Africa will see its combined population rise from the current 412-million to 526-million over the next decade.

US$380-billion

According to ABiQ, there are more than US$380billion’s worth of active projects in West Africa, with US$230 billion already under construction and US$150-billion in the pre-execution phase.

US$100-billion

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Deloitte’s recent Africa Construction Trends Report tracked a total of 76 projects of over US$50-million in value, with a total value of US$79-billion.

US$20-billion

According to ABiQ, Senegal has close to US$20-billion’s worth of active projects. The country has a population of just over 17-million, which is expected to grow by more than 28% over the next ten years to 22-million.

US$30-million

The African Development Bank recently announced a US$30-million financial package earmarked for projects in Guinea-Bissau. Of this amount, US$14-million will be allocated to building road networks between GuineaBissau and Senegal, while US$8,7-million and US$7million will go to budget support and capacity building, and government reforms, respectively.

US$11,24-billion Having contracted by 4,4% in 2019, Ghana’s construction industry expanded marginally by 0,6% in real terms in 2020, with output value increasing from US$11,2-billion to US$11,24-billion during the same period

1 081 km

The African Development Bank is financing the most important infrastructure project in West Africa, the Abidjan-Lagos highway project. The construction of the 1 081-km highway will have a significant impact on the economies of five West African countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

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| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

Despite having the highest GDP in Africa (US$514-billion in 2021), Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, projected at US$100-billion annually, is astounding.

US$3-trillion In its 2020 report, Infrastructure in emerging markets: Focus on Nigeria, Moody’s reckons that US$3-trillion in investment is needed over the next 30 years to plug the national infrastructure deficit.

March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com |

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INDUSTRY NEWS

96,32%

Midmar Crushers demonstrates commitment to zero harm

Midmar Crushers has won the Top Independent Performer award.

Midmar Crushers has been awarded the Top Independent Performer award in ASPASA’s 2021 ISHE Audit. Having been crowned the overall Top Performer in the association’s 2020 audit, the KwaZulu-Natal based operation – with a 96,32% score – was the second-best overall performer in the 2021 audit, Quarrying Africa reports.

ASPASA ISHE auditor Marius van Deventer says the latest achievement is testimony to the Midmar Group’s continuous improvement approach. The management team has over the years continued to source the right skills and service providers to add value to the various parts of the business.

For example, a couple of years ago, Midmar Crushers appointed Noshcon’s Paul Chamen and Ronelle Affinand as occupational health and safety consultants. Together with management at Midmar Crushers, they have reassessed risks and developed a sustainable documentation system, thus ensuring high levels of legal compliance.

“Perseverance in every aspect of their business is a winning recipe for Midmar Crushers. Teamwork has also been central to the operation’s success, with

everyone pulling in the same direction to close gaps identified from previous audit findings. Closing gaps, however, is half the battle won; ensuring that sustainable corrective actions are put in place and followed up through planned task observations ensures that negative previous audit findings don’t repeat themselves,” says Van Deventer.

Accepting the award on behalf of Midmar Crushers, quarry manager Gary Botha thanked director Derryn Fourie and general manager Bronwyn Moore for their continued support in the quarry’s quest for zero harm. He also reserved special praise for Paul Chamen and Ronelle Affinand from Noshcon for their contribution to Midmar’s continued achievements.

“I would also like to thank the entire Midmar Crushers team; without their commitment and exceptional teamwork, this achievement wouldn’t be possible. Through our health and safety compliance, we strive to ensure safety for all individuals on site. Our business philosophy, ‘Effecting change through positive contact, is a true reflection of what we do daily,” says Botha. a

PPC Zimbabwe launches US$40-million solar project To deliver on its purpose of sustainable development, PPC Zimbabwe has turned the first sod on its US$40-million solar project, marking the commencement of construction of two PV solar plants in Bulawayo and Gwanda, reports Quarrying Africa.

The 30 MW solar power project is being led by PPC Zimbabwe and a consortium comprising ATC and Sinohydro. This follows the signature of the first corporate power purchase agreement in Zimbabwe between PPC Zimbabwe and CentraWest, the project company.

The total contracted capacity is 30 MWac and to ensure a reliable and quality supply of electricity to PPC Zimbabwe operations, a 9 MW/18 MWh battery energy storage system will be installed at the Gwanda site. This is one of the largest grid-scale electricity storage systems to be built in Africa.

The project will also create employment during the construction phase and permanent staff will be employed for the maintenance of the plants after completion. An estimated 500 jobs will be created.

“We continuously strive to deliver on our purpose of sustainable development and this investment is testament to our commitment to boost energy supply through innovative initiatives,” the company says. a

30 MW The 30 MW solar power project is being led by PPC Zimbabwe and a consortium comprising ATC and Sinohydro.

Afrimat named Top Corporate Performer in the 2021 ISHE Audit With an average score of 93,58% across 18 audited operations, Afrimat has won the Top Corporate Performer award in the 2021 ISHE Audit, Quarrying Africa can report.

Marius van Deventer, ASPASA ISHE auditor, commends the company’s total commitment to zero harm.

Despite the documented operational challenges brought about by the

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COVID-19 pandemic, Afrimat operations exhibited high levels of health and safety compliance in 2021. “With 18 quarries audited during 2021, Afrimat achieved an average score of 93,58%.

With the highest score of 97,63% and the lowest being 90,71%, audited Afrimat operations either achieved 5 Shield (9095%) or Showplace Status (95%+), which is a remarkable achievement.” a

| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

New accident investigation guideline for surface miners As part of its zero harm drive, surface mining industry association, ASPASA, has released a comprehensive best practice guideline to help its members deal with accidents and properly document the findings to avoid similar incidents from happening in the future.

Said to be one of the most comprehensive procedural documents available from the association, the new accident investigation guideline provides mines with steps to be taken in the event of accidents, regardless of the magnitude of the incident.

Nico Pienaar, director of ASPASA, says the document has been made available to all interested parties to help the industry maximise safety at operations.

It can also be downloaded from the

ASPASA website for free. Various other safety workshops and discussions are also available on the ASPASA YouTube channel.

“Accident investigation is an important part of any safety management system.

Without a detailed and thorough investigation, management has no true knowledge of the reasons why accidents occur and how to prevent reoccurrence,” says Pienaar.

“The idea is to give management a tool to use in the heat of the moment, especially when there is still confusion and uncertainty around the event.

Under these circumstances, the easyto-understand document can ensure that all the necessary procedures are taken timeously,” adds Pienaar. a

Health and safety management is no box-ticking exercise Speaking at the recent ASPASA ISHE Award ceremony held on 13 April 2022, Paul Mardon, deputy general secretary: Strategy and Sustainability at Solidarity, reiterated the importance of good health and safety management practices in the workplace, especially in the quarrying and mining environment where serious risks of occupational ill-health and injury are prevalent.

While compliance to health and safety regulations is of paramount significance, Mardon stresses that it is much more than just a boxticking exercise. “Health and safety management is about ensuring that employers and employees comply with their responsibilities to provide and maintain a healthy and safe workplace for all,” he says.

Although the primary responsibility lies with the employer, Mardon says it is important for all stakeholders to work together to achieve a common goal. “Everybody at the workplace is vulnerable. Health and safety management should therefore be a shared responsibility; it should be a firm foundation for cooperation in the workplace. It is imperative that we all accept mutual responsibility and work together to ensure a healthy and safe environment where every

Paul Mardon, deputy general secretary: Strategy and Sustainability at Solidarity.

worker goes back home safely after every shift,” he says. Good health and safety management practices also ensure protection of neighbouring communities, members of the public and the environment from the quarrying and mining activities, he adds.

“Good health and safety management has economic value to the stability of the business. A healthy and safe place translates into reduced worktime and production losses.

It also prevents the loss of trained personnel and protects the employer’s reputation,” adds Mardon. a

March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com |

‘Blast-off ’ for Hillhead 2022

30 000 tonnes 30 000 tonnes of run-ofquarry stone for equipment demonstration purposes at this year’s show.

The starting gun has been fired for Hillhead 2022, which takes place from 21-23 June. Carried out

by EPC-UK, two sections of the quarry facing the Demonstration area at the north end of the site were recently drilled and blasted to produce around 30 000 tonnes of run-ofquarry stone for equipment demonstration purposes at this year’s show.

After a gap of four years, it is time to take a fresh look and discover all the latest developments in the industry. Visitors can choose from 600 exhibitors; watch more than 60 live demonstrations; and network face-to-face with up to 20 000 quarrying, construction and recycling professionals at Hillhead 2022. a

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LEAD STORY

Tshwane-based AfriSam Ferro Quarry.

PIONEERING DEMANDDRIVEN PRODUCTION To run profitable operations in the face of a challenging business environment – influenced by a steady decline in the demand for construction materials and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic – AfriSam has implemented a new working model for its aggregates business. In line with the new approach, Tshwane-based Ferro Quarry has adopted a demand-driven operating model, where production is based on actual customer orders rather than market projections. Several initiatives have been put in place to accommodate the new working model. Munesu Shoko was recently on site and filed this report.

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ue to the lack of meaningful construction projects in the country, the South African aggregates industry has experienced a protracted downturn in recent years.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 (Covid) pandemic and the subsequent hard lockdown in 2020 pretty much served as the final straw, explains Zielas du Preez, regional manager Gauteng and Cape Operations at AfriSam. To survive and operate profitably during such a low-volume cycle, AfriSam had to adapt its aggregates operations in line with the new market dynamics. In 2020, the company put some of its operations in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal province under care and maintenance, including Tshwane-based Ferro Quarry.

Operations at Ferro stopped on 31 December 2020 following the conclusion of a Section 189 process. For the majority of 2021, the operation was under care and maintenance (C&M). Despite the stoppage of

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| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

2020

Operations at Ferro Quarry stopped on 31 December 2020 following the conclusion of a Section 189 process

KEY POINTS To survive and operate profitably during a low-volume cycle, AfriSam has had to adapt its aggregates operations in line with the new market dynamics

2021

Between July and September 2021, a small team was remobilised back on site for a washed sand trial project

The quarry runs two 30-t articulated sump trucks, which are deployed both in the pit and at the processing plants.

prompted the reopening of Ferro Quarry, is the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ). Launched in 2019, it is one of the Ferro Quarry has adopted a demand-driven ten approved Special Economic Zones spread operating model, where production is based on actual customer orders rather than market across seven provinces of South Africa. projections The TASEZ is a shared vision of national, provincial and local government represented by the Department of Trade, Industry and The demand-driven approach enables a synchronised, closed loop between customer Competition, Gauteng Department of Economic orders, production scheduling and execution Development, the City of Tshwane and the automotive industry, to transform Tshwane into a Several initiatives have been introduced at leading automotive investment destination.

Ferro Quarry to foster good relations with the Between July and September 2021, a small community team was remobilised back on site for a washed sand trial project. The specialised product, which operations, Moses Nkuna, works manager at could only be produced to client specification AfriSam Ferro Quarry, says regular checks

by AfriSam's Ferro operation, was throughout the C&M period ensured supplied to AfriSam’s readymix plant that the plant remained in a safe for a specific concrete mix design working condition. for the TASEZ project.

Priority was also given to the “We mobilised resources from management of all statutory our nearby operations where 40% environmental aspects such we had additional people as dust fallout monitoring and machines. The washed To service the demand-driven model, AfriSam has brought back and water sampling, among sand trial run met the client’s on site about 40% of the previous others. However, the readymix exact requirements, and staff complement plant was kept operational we subsequently stockpiled throughout this period. enough material to sustain the readymix plant until the end of Improved demand November 2021. The trial run also Late last year, the business served as a pilot for our demandenvironment started improving, largely driven operating model, which we driven by several construction projects in the believe is the modus operandi for running area, as well as some planned asphalt projects a sustainable quarrying operation,” explains Du in the Tshwane area. One such project, which Preez.

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LEAD STORY

The processing plant has been reconfigured to be able to process according to demand.

AfriSam Ferro Quarry has thus far supplied large volumes of material to the TASEZ project.

In the beginning, it was basically more subbase material for groundwork and supporting infrastructure. However, last year demand was more readymix concrete-driven, with a large part of the latter stages absorbing the specialised washed sand produced at Ferro, allowing AfriSam to retain more revenue internally.

Demand-driven production

At the start of this year, the AfriSam sales team returned with a proposed offtake model for 2022 after in-depth engagements with clients in the vicinity of the quarry. Given that these were project-specific volumes, which were still far lower than the pre-Covid levels, Du Preez says AfriSam had to find a sustainable way of running the plant.

Quarries, he adds, no longer have the luxury of just producing and putting material on the floor.

As a result, the company adopted a demanddriven model, where it produces according to customer orders. This approach enables a synchronised, closed loop between customer orders, production scheduling and execution.

“A key component of the demand-driven model is regular communication between clients, salespeople, the production team and the community at large,” says Du Preez. “We work closely with our clients. We require their exact forecast for the month ahead and we plan our production accordingly. Internally, we have our weekly meetings between the salespeople and the operations team at the quarry to review the past week and discuss the plan for the week ahead. Any required changes can be implemented accordingly so that the material produced is in full alignment with exact customer orders.”

Flexible operation

The processing plant has therefore been reconfigured to be able to process according to demand. The plant has been modified to

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make it more multi-functional. For example, with the traditional setup, the primary section of the plant could only produce material to the ISP and base course products. Changes have been made to allow production of a variety of material sizes from that small section of the plant, as opposed to running the whole plant from primary to tertiary to get to a specific size.

In addition, a feed bin has been utilised at the tertiary part of the plant to allow feeding and ultimately processing of material without having to run the primary and secondary sections of the plant first. As a result, the production team is using fewer resources or less capacity to get the same results as the old process.

“We have also paid particular attention to the screening part of the plant. Before closure, there was a high demand for ballast material, and therefore we had some extra openings on the bottom deck of one of the screen panels.

When we came back, we realised that the extra openings were limiting the throughput for washed sand, which is one of the best-selling products currently. We have figured out that for us to produce washed sand effectively, we have to balance the open area between screen one and screen two. We therefore changed the openings accordingly. The ability to chop and change as and when required also allows us to improve throughput for the base course material,” explains Nkuna.

To service the demand-driven model, AfriSam has brought back on site about 40% of the previous staff complement. The compact team can multi-task across core functions such as production and maintenance.

For load and haul functions, the operation has always used a contractor model. “Traditionally, we would need four 30-t articulated dump trucks (ADTs) to run this operation, but under the demand-driven model we are running two 30-t ADTs, working in combination with a 38-t excavator. Hauling routes are kept in top condition to reduce cycle times. The two ADTs

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Washed sand is one of the demand drivers at the moment.

are shared between the pit and the processing plant sections, where they are deployed to move run-of-mine material from the pit to the processing plant and to stockpile material, respectively.

The load and haul contractor also forms part of the weekly meetings to ensure they are in sync with the production plans for the week ahead. “The contractor is well geared to support any urgent changes in line with customer orders. They understand that the demand-driven model requires greater agility.

The same close cooperation is maintained between the quarry and the drill and blast contractor,” explains Du Preez.

we informed them of our plans, the activities that we will have back on site and the number of blasts that we envisage for the year so that they know exactly what to expect from our operations,” says Du Preez.

Before each blast, community members receive three notifications – a week before, during the morning of the blast and 10 minutes before the blast. In those notifications, they are informed about parameters such as the size and direction of the blast, as well as the charge mass per delay. The quarry has previously given sessions to the community to help them understand how a blast works.

“The important thing here is communication.

Lack of communication creates problems with Community relations communities. A quarry in their vicinity is Forging resilient community relations, generally an irritation and it’s important stresses Du Preez, is no longer a to keep them informed and luxury for quarry operators and help them understand what’s should form part of a business happening and how it will affect culture. Several initiatives them,” adds Du Preez.

200 m have been introduced at Ferro Quarry also employs Ferro Quarry to foster good electronic blasting which, Due to increased urbanisation, some of the communities have relations with the community. in addition to improving moved closer to the quarry A comprehensive newsletter fragmentation significantly, over the years, with some distances as close as is shared with the community, plays a significant role in 200 m from the active detailing all production plans for adhering to local ground mining areas the quarry. To monitor the impact vibration and airblast limits. In of the quarry’s blasting activities to fact, electronic blasting has been the community, AfriSam has installed the standard across all AfriSam blast vibration meters within some operations for years now. parts of the community to measure vibration “Since 2019, we have been working separate from the systems used on the day of closely with Tony Rorke, who is well-known in the blast. This is monitored by an independent the blasting circles in South Africa and brings contractor, and an independent report is produced a wealthy of experience in this field. Under and shared with the community, indicating the his guidance, we have adopted a single line vibrations and airblast from every blast. blasting model, with simulated vibration pulses “Due to increased urbanisation, the outside the mining footprint, so as to forecast communities have moved closer to the and eliminate any potential overlapping that quarry over the years. Some distances are as can amplify ground vibration. Together with close as 200 m from the active mining areas. tight controls in limiting risks of any excessive Communication is therefore key in everything air blasts, this has been key to our world-class that we do. Before we recommenced operations, blasting practices,” concludes Du Preez. a

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FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

CHAMPIONING BEST PRACTICE

For his immense contribution to the quarrying and surface mining industry at large, Nico Pienaar, director of ASPASA, has been named Person of the Year at the ASPASA ISHE Health and Safety Awards.

Quarrying Africa recently caught up with him to discuss his 24-year journey in the industry. By Munesu Shoko.

Nico Pienaar, director of ASPASA.

Six ASPASA is this year celebrating six consecutive years with no fatalities at member operations

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| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

1999

Nico Pienaar took the reins at ASPASA in 1999. Equipped with a Masters in Labour Law and Industrial Relations, he spent the early years of his career in industrial relations

KEY POINTS Nico Pienaar, director of ASPASA, has been awarded the Person of the Year award at the association’s ISHE Health and Safety Awards Under Pienaar’s leadership, ASPASA expanded its scope from its traditional sand and aggregates business in 2017, to cover several other areas of the surface mining industry, including salt, dimension stone, and clay brick As the membership scope expanded so have the services offered by the association To help advance young people in the industry, ASPASA is currently driving a Young Professionals programme

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op performers in the ISHE 2021 audit were recognised at a virtual event hosted by ASPASA on 13 April 2022.

One of the notable accolades at the event – the Person of the Year award – was bestowed on the association’s director, Nico Pienaar.

For the past 24 years, Pienaar has been the force behind ASPASA, turning the association from a small sand- and aggregates-focused body to become the recognised voice of the surface mining industry it is today.

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For the past 24 years, Nico Pienaar has been the force behind ASPASA, turning the association from a small sandand aggregates-focused body to become the recognised voice of the surface mining industry it is today

Over the years, ASPASA has successfully championed best practice in the surface mining industry.

Best practice

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Gert Coffee, chairperson of ASPASA, commended Pienaar for his dedication and commitment to the industry over the past two decades, during which time he has championed high levels of compliance and best practice.

With his guidance, coupled with the efforts of the industry at large, ASPASA is this year celebrating six consecutive years with no fatalities at member operations. This, says Coffee, is a huge achievement which authenticates the association’s commitment to zero harm.

Speaking to Quarrying Africa, Pienaar says he is grateful to his peers at ASPASA for this recognition. “It is a great feeling to be honoured for my contribution to ASPASA and the industry at large. A few years ago, I also received an award from the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, for my work at the Mine Health and Safety Council. These two awards are testimony to the passion I have for this industry,” he says.

Career highlights

Pienaar took the reins at ASPASA in 1999.

Equipped with a Masters in Labour Law and

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FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK contractors, formal quarries, rubble crushing, ash, coal and borrow pit subsectors.

Also included are associate memberships for organisations such as the National Occupational Safety Association and heavy equipment manufacturers. These are all required to be legally compliant with legislation such as the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), environmental legislation and the Water Act. As the membership scope expanded so have the services offered by the association. ASPASA’s service offering covers legal compliance; local, international and government liaison; health and safety audits and training; environmental audit and training; technical and transport support; as well as training and education.

For Pienaar, an association must be of great value to its members. This, he says, is a lesson he learnt during his trade union days. “You have to offer value and be of great help to members, who obviously look up to you as an association. An industry association must be aware of the issues afflicting its members, something ASPASA has done well over the years.”

Sand and aggregates are the most mined commodities in the world.

Pienaar has also championed the advancement of women in what is mostly a Industrial Relations, he spent the early years of male-dominated industry. “At ASPASA, we have his career in industrial relations. Notably, he was taken an approach to desist from the term the first industrial relations advisor to the South ‘women in mining’, as we feel that it segregates African building industry through BIFSA (now and undervalues their abilities. We rather refer to Master Builders South Africa), a leading the topic as ‘gender justice’, which I feel national representative body in the is an appropriate term,” he says. building and construction industry.

To help advance young people He eventually became a trade in the industry, Pienaar is 2017 unionist, and worked for various currently driving a Young institutions, including the then Professionals programme Under Pienaar’s leadership, Building Society Industry, and at ASPASA. “I feel sorry for ASPASA expanded its scope eventually the United Building the young people who in from its traditional sand and aggregates business in 2017, Society before it became a recent times have come to cover several other areas of bank, which is today known as into the workplace with little the surface mining industry, including salt, dimension stone ABSA in South Africa. guidance. The COVID-19 and clay brick “I started my career at a law pandemic has worsened firm. At the time I was convinced their situation by limiting that I wanted to be an attorney. To job shadowing and guidance my surprise, the attorney’s job was opportunities in the workplace. not what I envisaged. Defending people As ASPASA, we believe we can play who have done wrong was not something that a leading role in bridging that gap,” says I wanted to do for a living. Probably, that’s why Pienaar. ended up in industrial relations, as I felt that In conclusion, Pienaar believes that the there were many rules and attitudes in the industry has a great future ahead. “Surface workplace that needed to be challenged,” he mining is here to stay. Sand and aggregates, says. for example, are the most mined commodities in the world. A growing global population Expanded scope means more infrastructure development, and Under Pienaar’s leadership, ASPASA expanded ultimately an insatiable appetite for sand its scope from its traditional sand and and aggregates. There are, however, some aggregates business in 2017, to cover several challenges in the industry, but I believe we other areas of the surface mining industry, will be able to find solutions to these issues including salt, dimension stone and clay brick. for the future growth of this important sector,” Affiliation now includes mobile crushing concludes Pienaar. a

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REGIONAL FOCUS – AFRICA: EXCLUSIVE TO QUARRYING AFRICA

GAIN SEEKS TO BROADEN MEMBERSHIP IN AFRICA On the back of immense growth potential for the aggregates industry in Africa in the years ahead – driven by the huge need for infrastructure, housing and other social facilities, underpinned by population growth – the Global Aggregates Information Network (GAIN™) is on a drive to grow its membership on the continent. By Jim O’Brien, convenor of GAIN.

Fig 1: The GAIN 'family' continues to grow, with membership across six continents.

F

ounded in 2010, the Global Aggregates Information Network (GAIN), is a voluntary non-commercial network of regional aggregates associations around the world. It now has members on six continents, and its member countries represent an impressive 80% of the world’s aggregates production (Figure 1).

New members are always welcome as GAIN continues to grow, and the purpose of this article is to attract more members from Africa.

In countries where no aggregates association yet exists, company producers are welcome to join GAIN as associate members, pending the formation of a national association eligible for full GAIN membership.

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The GAIN mission

The mission of GAIN is to openly share industry experiences and best practice, thus promoting greater sustainability and overall performance of the global aggregates industry. From 2010 to 2018, GAIN members met every two years, including in Cape Town in 2016 (Figure 2), hosted by ASPASA, the surface mining industry association in South Africa. The most recent physical meeting was in Barcelona in May 2018, hosted by the Spanish Aggregates Association.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, GAIN members have met every two months or so, virtually, exchanging industry best practices on specific topics. The meetings and regular ongoing exchanges have created positive

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80%

GAIN member countries across six continents represent 80% of the world’s aggregates production

20 bnt

The Chinese Aggregates Association is by far the largest member of GAIN, with its national 2021 production reported at close to 20-billion tonnes

“

GAIN’s mission is to openly share industry experiences and best practice, thus promoting greater sustainability and overall performance of the global aggregates industry.

Jim O’Brien, convenor of GAIN Email: jim@jimobriencsr.com

communications across the industry, with clear benefits to GAIN members.

One of the recent key topics was the sharing of best practices for safe working during the Covid-19 pandemic, which served not only a vital role in getting the industry quickly back to work during lockdowns, but also convinced governments of the importance of the aggregates industry to human wellbeing, sustainable employment and economic growth.

In addition, GAIN members shared responsible best practices in the extraction of sand and gravel, as well as how the industry could help phase out irresponsible extraction by illegal operators, which damages the industry’s reputation. Other topics included resource planning, improving licensing processes, skills development and training, recycling of secondary materials, as well as achieving greater industry sustainability.

All GAIN members are invited to attend these virtual meetings (which often run for about an hour). It is remarkable that, despite different international traditions and cultures, members experience similar industry challenges, but often have different solutions – hence the immense benefit of openly sharing best practice solutions.

These regular virtual meetings are planned to continue, even as it is hoped to commence inperson meetings again – with the next planned for New Zealand in July 2023.

KEY POINTS Founded in 2010, the Global Aggregates Information Network (www.GAIN.ie), is a voluntary non-commercial network of regional aggregates associations around the world It now has members on six continents, and its member countries represent an impressive 80% of the world’s aggregates production On the back of immense growth potential for the aggregates industry in Africa in the years ahead, GAIN seeks to grow its membership on the continent South Africa – through ASPASA – is currently the only GAIN member in Africa

Global estimates

The Chinese Aggregates Association (CAA) is by far the largest member of GAIN, with the national 2021 production reported at close to 20-billion tonnes (bnt). India, represented by the Mining Engineers’ Association of India (MEAI), has the second-largest national production of about 5 bnt. The market is recovering from the drop in production caused by the pandemic.

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REGIONAL FOCUS – AFRICA: EXCLUSIVE TO QUARRYING AFRICA

Figure 3:

The third-largest member is the European Aggregates Association (UEPG), with a total annual production of 3 bnt. This is followed by the United States’ National Stone, Sand and Gravel Fig 2: PartiAssociation (NSSGA), with a cipants from six production close to 2,5 bnt. continents at the GAIN meeting Together with other bodies from in Cape Town in across the world, GAIN members’ 2016. global production capacity is about 33 bnt. With production for all other non-GAIN countries estimated at 9 bnt, the total global aggregates production for 2021 was about 42 bnt (see Estimated GAIN and Global Aggregates Production Figure 3).

GAIN Country

Actual 2019 mt

Actual 2020 mt

Estimated 2021 mt

Estimated 2022 mt

China

19560

19890

19680

19490

India

6035

4920

5125

5330

Europe

2986

3005

3140

3200

USA

2388

2331

2410

2540

Brazil

535

605

660

693

Canada

437

428

445

455

Mexico

400

325

345

366

Japan

375

355

360

345

South Korea

253

252

254

259

Australia

180

177

171

182

South Africa

180

160

155

165

UAE

158

135

145

150

Colombia

144

130

146

169

Argentina

137

69

76

69

Malaysia

129

75

69

75

New Zealand

42

40

42

45

GAIN Total

33939

32897

33223

33533

Rest of World

9883

8955

8942

9248

Global Totals

43822

41852

42165

42781

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Africa’s growth potential

South Africa – through ASPASA – is currently the only GAIN member in Africa. National production in the country is estimated at 155-million tonnes (Mt), which equates to about 3 tonnes per capita (t/c). No precise data is available yet for the rest of the continent, but this could be estimated at around 3 bnt, based on a population of 1,3-billion people and an average consumption of about 2,4 t/c, a typical

figure for the early stages of economic development.

It should be noted that Africa’s population is close to that of India and China, yet aggregates demand is only a fraction of the two global powerhouses.

This underlines the immense growth potential for the aggregates industry in Africa in the years ahead, driven by the huge need for infrastructure, housing and social facilities, underpinned by the continent’s population growth.

It is quite remarkable that, at a global level, the aggregates industry is still highly fragmented, with the top 20 players combined producing less than 5% of global production. The other 95% consists of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), for which accurate data collection is very challenging. Because of this highly fragmented industry structure, national associations can promote industry development and consolidation, and also provide a strong unified voice to support the industry in front of all its stakeholders.

ASPASA

In South Africa, the highly successful association, ASPASA (www.ASPASA.co.za), is the voice of the surface mining industry, representing not only the aggregates sector, but also the salt, ash, coal and clay brick industries, as well as machinery suppliers.

Membership ensures support at local, regional and national levels.

Its comprehensive range of services include support on health and safety updates, legal compliance, government liaison, engineering and technical challenges, environmental updates, training and skills development including workforce diversity and inclusion, as well as international liaison. a

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DATA-DRIVEN ASSET MANAGEMENT With Scania’s new Flexible Maintenance Plan, which allows for constant monitoring of individual truck data, fleet operators now have access to personalised cost-saving opportunities.

DRIVING PROFITABILITY WITH SCANIA’S DATADRIVEN SERVICES

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To provide fleet owners with a competitive edge, Scania is taking its data-driven service solutions to a whole new level.

In a one-on-one with Quarrying Africa, Russell Pinard, area manager Commercial Sales at Scania Southern Africa, says using data to determine when to maintain a vehicle based on usage, condition and wear, and targeting specific parts for maintenance or replacement, will drive greater efficiencies in asset management. By Munesu Shoko.

ith the increased adoption of digital technologies in the trucking industry, data management and strategy have become even more vital for success. Over the years, the developments in digitalisation and connectivity have created the perfect storm for big data in trucking. One area where fleet owners have seen the benefits of applying data and analytics is maintenance, with predictive and prescriptive asset-management strategies becoming prevalent.

While predictive maintenance has been around for quite a while and has consistently gained significant traction, Pinard says Scania continually strives to perfect its market-leading technology to become more dynamic and to drive better insights from the data. The next step in prescriptive asset management, explains

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Pinard, consists of industry-specific, usage-based maintenance and component replacements.

“Our customers are becoming increasingly aware of the role that connected vehicles play in determining when maintenance should occur, at exactly the right point, to maintain the balance between cost-effectiveness and vehicle downtime,” says Pinard.

This trend is changing operations dramatically, and construction, quarrying and mining are no exception.

“In the construction and mining industries, customers are becoming more attuned to technology, especially the use of vehicle data to streamline processes and increase profitability,” says Pinard.

To enable this data-driven service revolution, Scania has over 500 000 connected vehicles globally, stretching across multiple countries and industries. In southern Africa, the company has just over 16 000 connected vehicles, of which

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500 000

To enable the data-driven service revolution, Scania has over 500 000 connected vehicles globally, stretching across multiple countries and industries

16 000

In southern Africa, Scania has just over 16 000 connected vehicles

By turning data insights into longterm sustainable cost savings, flexible service intervals and improved fuel efficiencies, Scania customers are able to operate at peak performance.

KEY POINTS While predictive maintenance has been around for quite a while and has consistently gained significant traction, Scania continually strives to perfect its market-leading technology to become more dynamic and to drive better insights from the data With Scania’s Flexible Maintenance Plan, each vehicle has a tailor-made maintenance routine based on each customer’s unique operation to ensure the right maintenance at the right time When several factors occur, a maintenance event is triggered. Individual vehicle data will determine if this service needs to be carried out or if it can be postponed to when a new event is triggered Using a modular concept, maintenance for each component group can be extended to maximise utilisation and keep costs to a minimum. The maintenance plans are also updated weekly to ensure that any changes in operation are considered

4-5% are in the heavy construction and quarrying/ mining applications. This number, reiterates Pinard, excludes short to medium haul side tippers, which some may consider to be part of this vehicle group.

Unpacking Scania’s data-driven solutions

For optimal maintenance, Scania is using data to capture operating details which indicate

“

Our customers are becoming increasingly aware of the role that connected vehicles play in determining when maintenance should occur, at exactly the right point, to maintain the balance between cost-effectiveness and vehicle downtime.

Russell Pinard, Area Manager Commercial Sales at Scania Southern Africa

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DATA-DRIVEN ASSET MANAGEMENT

Tailormade With Scania's Flexible Maintenance Plan, each vehicle has a tailor-made maintenance routine based on each customer's unique operation in order to ensure the right maintenance at the right time

Data By turning data insights into longterm sustainable cost savings, flexible service intervals and improved fuel efficiencies, Scania customers can operate at peak performance.

The result is enhanced profitability

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areas where cost-efficiencies can who manage to improve their fuel be leveraged. “You don’t know consumption automatically have their what you don’t know without data,” maintenance intervals extended, thus says Pinard. reducing their operating costs even Every truck is used and driven further,” says Pinard. differently, he says, and a one-sizeIn terms of customer service, Scania fits-all service solution is therefore proactively contacts customers to out of the question. Traditionally, book maintenance events using live fleet operators have always relied data and alerts which has the effect of on service intervals based on set reducing unnecessary administration kilometres or the number of operating and resource time from a customer’s hours. This approach has in most perspective, as well as allowing them instances proved to be flawed, with to focus on their core business, with a vehicle being serviced too often, peace of mind that their vehicle is or not enough. With Scania’s new always in peak condition.

Flexible Maintenance Plan, which Benefits abound allows for constant monitoring of In addition, Scania offers various individual truck data, fleet operators Fleet Management Solutions which now have access to personalised costanalyse vehicle data and convert saving opportunities. this into important business “Scania is utilising advanced intelligence for fleet operators, data-driven services in various allowing them to make quick areas to improve customer service decisions. According to Pinard, and profitability at large. With reduced time spent analysing our Flexible Maintenance Plan, vehicle and trip data can be each vehicle has a tailor-made allocated to making important maintenance routine based on each business decisions. customer’s unique operation in order “By turning data insights into longto ensure the right maintenance at term sustainable cost savings, flexible the right time,” says Pinard. service intervals and improved fuel Real-time operational efficiencies, Scania customers data and advanced are able to operate at peak algorithms identify performance. The result is with a great deal enhanced profitability. of precision the 4-5% In today’s competitive right service About 4-5% of Scania’s and fast-changing occasion for connected vehicles in southern transport industry, this each individual Africa are in the heavy is critical for success,” component. construction and quarrying/ mining applications says Pinard.

When several Looking ahead, factors occur, Pinard says applying a maintenance data and analytics to event is triggered. maintenance is the way Individual vehicle data forward and the sooner fleet will determine if this service owners start taking advantage of this needs to be carried out or if it can be readily available information to help postponed to when a new event is drive their business, the better. triggered.

“We are in the ever-expanding Using a modular concept, fourth industrial revolution – using maintenance for each component big data to maximise efficiencies group can be extended to maximise and ultimately profits. Very soon utilisation and keep costs to a we will also see a lot more solutions minimum. The maintenance plans being offered on a customer-specific are also updated weekly to ensure level, where each product and asset that any changes in operation are management solution is tailor-made considered. down to the finest detail. In the end, “We have also linked vehicle generic one-size-fits-all services maintenance to fuel consumption, will eventually become obsolete,” which is a direct measurement of how concludes Pinard. a hard a vehicle is working. Customers

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CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS – MAURITIUS

COUNTRY OF FOCUS: MAURITIUS

CAT LOADERS FOR MAURITIAN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS SUPPLIER Leading Mauritian construction materials supplier, The United Basalt Products (UBP), has taken delivery of four new Cat 950L wheel loaders from Scomat, the Cat dealer in the country. UBP becomes the first recipient of the L Series medium wheel loaders on the island. By Munesu Shoko.

1953 Established in 1953, UBP has been involved and continues to play an important role in most major infrastructure and building projects in Mauritius

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KEY POINTS The United Basalt Products (UBP) has taken delivery of four new Cat 950L wheel loaders from Scomat, the Cat dealer in Mauritius UBP is a leader in the building materials market in Mauritius, especially in the building block, aggregates and rocksand segments The four new Cat wheel loaders, delivered in February this year, will play a major role in UBP’s quest to improve its operations and take advantage of the thriving construction market UBP is the first recipient of the Cat L Series medium wheel loaders on the island The machines are used for a range of tasks, including transfer of aggregate and rocksand on sites, as well as loading trucks.

Hans Eiskonen | Unsplash

A Cat 950L wheel loader deployed to load customer trucks at one of UBP’s sites in Mauritius.

I

nvesting in new equipment enables fleet owners to be more agile and responsive as business needs change. Yet procurement of capital equipment represents a major capital cost for construction material suppliers and capital equipment owners at large.

Given the instability of the economy, influenced by factors outside the industry’s control, businesses need flexible ways of meeting their equipment needs.

With that in mind, UBP recently opted for a flexible, tailored and site-specific rental facility for its wheel loader needs. Didier Raboude, fleet optimisation manager at UBP, tells Quarrying Africa that the deal with Scomat is part of the construction material supplier’s new approach to doing business, in line with the changing dynamics in its market environment.

“The heavy rents concept is for a defined period and speaks directly to our operational needs,” says Raboude. “An interesting part of the concept is the frequent renewal of the loaders, as well as the provision of a spare SEM wheel loader (a Caterpillar-owned brand) for the rental duration.”

Unlike traditional equipment rental or plant hire, the heavy rents concept is not charged per hour and does not include the operator.

“The heavy rents model offers equipment only (excluding the operator) at a monthly rental fee.

The equipment is maintained and repaired by the dealer. The customer is responsible for the operator and fuel,” explains Desigen Naicker, commercial manager at Scomat.

Strong heritage

Established in 1953, UBP has been involved and continues to play an important role in most major infrastructure and building projects

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CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS – MAURITIUS 830

With a staff complement of about 830 employees across seven production sites and two sales depots strategically located in Mauritius, the UBP Group also has manufacturing plants in Rodrigues, Madagascar and Sri Lanka

UBP opted for a flexible, tailored and site-specific rental facility for its wheel loader needs.

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representing about 22% of the total workforce. In 2021, the industry contributed about 4,4% to the GDP. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the Mauritian economy, industries, businesses and communities. During the first wave of the pandemic, says Quenette, several public sector construction projects were severely affected.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is in Mauritius. Listed on the Stock probably turning endemic, with longExchange of Mauritius since June lasting effects on the economy and 1989, the company’s core business our industry as well,” says Quenette. activity is the manufacture and sale “The severity of the economic of construction materials. damage depends on the course of UBP is a leader in the building the pandemic in society as well as our materials market, especially in the response to it. Therefore, we should building block, aggregates and learn to live with Covid-19 as it is the rocksand segments. The company new normal,” emphasises Quenette. also manufactures and markets However, he adds, Mauritius a variety of concrete has adapted quickly to new products, including business models and has precast pavements, thus proven resilient roof tiles, concrete in times of crisis. pipes, slabs and The construction kerbs, among industry has 50 others. weathered the With a staff storm much UBP and Scomat have a long relationship spanning over 50 complement better than other years of about 830 markets. With Rs employees across 65-billion (about seven production US$1,5-billion) sites and two sales worth of development depots strategically projects, the sector is located on the island, being propelled to new the UBP Group also has heights and will thus preserve manufacturing plants in Rodrigues, thousands of jobs and drive the Madagascar and Sri Lanka. much-needed economic growth.

“Projects such as business parks, Market conditions smart cities, resorts and villas are Commenting on the state of the currently driving demand in the market, Pervenche Quenette, private sector. These are among the sales manager at UBP, says the critical components in modernising construction sector has long the physical fabric of the country, while been a major driver of Mauritius’s strengthening the foundations for economic growth. The industry, he economic growth and creating new says, has a significant role to play job opportunities,” says Quenette. in the economic recovery of the New loader fleet country following the devastating The four new Cat wheel loaders, effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. delivered in February this year, will The construction sector employs, play a major role in UBP’s quest directly and indirectly, some to improve its operations and 120 000 workers in the country,

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US$1,5-billion

With Rs 65-billion (about US$1,5-billion) worth of development projects, the Mauritian construction sector is being propelled to new heights and will thus preserve thousands of jobs and drive the much-needed economic growth

take advantage of the thriving construction market. The machines are used for a range of tasks, including transfer of aggregate and rocksand on sites, as well as loading trucks.

At UBP sites, the wheel loader is also used for another purpose outside its traditional applications – it is deployed in mud points at determined intervals.

“At UBP we care for our people and are customer-centric. The new Cat wheel loaders make material handling and loading jobs safer, more precise, comfortable for the operator, reliable and versatile,” says Raboude.

meet the UBP Group’s needs,” says Naicker.

Cost management

The aggregates/cement sector is quite competitive, with a handful of key players on the Island. Naicker says cost management and control, as well as effective production, are thus key to competitiveness and ultimately profitability. The Cat 950L, he says, is the perfect fit for this sector as the wheel loader is designed to improve productivity and reduce owning and operating costs.

One of the key talking points on the Cat 950L is its fuel economy. The loader is up to 10% more fuel-efficient Why Cat? than the previous series, while UBP and Scomat have a long increasing engine power by 22%. relationship spanning over 50 Additional benefits include extended years. In its quest to run service intervals; performance efficient operations, series buckets as standard, UBP has always relied allowing operators to on Scomat for its move more in a cycle equipment needs. compared with The latest deal using conventional 22% is testimony to buckets; integrated the strength of technologies that The construction sector employs, the relationship allow customers directly and indirectly, some 120 000 workers in Mauritius, and trust to monitor their representing about 22% of the between the assets’ health, total workforce two companies, productivity and stresses Raboude. location remotely, “We are confident as well as plan for that Scomat will preventative services continue delivering ahead of schedule. our desired level of service The new Cat 950L comes by being attentive to our needs; with proven technologies to meet providing adequate products, advice, customers’ high expectations for monitoring and control; keeping the reliability, productivity, fuel efficiency required parts in stock; providing and long service life. The range is cost-effective and timely service; and more powerful and fuel-efficient being proactive,” he says. than its predecessor models, According to Desigen Naicker, featuring significant drivetrain and commercial manager at Scomat, hydraulic-system refinement.

UBP was one of the very first “The Cat 950L is designed for customers on the island to use Cat greater fuel efficiency and lower wheel loaders. “We have over the fuel consumption while maintaining years established a relationship high performance. The new model based on trust and service delivery. is not only more powerful, but As the market demands constant also features up to 10% less fuel change to adapt to new industry consumption compared with H dynamics, Scomat has positioned Series predecessors,” concludes itself to provide tailored solutions to Naicker. a

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10% One of the key talking points on the Cat 950L is its fuel economy – it is up to 10% more fuel-efficient than the previous series, while increasing engine power by 22%

1989 Listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius since June 1989, the company’s core business activity is the manufacture and sale of construction materials

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SUPPLY CHAIN

PREVAILING AGAINST SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS

T

The current global supply chain disruptions have had adverse effects on OEMs and equipment users alike. To prevail against such a whimsical supply chain environment, SANY Southern Africa has beefed up its stock levels for new machines and parts.

With over 100 machines on the floor, the company has one of the largest inventories of new mining excavators in the local market.

By Munesu Shoko.

he Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global supply chain over the past two years. Global supply chains of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) – from heavy equipment manufacturers to truck makers — are facing multiple challenges that are having adverse effects on all dimensions of their businesses.

While persistent shipping challenges, pandemic-related production interruptions and transportation delays continue to beleaguer manufacturers, fleet managers looking to upgrade or replace their mission-critical equipment have to deal with record long lead times.

High inventory

KEY POINTS The international supply chain has been disrupted and long lead times have become prevalent SANY Southern Africa has increased its inventory to help customers receive items quickly to fulfil their equipment needs The high inventory levels come on the back of recent investments in SANY’s South African operations to better support its dealers across the region In 2020, the company commissioned a new parts warehouse and machine storage yard in Boksburg, South Africa

Amid everchanging customer expectations, SANY Southern Africa has increased its we have beefed up our machine inventory inventory levels to help customers receive significantly to ensure on-time deliveries,” machines quickly to fulfil their equipment explains Zhang. needs. Samuel Zhang, GM of SANY Southern Traditionally, this approach is regarded a bad Africa, tells Quarrying Africa that the company business practice because it ties up currently has at its Boksburg yard a lot of capital into the inventory. in South Africa, in excess of 100 However, Zhang says the new mining-type excavators (36 t to approach is part of SANY’s 75 t), worth over R600-million response to the current crisis, in total.

100 which calls for resilient and “The international supply agile supply systems. The chain has been disrupted SANY Southern Africa currently company, he says, spares and long lead times have has in excess of 100 mining-type excavators (36 t to 75 t) at its no effort in building resilient become the order of the Boksburg facility in South Africa, business structures in order day. With readily available equating to about R600-million in value to continuously improve its stock in South Africa, SANY service to customers. customers don’t have to stress The high inventory levels come about long lead times. Based on on the back of recent investments our understanding that putting in SANY’s South Africa’s operations machines to work immediately at to better support its dealers across the full capacity is important for customers,

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| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

SANY Southern Africa has beefed up its machine inventory significantly to ensure on-time deliveries to local customers.

SANY Southern Africa recently introduced a range of wide body dumpers to the local market.

SANY Southern Africa has increased stock levels of its SANY SYL956 H5 wheel loader range.

region. For example, the company commissioned a new 40 000 m² machine storage yard in Boksburg, South Africa, in 2020. This has been complemented by a huge stockholding of about R90-million’s worth of parts, which is set to be increased to R200-million in a year.

Key advantages

Zhang believes it is high time heavy equipment suppliers re-evaluate their disruptionmitigation strategies and be prepared to invest more in resilience. For SANY Southern Africa, having some excess inventory is paying dividends.

One of the main advantages of having high stock levels, he says, is that equipment suppliers can ensure that customer fulfilment times are always met within the timeframe that end users

their machines. This is mostly beneficial for the contract mining fraternity, where customers often need their machines immediately to execute urgent contractual needs.

In addition to fast customer fulfilment, having excess inventory ensures that stock shortages are eradicated, especially at a time when the supply chain or overseas factories are affected.

“If the factory experiences issues and cannot produce, there is a huge risk of having a shortage of machines, which in turn results in long lead times for customers. For R90-million example, our Shanghai factory has been closed for a month SANY Southern Africa has a huge due to lockdown measures stockholding of about R90-million’s worth of parts, which is set to be increased to R200million in a year in China, but holding more inventory has allowed us to have a buffer to reduce the risk and to continue to supply machines within a normal timeframe to local customers, even though the production line is down,” concludes Zhang. a

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HAULAGE The Volvo FMX being put through its paces at a haematite and fluorite ore operation in Limpopo, South Africa.

SETTING A NEW HAULING BENCHMARK

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In the quest for increased cost efficiency and productivity, there is a deliberate migration from traditional dump trucks to constructiontype mining trucks at some of the local quarrying and surface mining operations. With the arrival of its new Volvo FMX – which sets a new payload benchmark, thanks to its ground-breaking 38-tonne (t) bogie which allows for a gross combination weight of up to 150 t – Volvo Trucks South Africa has the right tool to further entrench the trend, writes Munesu Shoko.

n quarrying and mining, articulated dump trucks (ADTs) have always been the go-to solution for arduous in-pit duties such as hauling run of mine (ROM) material from the quarry/mine face to the processing plants. Understandably, the ADT’s prowess in such tough underfoot conditions is unparalleled.

While tipper trucks are a common sight on quarries, they have traditionally been relegated to light duty applications such as re-handling of ore and hauling of crushed material from the crushing plants to stockpiles, for example.

As cost pressures bite, quarries and mines continue to embrace new ideas. As part of this mindset shift, there is a growing acceptance of construction-type mining trucks, which are proven to be cheaper than dumpers – both to buy and to operate.

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As this shift towards mining tippers gathers pace, Volvo Trucks South Africa has brought in what it believes to be a game-changer. The all-new Volvo FMX – which made its local debut late last year – sets a new benchmark with the heaviest axle in its class, which results in increased payload.

New payloads

Eric Parry, senior manager: Sustainability at Volvo Group Southern Africa, says there has been a huge interest in the new truck since its launch last year. A couple of units are already in operation in South Africa, with several more on the way.

A key differentiator, explains Parry, is the brandnew heavy-duty axle designed in conjunction with sister company, Volvo Construction Equipment. With increased front axle loads of

| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

20 t

With increased front axle loads of up to 20 t and a 38-t rear bogie, the new Volvo FMX makes light work of heavy quarrying and mining assignments

38-t bogie

The 38-t bogie is a major improvement on the predecessor range’s 32-t rear-axle capacity

The front suspension has been updated, allowing for front axle loads of up to 10 t, and 20 t for double front axle units.

KEY POINTS As cost pressures bite, quarries and mines continue to embrace new ideas. As part of this mindset shift, there is a growing acceptance of construction-type mining trucks, which are proven to be cheaper than dumpers – both to buy and to operate As this shift towards mining tippers gathers pace, Volvo Trucks South Africa has brought in what it believes to be a game-changer, the all-new Volvo FMX A key differentiator is the brand-new heavyduty axle designed in conjunction with sister company, Volvo Construction Equipment A couple of units are already in operation in South Africa, with several more on the way

up to 20 t and a 38-t rear bogie, the new Volvo FMX makes light work of heavy quarrying and mining assignments. The 38-t bogie is a major improvement on the predecessor range’s 32-t rear-axle capacity.

“The front suspension has been updated, allowing for front axle loads of up to 10 t, and 20 t for double front axle units,” explains Parry.

“On the 8x4 variant, for example, the two 10-t front axles with four full springs, combined with the 38-t rear bogie with huge parabolic springs, provide a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 58 t.”

“

With its ability to carry more payload and manoeuvre more easily in difficult conditions, while at the same time keeping the driver safe and comfortable, the Volvo FMX ushers in a new era of productivity and safety at quarries and mines.

Eric Parry, senior manager: Sustainability at Volvo Group Southern Africa

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HAULAGE Safety to the fore

While the FMX is designed to challenge traditional yellow metal dumpers in off-road applications, it can also be deployed on public roads when empty, provided it is equipped with a road legal body.

38-41 t Depending on the type of the body and the specific gravity of the loaded material, the truck can achieve anything between 38 t and 41 t of payload

58-t GVM On the 8x4 variant, the two 10-t front axles with four full springs, combined with the 38-t rear bogie with huge parabolic springs, provide a gross vehicles mass of 58 t

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Depending on the type of the body and the specific gravity (SG) of the loaded material, the truck can achieve anything between 38 t and 41 t of payload. “Some customers choose the extra-wide body (3 m), because it lowers the centre of gravity of the vehicle, while offering good stability and payload. This, however, is not road-legal,” explains Parry. “Others prefer narrow and high bodies because they allow them to run the truck on certain sections of the national roads when empty.”

During testing at a haematite and fluorite ore operation in Limpopo recently, the Volvo FMX ticked all the right boxes in what is known to be an unforgiving application. Equipped with a standard width body, the truck carried 50% more payload than existing site ADTs, taking about nine scoops per load, compared with six for the articulated hauler.

“The client was sceptical about the truck’s ability to negotiate the steep gradients with a full load, especially given that the ADTs were already struggling with the sharp inclines from the pit to the processing plants.

The truck outperformed the ADTs in every aspect – it pulled out of the pit faster, with greater payload,” he says.

Leveraging Volvo Trucks’ I-Shift with crawler gears technology, the truck could also pull off with a full load from a standstill position at the steepest of gradients with no difficulty. The I-Shift with crawler gears is a unique Volvo gearbox designed to provide power and extreme startability, which are crucial in heavy duty quarrying and mining assignments.

Visibility is of paramount significance in mining applications.

For this reason, the FMX offers 10% better visibility than its predecessor, thanks to a lowered door line and new rear-view mirrors. This is enhanced by a standard camera that is installed on the passenger side, thus providing a complementary view of the side of the truck.

“With its ability to carry more payload and manoeuvre more easily in difficult conditions, while keeping the driver safe and comfortable, the Volvo FMX ushers in a new era of productivity and safety at quarries and mines,” says Parry.

Benefits abound

One of the major advantages of the FMX over traditional ADTs is the lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

Both investment and running costs are a lot lower than those of a comparable ADT. The light body results in lower fuel consumption and increased payload. Although the truck runs on specialised tyres (325/95R24 sizes), these are much cheaper than those of an ADT, thus further lowering TCO. The versatility of the truck is yet another major benefit. While the FMX is designed to challenge traditional yellow metal dumpers in off-road applications, it can also be deployed on public roads when empty, provided it is equipped with a road legal body.

Consequently, there is no need to hire costly lowbed trucks to transport the vehicle between sites.

However, Parry agrees that not all mining sites are ideal for the construction-type trucks. “There are some mining environments where the ADT is a better option, especially where tough underfoot conditions exist. However, in most quarrying applications where you have fairly smooth, well-maintained roads, the FMX will be the preferable choice.

Quarry operators can therefore take advantage of the truck’s unmatched value proposition to ensure more profitable operations,” concludes Parry. a

| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

HYBRID CRUSHING AND SCREENING The Lokotrack LT330D mobile cone crusher is an electric-driven mobile crushing and screening plant that combines a cone crusher and a screen on the same chassis.

1987 Metso Outotec is one of the pioneers of hybrid crushing and screening equipment, with the first Lokotrack E-models having been delivered in global markets in 1987

TOWARDS DUALPOWERED SOLUTIONS Demand for dual-powered crushing and screening solutions is rising quickly in the developed world. With their ability to have both electricity and diesel as power sources, hybrid solutions provide aggregate producers with the best of both worlds – compliance in urban operating environments and flexibility in the middle of nowhere. Yet, according to Pilot Crushtec’s Francois Marais, their uptake in Africa remains slow. By Munesu Shoko.

O

ne of the major benefits of hybrid crushing and screening solutions is that they are fitted with an electric/hydraulic drive system that can be connected to an external electricity supply once the machine has been set up on-site.

They can also be fitted with an onboard generator, allowing crushing contractors to power their machines electrically, even where there is no grid connection.

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Flexibility is another major advantage of these solutions. For those who operate in urban areas or in regulated environments in terms of noise and emission reduction, the hybrid solution can reduce both, depending on how electricity is generated. However, not all sites have electricity readily available. Most locations, especially in Africa, are remote and do not have the infrastructure. The logic behind hybrids is therefore to offer the best of both

| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

95%

Significant benefits are realised when customers can connect the machine to the grid. In this scenario, there is only an electric motor with a 95% efficiency, and the total efficiency at the crusher is 95%, which is a vast improvement in energy efficiency

3-5 years

Pilot Crushtec has seen improved demand for dual-powered crushing and screening solutions in the past three to five years

KEY POINTS Pilot Crushtec International has for several years been offering Metso Outotec’s hybrid solutions in southern Africa However, the company has only started seeing better interest in the past three to five years Meaningful operational gains are realised when customers are able to connect the machine to the grid While end users would benefit hugely from having hybrid solutions on-site, the demand for these machines in the local aggregates sector is still low

“

Despite the slow take-up in the aggregates sector, the hybrid solution has been more popular in local mining applications, with several machines already in operation across our territory.

Francois Marais, director sales and marketing at Pilot Crushtec

worlds – compliance in urban environments and flexibility on remote sites.

Leading provider

Pilot Crushtec International has for several years been offering Metso Outotec’s hybrid solutions

in southern Africa. However, the company has only started seeing better interest in the past three to five years. “We have a couple of hybrid units in operation across the region,” says Francois Marais, sales and marketing director at Pilot Crushtec.

Metso Outotec is one of the pioneers in hybrid crushing and screening equipment, the first Lokotrack E-models having been delivered in global markets in 1987. The company offers a comprehensive range of diesel-electric solutions, including jaw crushers, impact crushers, cone crushers and mobile screens of different types and sizes. These solutions are known as the Lokotrack e-Power range.

Locally, Pilot Crushtec offers the LT120E mobile jaw crusher, the LT330D mobile cone crusher and screening plant, as well as the ST2.8E mobile scalping screen. “This effectively constitutes an entire crushing train available right now with a hybrid powered solution. At the start of 2023, we expect to see the popular LT106 jaw crusher and the LT200HP cone crusher being introduced in dual-powered mode,” explains Marais.

Benefits abound

Being able to plug directly into the grid is a big cost saving on diesel, says Marais. Having a direct power supply means that crushing and screening plants can cut operational costs and ultimately improve the cost per tonne of end products.

In many cases where there is a combination of diesel-electric units in use, it is possible to switch off one of the machines in the train and get it

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HYBRID CRUSHING AND SCREENING an electric motor with a 95% efficiency, and the total efficiency at the crusher is 95%, which is a vast improvement in energy efficiency.

Slow uptake

The Metso Lokotrack LT120E feeding the Lokotrack LT330D.

The Lokotrack LT120E is a hybrid mobile crushing plant – it is powered by either an external network or by the 420kVA on-board diesel generator.

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powered by the one that is running.

This means two diesel engines are replaced with one, further reducing operating costs.

Metso Outotec notes that a crusher typically consumes 70-80% of the total energy in the crushing plant. A diesel-hydraulic solution, for example, comes with a diesel engine with an efficiency ratio of approximately 38%, connected to a hydraulic pump with a 90% efficiency, and a hydraulic motor with 90% efficiency. There is about 31% of the energy left when it reaches the crusher, as the remainder is turned into heat.

In a diesel-electric scenario, the crusher comes with a diesel engine, but the hydraulic pump is replaced by a generator and electric motor, both with an efficiency of 95%. The total efficiency at the crusher is 35%, a 4% improvement on the dieselhydraulic solution.

A substantial change, however, is realised when customers can connect the machine to an electric grid. In this scenario, there is only

Despite the documented benefits of the technology, the take-up in Africa is still extremely low.

According to Marais, the main hindrance are the challenges related to power generation in South Africa and the African continent at large.

“While end users would benefit hugely from having hybrid solutions on-site, the demand for these machines in the local aggregates sector is still low. The lack of reliable, consistent power supply across the region has been a major barrier to the quick adoption of these solutions in our region,” says Marais.

By their nature, dual-powered solutions come at a relatively higher capital cost than their diesel counterparts and running them on grid electricity means a big improvement in energy efficiency.

Meaningful operational gains are realised when customers are able to connect the machine to the grid. By and large, the price of electricity is lower than that of diesel, so there is a chance to reduce operating costs significantly.

“Despite the slow take-up in the aggregates sector, the hybrid solution has been more popular in local mining applications, with several machines already in operation across our territory,” concludes Marais. a

| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

HYBRID CRUSHING AND SCREENING

2015

The dual-powered Finlay C-1540 cone crusher incorporates the proven Terex 1000 cone crusher with direct electric drive, automatic tramp relief and a hydraulic CSS adjustment.

Bell Equipment has been offering Finlay dualpowered units in southern Africa since 2015

ARE FUEL PRICES DRIVING HYBRID TECHNOLOGY?

A

The capital cost of hybrid crushing and screening technology has traditionally been prohibitive to the take-up of these solutions in Africa. Amid record high fuel prices, Bell Equipment, the Terex Finlay distributor in southern Africa, has, however, seen renewed interest in hybrid solutions because fuel savings help offset their premium price and also improve their value proposition. By Munesu Shoko.

ggregate producers in Africa have always been aware of the benefits of hybrid crushing and screening solutions, but in the early years the upfront cost of this technology slowed its uptake.

According to Tyron Ravenscroft, Finlay product manager at Bell Equipment, in recent months, as fuel prices soar to record levels, there has been a definite interest in hybrid mobile crushing and screening solutions, especially in the mining industry, where the company has recorded significant sales to date.

“Buying hybrid technology now makes more sense than ever before as fuel savings offset and justify the premium capital cost of this advanced technology,” he says.

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The range

Bell Equipment has been supplying Finlay dualpowered units in southern Africa since 2015, which offer operators the flexibility to power the plant either by mains electric connection or the onboard genset. The company has recorded notable successes, with several units operating in Zambia and South Africa.

The range includes the dual power Finlay J-1175 jaw crusher, the Finlay C-1540 cone crusher, the Finlay 694+ and 696+ inclined screens, the Finlay 883+ scalper, as well as the Finlay TC-80 tracked conveyor and Finlay TR-75 radial stacker.

“The dual power Finlay J-1175 jaw crusher incorporates the robust JW42 highperformance, electrically driven, single toggle jaw chamber, and a heavy duty vibrating grizzly

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50 Hz

The Finlay 694+ dual power inclined screen comes standard with two 37 kW IE2 electric motors which operate at 50 Hz

600 tph

The Finlay TR-75 radial has a conveyor length of 22,9 m, a belt width of 1 050 m and a capacity of up to 600 tph

“

In applications where a full train is powered by the onboard genset configuration, the crushers generate sufficient energy to enable the operator to run the dual power inclined screen for ‘free’ when used in conjunction with the dual power jaw crusher.

Tyron Ravenscroft, Finlay product manager at Bell Equipment

KEY POINTS Aggregate producers in Africa have always been aware of the benefits of hybrid crushing and screening solutions, but in the early years the upfront cost of this technology slowed its uptake In recent months, as fuel prices soar to record levels, there has been a definite interest in hybrid mobile crushing and screening solutions Buying hybrid technology now makes more sense than ever before as fuel savings offset and justify the premium capital cost of this advanced technology Bell Equipment has over the years recorded notable successes with its Finlay dual-powered solutions, with several units operating in Zambia and South Africa

feeder (VGF) for optimum production. Additional benefits include rapid set-up time, ease of maintenance, high reduction ratio, high output capacity and an advanced electronic control system,” explains Ravenscroft.

The dual-powered Finlay C-1540 cone crusher incorporates the proven Terex 1000 cone crusher

with direct electric drive, automatic tramp relief and a hydraulic CSS adjustment. The C-1540 can be fitted with an optional patented pre-screen module which allows fine material to bypass the crushing chamber, thus reducing wear rates in the crushing chamber. The fines can be prepared separately and discharged via the optional onboard side conveyor.

The large hopper/feeder has an automated metal detection and purge system to protect the cone and reduce downtime by removing metal contaminants via the purge chute.

The Finlay 694+ dual power inclined screen comes standard with two 37 kW IE2 electric motors which operate at 50 Hz. However, a 60 Hz and/or IE3 set-up can be configured to suit particular regions.

“The intuitive and user-friendly electrical and hydraulic systems allow the customer to toggle between diesel and electric mode at the flick of a switch. The primary operation and controls of the machine remain the same regardless of the selected power mode,” says Ravenscroft.

The unit features a large 6,1 m x 1,53 m tripledeck inclined screen with a total screening area of 28 m² to provide efficient screening and high capacity. An innovative, hydraulically folded fourth conveyor allows simple adjustment with various tilt and slew discharge points, between

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HYBRID CRUSHING AND SCREENING The Finlay 883+ hybrid scalper is designed to work after a primary crusher or as a frontline-tracked mobile screening machine.

The Finlay 694+ hybrid inclined screen offers operators the flexibility to power the plant either by an electrical connection or diesel/hydraulic configuration.

28 m² The Finlay 694+ features a large 6,1 m x 1,53 m triple-deck inclined screen with a total screening area of 28 m² to provide efficient screening and high capacity

500 tph With a capacity of up to 500 tph, the Finlay TC-80 tracked conveyor has a discharge height of 9,95 m at 24⁰ and a stockpile capacity of 1 806 m3

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18° and 30°, for recirculating (in at 24° and a stockpile capacity of closed circuit with a crusher) or 1 806 m3, also at 24°. The TC-80 has a capacity of up to 500 tonnes per stockpiling of finished material. By hour (tph). comparison, the Finlay 693+ dual “The TR-75 discharges in a power inclined screen features two kidney bean shape and features full sized 6,1 m x 1,53 m decks with a an automated radial left-to-right total screening area of 18,7 m². drive to stop points selected on The Finlay 883+ hybrid scalper is the control panel. This unit has a designed to work after a primary conveyor length of 22,9 m, a belt crusher or as a frontline-tracked width of 1 050 m and a capacity of mobile screening machine. up to 600 tph,” says Ravenscroft.

Applications include quarrying, mining construction and demolition Benefits debris, topsoil, recycling, sand, gravel, Hybrid crushing and screening coal and aggregates. The plant has solutions offer a range of benefits, the capacity to process up to 600 including superior performance tonnes per hour and can be fed either at high altitude and by a tracked mobile crusher, in dusty operating shovel or an excavator. environments; no Key features servicing of engine; include a modular no refuelling of configuration engine, reduced screen box with a 600 tph noise when 4,8 m x 1,53 m top This Finlay TR-75 radial has a running; and deck and a 4,8 m conveyor length of 22,9 m, a belt reduced running x 1,53 m bottom width of 1 050 m and a capacity of costs. deck screen. The up to 600 tph “The major screen box can benefit of dual be hydraulically power technology adjusted to an angle is that the crushing between 13° and 19°. and screening units The screen box discharge are electrically driven, end can be hydraulically allowing them to be powered from raised 500 mm upwards to facilitate either an external electrical supply efficient and easy media access and or from their on-board gensets, changing. The aggressive screen box thus reducing running costs can accept bofor bars, speedharps, significantly. In applications where woven mesh, punch plate, tines and a full train is powered by the oncascade fingers. board genset configuration, the The Finlay TC-80 tracked crushers generate sufficient energy conveyor and Finlay TR-75 radial to enable the operator to run the stacker are also available with dual power inclined screen for ‘free’ hybrid technology. The TC-80 has when used in conjunction with the a conveyor length of 23,5 m and a dual power jaw crusher,” concludes belt width of 1 050 mm. The unit Ravenscroft. a has a discharge height of 9,95 m

| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

REGIONAL FOCUS – WEST AFRICA Volvo connected machines.

DELIVERING NEW LEVELS OF UPTIME AND PRODUCTIVITY Volvo Construction Equipment and its dealer, SMT Ghana, have been piloting the Volvo ActiveCare remote machine monitoring service in Africa to deliver new levels of uptime and productivity for mining customers. Speaking to Quarrying Africa, Leonardo Aguiar, technical director at SMT Ghana, shares the inside track. By Munesu Shoko.

F

or Volvo mining customers working 24/7 in Ghana, uptime is crucial to productivity and profitability. While SMT Ghana, the Volvo CE dealer in the country, has its on-site technicians doing checks every morning for service contract customers, Aguiar says a lot can happen in a day, and it is costly for the customer to stop machines to investigate every time an alarm sounds or an error code pops up.

To ensure high levels of uptime and productivity, SMT Ghana prioritised the use of Volvo ActiveCare, a 24/7 remote machinery monitoring and fleet utilisation reporting service that takes the burden of monitoring CareTrack telematics data off the customer.

On behalf of customers, the SMT Ghana team keeps a constant eye on machine utilisation, performance and health in order to provide remote diagnosis and suggest actions for improvement. This enables the dealer to arrest any potential issues before they turn into more serious and expensive

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| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

24/7 Volvo ActiveCare is a 24/7 remote machinery monitoring and fleet utilisation reporting service that takes the burden of monitoring CareTrack telematics data off the customer

KEY POINTS

problems, as well as to boost uptime, productivity and profitability overall.

“In a nutshell, ActiveCare makes life easier for the customer – and for us as the dealer to help them – and gives customers peace of mind that they are getting the most out of their machines,” explains Aguiar.

“With remote monitoring and diagnosis, we can prioritise whether our technicians need to stop the machine immediately for servicing or can wait until the next scheduled downtime. We can also anticipate any other problems that might occur and so our technicians can be ready with the tools and parts they need to take quick, proactive, preventative action at the next service,” he adds.

To ensure maximum uptime and productivity for its mining customers, SMT Ghana prioritised the use of Volvo ActiveCare, a 24/7 remote machinery monitoring and fleet utilisation reporting service that takes the burden of monitoring CareTrack telematics data off the customer On behalf of customers, the SMT Ghana team keeps a constant eye on machine utilisation, performance and health in order to provide remote diagnosis and suggest actions for improvement Uptime is a more complex measure as it is related to so many things, but ActiveCare undoubtedly has a significant positive impact on SMT Ghana’s service processes Connectivity is a growing trend, not just in Ghana but across Africa

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REGIONAL FOCUS – WEST AFRICA

SMT Ghana technicians.

Positive results

24/7 For Volvo mining customers working 24/7 in Ghana, uptime is crucial to productivity and profitability

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portal that one of its service contract Analysing CareTrack data through customers was experiencing many Fuel Efficiency Reports has enabled air pressure filter alarms. SMT asked SMT Ghana to help customers its on-site technicians to investigate reorganise the number and capacity and found that the filters were of machines on site and the routes clogging very quickly. they take to reduce their idling time “Consequently, we added extra and fuel consumption, with the aim oil bath filters and housing to of achieving greater productivity protect them. We also optimised our and lower costs. process to exchange the entire “We have clear system with a clean one in a figures on this. We pit stop, so the machines access four Insight do not have to wait 100% Reports in total while their filters are As new Volvo machines come with ActiveCare: cleaned. Issues like equipped with ActiveCare this are not critical, CareTrack telematics as Report, Fuel but if not given standard, SMT Ghana is aiming to reach close to 100% Efficiency Report, proper attention, connectivity for its Productivity they can lead to field population within the next four to Report and unplanned downtime five years.

Summary Report,” or engine or machine explains Aguiar. failures. We see clearly Uptime, he adds, is that ActiveCare supports the a more complex measure uptime of machines in the long as it is related to so many things, term,” says Aguiar. but ActiveCare undoubtedly has Investment and organisation a significant positive impact on Delivering Volvo ActiveCare SMT Ghana’s service processes. required some investment and “Customers tend to notice more organisation from SMT Ghana as when something goes wrong the Volvo dealer, but Aguiar says than when everything is running the investment has proven to be smoothly. So, we can say that by worth every cent. The company enabling us to fix issues more appointed a CareTrack manager, quickly and even prevent others Peter Antwi Boasiako, to work from happening, ActiveCare is exclusively on driving the process. contributing to our customers’ Boasiako is responsible for logging satisfaction,” says Aguiar. into the CareTrack portal every day, To give a specific example, SMT checking the cases generated and Ghana noticed in the CareTrack

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Volvo CE Telematics Developer’s Portal.

following up on their resolution.

The future Commenting on the future of He also receives alerts, campaign Volvo ActiveCare on the continent, information and software update Aguiar says connectivity is a information, among others, from growing trend, not just in Ghana the Volvo Uptime Centre in Sweden. but across Africa. As new Volvo For service contracts where SMT machines come equipped with has its own technicians based at CareTrack telematics as standard, the customer’s site, the company SMT Ghana is aiming to reach liaises directly with them to plan the close to 100% connectivity interventions, so there is for its field population minimal communication within the next four with the customer. to five years.

The customer is The company not necessarily CareTrack also offers even aware of Production plus ActiveCare everything free of happening SMT Ghana offers ActiveCare free of charge for all production charge for all behind the plus machines connected with Production scenes; they CareTrackProduction plus.

Plus just see These include the A40G, A45G and A60H articulated machines the results haulers, wheel loaders from the connected of seamless L220H and up, as well as excavators from the with CareTrack servicing and EC480D and up.

Production Plus. high uptime.

These include “For other the A40G, A45G customers, our service and A60H articulated managers will contact haulers, wheel loaders the customer when action is from the L220H and up, as well as needed and ask if they would like us excavators from the EC480D and up. to send our technicians. It requires a “Having remote access to machine mindset shift from these customers information helps us to provide to appreciate how preventative and quicker and more efficient servicing predictive maintenance lowers their for customers – and we are excited costs in the long term. In these cases, to support even more customers it is extremely valuable for us to be with ActiveCare so that we can not able to show the customer how only fix issues more speedily, but also much worse the damage and costs prevent them from even occurring in will be if they don’t stop the machine the first place,” concludes Aguiar. a for servicing,” explains Aguiar.

A technician from SMT Ghana servicing customer machines.

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Care Track data Analysing CareTrack data through Fuel Efficiency Reports has enabled SMT Ghana to help customers reorganise the number and capacity of machines on site and the routes they take to reduce their idling time and fuel consumption, with the aim of achieving greater productivity and lower costs

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DIGITALISATION IN QUARRYING

DIGITALISATION HOLDS THE PROMISE FOR AGGREGATE PRODUCERS Due to economies of scale, aggregate producers in Africa have traditionally lagged behind their mining counterparts in the digital transformation journey. However, leveraging several proven digital tools at their disposal and the ample lessons learnt from mining, now is the time for quarries to move into what Juandré Scheepers, sales engineer at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, refers to as ‘the modern means of operation’. By Munesu Shoko.

SanRemo Mobile uses a phone or a tablet device for connectivity, providing Sandvik customers with the most convenient way of transferring data.

T

o stay competitive in today’s business and economic environments requires new strategies and practices.

Consequently, quarrying companies in Africa have been challenged to change, adapt and innovate in order to remain competitive and economically viable.

Speaking to Quarrying Africa, Scheepers says digital transformation has taken root in mining in recent years and has become central to the discussion on how the industry can further improve safety, productivity and other critical operational measures. To remain competitive in an ever-changing world, the quarrying industry,

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he says, should follow suit.

Traditionally, there have been many barriers to quarries adopting new technologies, primarily the economies of scale, but in an increasingly digital age, Scheepers believes that digital transformation has become a distinct possibility as digital tools, data collection and advanced analytics have evolved.

“It is true that mining companies’ budgets for technological adoption completely overshadow those for quarry operators. Understandably, aggregates are low-value material compared to commodities such as coal and iron ore, and therefore mines traditionally have more capital

| March/April 2022 | Vol. 1 Issue 2 | www.quarryingafrica.com

Automation is an opportunity for quarries to reduce operating costs, improve operations and take people out of harm’s way.

“

KEY POINTS Quarrying companies in Africa have been challenged to change, adapt and innovate in order to remain competitive and economically viable Digital transformation is about leveraging all the digital tools at the industry’s disposal From a cost perspective, there are many readily available digital tools which quarries can take up so as to accelerate their digital revolution as well as to fundamentally transform how they operate and make decisions The beauty of available Sandvik technologies is that quarries can choose the level of digitalisation they want by installing optional extras that speak to their exact needs or budgets

available to spend than quarries,” he says.

However, Scheepers is of the view that digital transformation is about leveraging all the digital tools at the industry’s disposal. From a cost perspective, there are many readily available digital tools which quarries can take up so as to accelerate their digital revolution as well as to fundamentally transform how they operate and make decisions. Digital experiences in mining, he adds, also provide a solid foundation for learning.

A company that doesn’t capture, analyse, summarise and learn from data is either dead or dying. There is an urgent need for quarries to adapt to new technology to remain relevant.

Juandré Scheepers, sales engineer at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions

Available tools

According to Scheepers, it is best to start small by adding to existing technology. Sensors are the starting point for digitalisation as they are where data is created. It’s true that almost every earthmoving machine in today’s world has utilised certain sensors.

“For a long time in fact, machines have had sensors, such as pressure transducers, temperature sensors, encoders and linear sensors, to mention just a few. However, there have been some significant improvements to the extent that machines can now produce vast amounts of useful data. This not only leads to improvements in operator experience, but also gives operations a great many options in terms of planning and preventative maintenance capabilities,” he explains.

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DIGITALISATION IN QUARRYING

My Sandvik Digital Service Solutions provide visualisation of fleet utilisation, productivity, safety and health on a 24/7 basis.

A key enabler, however, is connectivity. raw digital data from machine sensors and Without connectivity, there is no data. Without other digital tools and transforms it into useful data there is no digitalisation, visualisation and information which humans can understand. The transparency. To get their digital processes SICA control system is standard on all Sandvik going, quarries should therefore invest in intelligent drill rigs. connectivity as the first step.

My Sandvik is another digital tool that “Given that digitalisation and automation quarries can take advantage of, in their quest offerings are generally reliant on the Internet, to unlock productivity gains and make factthe first step for quarries is to ensure that based decisions. Various options of the online they have reliable connectivity. This can be portal provide Sandvik equipment owners with in the form of a well-established mobile visualisation of fleet utilisation, productivity and network such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and/or LTE, an safety on a 24/7 basis. established Global Network Satellite Systems “Once activated, the Knowledge Box on (GNSS) connection or Wi-Fi systems,” says board the Sandvik machine collects and Scheepers. transfers equipment data to the My Sandvik To harness the power of digitalisation, IoT hub. This is where gathered data mines have invested heavily in is processed into easy-to-use their connectivity as a starting knowledge about the machine’s point. Quarries, being openhealth and performance. The 10 pit environments, have a big gained knowledge helps advantage over underground fleet managers to make Within the next 10 years, operations when it comes substantial observations demand for aggregate is to connectivity as they and prioritise actions during expected to increase at an exponential rate and the industry are usually located in daily operations,” explains will need to adapt to new built-up areas and can Scheepers. ways of working in order to therefore leverage existing With SanRemo Mobile, an meet that demand and run profitable mobile networks and Wieasy and low-cost connectivity operations Fi infrastructure. In addition, solution for Sandvik surface drill the open skies allow for GNSS rigs, fleet management and drilling connectivity. data, such as digital drillplans, can be transferred to and from the machine, The Sandvik digital basket and the cloud using a mobile device. “SanRemo Implementing digitalisation is not done in a snap, Mobile uses a phone or a tablet device for states Scheepers. The beauty of available Sandvik connectivity, thus providing Sandvik customers technologies is that quarries can choose the level with the most convenient way of transferring of digitalisation they want by installing optional data.” extras that speak to their exact needs or budgets.

Once installed, the application uses Bluetooth Everything works on a digital platform. Physical connectivity to exchange data to and from sensors all over the machine take real-time data the mobile device in the vicinity of the drill rig, and transfer it to a central processing unit (CPU) without the need of an internet connection. digitally. To this end, Sandvik Mining and Rock Internet access is established using wireless or Solutions offers its proven Sandvik Integrated cellular data connections on the mobile device, Control Architecture (SICA) platform that gathers when the user heads back to the office to upload

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Physical sensors all over the machine take real-time data and transfer it to a central processing unit digitally.

data collected to the cloud.

Driller’s Office is a practical software tool for surface drilling process management, offering better drilling accuracy, hole quality and blasting results. Designed to simplify and improve the efficiency of surface drilling management, proven in quarrying applications, it covers drill plan design, drilling data management and reporting.

The easy-to-learn and easy-to-use software follows “job site logic” and features clear and simple 3D visualisations of the drilling pattern and terrain models. Streamlining management work and removing obstacles between the quarry’s planning skills and the actual drilling work, Driller’s Office translates into considerable savings in time and money, as well as improved job site safety.

costs, improve operations and take people out of harm’s way,” says Scheepers.

The move towards autonomous operations – especially in drilling where many quarries already own automation-ready Sandvik drill rigs – is increasingly difficult to resist. Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions offers a high level of flexibility, allowing customers to select the level of automation that best suits their operation.

Available Sandvik systems can be expanded from line-of-sight setup to control room operation many kilometres away.

The future

Commenting on the outlook of digital and automation systems in the quarrying industry, Scheepers says the growth in take-up is inevitable. “There is no reason for quarries to be left behind in the digital 3D Automation revolution,” he says. “My Digital transformation is not an view is that within the Drillers Office follows isolated technological project. next 10 years, demand for ‘job site logic’ and features Instead, it is the combination aggregate will increase at clear and simple 3D visualisations of the drilling pattern and of numerous projects that an exponential rate and the terrain models transform every aspect of an industry will need to adapt to operation to be digital-first. new ways of working in order One of the necessary steps in the to meet that demand and run digital transformation journey is profitable operations.” automation.

Scheepers adds that there is a Scheepers reiterates that automation need for quarries to focus on continuous is an opportunity for African quarries to improvement, which will add to safety improve their safety, efficiency and productivity. improvements, productivity gains and ultimately However, he believes that the major barrier to economic growth. “The more we can get out of implementation of automated systems, especially each machine and increase production, the more in Africa, is that there are still uninformed we contribute to the growth of the economy in viewpoints on their practicality and costs. the long run.”

“This is also exacerbated by the perception In conclusion, Scheepers stresses the importance that automation and digitalisation result in job of data management. “A company that doesn’t losses. Automation is not about replacing people; capture, analyse, summarise and learn from data it means that the entire team now benefits is either dead or dying. There is an urgent need from newly efficient workflows. Automation is for quarries to adapt to new technology to remain an opportunity for quarries to reduce operating relevant,” concludes Scheepers. a

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BLASTING – IQSA REVIEW The accuracy of the AXXIS Silver electronic blast initiation system minimises airblast and vibration levels.

“

Quarries by their nature are located close to communities and existing infrastructure.

Adhering to local ground vibration and airblast limits is therefore critical to maintain their licence to operate. With the AXXIS Silver system, they can be comfortable knowing that issues such as flyrock and excessive vibration can be controlled.

KEY POINTS Quarries are turning to electronic systems as improvements in blast outcomes, mining efficiencies, environmental impact control and safety are realised BME has launched the AXXIS Silver system, a slimmed-down version of its flagship AXXIS Titanium range, specifically designed for quarries and other smaller mines The AXXIS Silver system is a cost-effective solution for operations with less demanding blasting needs Several leading quarrying groups have already converted from the previous AXXIS GII system to the new AXXIS Silver

Tinus Brits, BME’s global product manager – AXXIS

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15%

About 15% of the existing users of the GII system have already migrated to the new AXXIS Silver electronic initiation system

12 – 14%

Overall, there has been a steady annual conversion rate of quarries from non-electric to electric detonators of about 12-14%

STEP-CHANGE IN EFFICIENT AND SAFE BLASTING

As quarries further embrace modern technology, there is an apparent increased uptake of electronic blast detonation systems. This was the overarching message from BME at the recent Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa (IQSA) conference, where the Omnia group company showcased its new AXXIS Silver digital initiation system, a stepchange in efficient and safe blasting for quarries and small-scale mining operations, writes Munesu Shoko.

The AXXIS Silver system is a cost-effective solution for operations with less demanding blasting needs.

T

hat the quarrying sector has been slow to embrace new technologies is no overstatement. However, Tinus Brits, BME’s global product manager – AXXIS, believes that there is a shift in attitude, especially in blasting, where electronic detonation systems are fast becoming an integral part of quarrying processes.

With all the easy rock already mined out and blasting becoming more difficult by the day, Brits says quarries are turning to electronic systems as improvements in blast outcomes, mining efficiencies, environmental impact control and safety are realised.

“Quarries have reached the point where mining has become more difficult, yet as equipment and energy costs keep rising and stricter environmental and safety regulations must be complied with, and, additionally, industry demands even more stringent product specifications,” explains Brits, “there is a better understanding that electronic blast

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BLASTING – IQSA REVIEW leading quarrying groups, he says, have already converted from the previous AXXIS GII system to the new AXXIS Silver. About 15% of the existing users of the GII system have already migrated to the new electronic initiation system.

“Overall, there has been a steady annual conversion rate of quarries from non-electric to electric detonators of about 12-14%,” says Van Nieuwenhuizen. “Within the next five years, it is likely that the majority of quarries will have migrated to electronics.”

Efficiency gains

The logger is a hand-held device for logging and testing of the detonators.

1 600 The AXXIS Silver is designed for up to 1 600 detonators, which is more than enough for the quarrying industry’s blasting requirements

30 m There are also specific advantages for quarries that have been built into the AXXIS Silver, such as the thinner 30 m coppercladded steel cable which has been developed to suit small-diameter waterlogged blastholes

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Efficiency in quarrying is the difference between profitability and stagnation. According to Brits, blasting has a substantial economic effect on quarrying and systems take safety, fragmentation, mining projects at large. A poor environmental control and blast blast result means sub-optimal efficiency to a whole new level.” fragmentation, thus slowing the Traditionally, adds Brits, the takeentire downstream processes, up of electronic detonation systems from loading through to crushing. has been relatively slow in the Meanwhile, secondary blasting quarrying industry. Understandably, or breaking of oversized material the cost of this technology could be as much as four times compared with the cost of the initial blast. conventional nonBased on that electric delay understanding, BME detonators has had a specific focus always been a on efficiency when 0,0067% major barrier for developing the The accuracy of detonation the industry.

AXXIS Silver system. delays has been enhanced, With that While it is a scaledreaching 0,0067% firing in mind, BME down version of the accuracy for consistent quality blasting that results in optimal has brought flagship Titanium, rock fragmentation and to market the the system retains consistency.

AXXIS Silver the same efficiency system, a slimmedgains for which the down version of its Titanium is renowned. flagship AXXIS Titanium “While the AXXIS Titanium range, specifically designed allows for large blasts of up to for quarries and other smaller 20 000 detonators, the AXXIS Silver mines. The AXXIS Silver is a costsystem is designed for up to 1 600 effective solution for operations detonators – 800 per blast box, with less demanding blasting needs. which is more than enough for It will help free quarries from the the quarrying industry’s blasting limitations of conventional nonrequirements,” says Brits. electric solutions and allow them to The accuracy of detonation experience the benefits of electronic delays has been enhanced, initiation. reaching 0,0067% firing accuracy Bennie van Nieuwenhuizen, BME’s for consistent quality blasting AXXIS quality manager, says there that results in optimal rock has been a quick take-up of Silver in fragmentation and consistency. the quarrying industry following its The programmability of 15 seconds introduction late last year. Several with 1-millisecond intervals allows

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for blast designs to be precision-designed, in the market only use a single basis of safety,” resulting in better fragmentation. says Brits.

The AXXIS Silver initiation system Additional benefits integrates with BME’s Blast “There are also specific advantages for Alliance suite of digital tools, quarries that we have built into the including its BLASTMAP AXXIS Silver, such as the thinner 30 m blast planning software, 15 seconds copper-cladded steel cable which XPLOLOG data logger we have developed to suit smalland online dashboard, The programmability of diameter waterlogged blastholes,” and the Blasting Guide 15 seconds with 1-millisecond says Van Nieuwenhuizen. “This App for Android devices. intervals allows for blast designs to be precisionresults in a perfectly straight wire This allows customised designed, resulting in better down the hole, so the blaster knows solutions that can be fragmentation exactly where the booster is – without implemented with speed, compromising on the line strength.” accuracy and safety, says Van In conclusion, Brits says the flexibility and Nieuwenhuizen. accuracy of the AXXIS Silver electronic blast Safe blasting initiation system minimise airblast and vibration The AXXIS Silver system retains all the levels. Ground vibration, flyrock and airblast are stringent safety features that have made critical issues for quarry operators.

AXXIS Titanium popular, including an “Quarries by their nature are located close to application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) communities and existing infrastructure. Adhering to chip in the BME detonators. Among the local ground vibration and airblast limits is therefore added benefits of the ASIC is more internal critical to maintain their licence to operate. With safety gates against stray current and the AXXIS Silver system, they can be comfortable lightning – which enhances safety levels and knowing that issues such as flyrock and excessive allows for inherently safe logging and testing. vibration can be controlled,” concludes Brits. a The ASIC chip also boasts more memory and processing speed, facilitating easier timing and centralised programming if the timing needs to be changed after being conducted on the bench.

“During the development of the AXXIS Silver system, we paid particular attention to safety,” says Van Nieuwenhuizen. “One of the unique features is the key logger, a hand-held device for logging and testing of the detonators. It is the only control device that allows the blast to be fired, thus giving the overall control to the blaster.

It controls the entire process, from testing through to detonation and charging of capacitors.”

The ease of use and on-bench logging, adds Van Nieuwenhuizen, is another key benefit of the key logger. The one-step logging and testing of detonators, as well as the simple fault-finding and quick corrections on the blast pattern, are said to be ground-breaking. Everything is built into the logger, which can now do the programming, scanning and testing.

Another key safety feature is the use of dual capacitors and dual voltage, allowing for low voltage logging to avoid unplanned detonation.

The dual capacitors split the system into two.

The logic capacitor is used to communicate and test the detonator and does not have enough energy to fire the fuse head. The firing capacitor is only used for firing.

“This is aimed at creating a separate line of communication for safe logging and testing of the detonator. Most other detonator systems

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SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

BRIDGING THE TECHNICAL SKILLS GAP In an industry where over 30 000 technicians are required per year to maintain, service and repair growing fleets of heavy equipment and power systems, Caterpillar’s Technicians for Africa bridges the skills gap on the continent. Caterpillar’s Toby Kirgan tells Quarrying Africa that the programme, initially launched in 2015 in Nigeria, Mozambique and the DRC, has over the years expanded to cover 33 countries.

Munesu Shoko reports.

I

t is well known that the dearth of also use it to help gain entry into leading technical skills is one of the biggest vocational schools. risks facing businesses in Africa Key successes and the world at large. Given that Since its inception, the programme skilled technicians are the lifeblood has recorded significant successes. To of its activities, Caterpillar launched its provide context, over 5 500 students Technicians for Africa (T4A) initiative in have now completed the programme.

2015 to tackle the technical skills gap in Over 1,25-million have visited the website Africa. and 67 000 students have registered for T4A is a free online programme the programme. These numbers, says offered for Africans seeking a new and Kirgan, continue to grow. exciting career as service technicians.

“Students who have successfully The programme gives future technicians completed the T4A programme have taken a base level of technical knowledge to many different paths to success,” adds make them viable candidates for careers in Kirgan. “Some of them have enrolled in heavy equipment technologies and other dealer apprentice programmes to continue related fields. their development as service technicians, “We saw the T4A programme as an while the local Cat dealers have hired effective vehicle to build better lives others. Some of the beneficiaries of the while enabling Caterpillar, its dealers and programme have found employment with the wider industry to build a technician other companies, continued their education talent pipeline,” says Toby Kirgan, senior at a local vocational school, or have opted organisation development consultant at to work in another industry.”

Caterpillar.

Students are first introduced to the Why Africa? programme through Caterpillar dealers, According to Kirgan, Caterpillar is social media sites, their schools or other focused on growing its technician marketing platforms. They then talent pipeline across the globe. register for the free online However, while collaborating programme to begin their with its dealers and training. They start with the customers in Africa, the T4A curriculum.

67 000 company recognised an The curriculum urgent need to support comprises 18 courses: four developing local talent to Introductory, ten Level-1 Some 67 000 students have registered for the programme fill the growing number of and four Level-2 courses. since its launch technicians’ jobs within the Once they successfully capital equipment industry. finish the programme, “In the past, many of these they gain a Certificate of roles were filled by trained Completion, which can be used technicians from other parts of the to improve their chances of securing a world. Technicians for Africa supports our technician’s job in the automobile, trucking dealers as they work to grow their local or heavy equipment industry. Students can

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5 500

Since its inception in 2015, over 5 500 students have completed the programme

1,25-million

Over 1,25-million people have visited the website since 2015

“

We saw the Technicians for Africa programme as an effective vehicle to build better lives while enabling Caterpillar, its dealers and the wider industry to build a technician talent pipeline.

Toby Kirgan, senior organisation development consultant at Caterpillar

KEY POINTS To address the technical skills gap in Africa, Caterpillar launched its Technicians for Africa programme in 2015 Technicians for Africa is a free online programme offered by Caterpillar for Africans seeking a new and exciting career as service technicians Initially launched in Nigeria, Mozambique and the DRC, the programme has over the years expanded to cover 33 countries The programme gives future technicians a base level of technical knowledge to make them viable candidates for careers in heavy equipment technologies and other related fields

talent pipelines by providing world-class training at no charge to students who are interested in learning more about Caterpillar and our products,” he says.

Beyond the introductory training, students who successfully complete the T4A curriculum also begin to build a relationship with their local Cat dealer, as many of the participating dealers host facility tours and on-site career days for the graduates.

Kirgan stresses that Caterpillar knows the importance of continually attracting, recruiting and retaining quality technicians for its dealers and customers.

“Our industry needs over 30 000 technicians per year to maintain, service and repair our growing fleets of heavy equipment and power

A Technicians for Africa graduate working in Tanzania.

systems solutions. T4A is designed to introduce new students to our industry and expose them to meaningful learning that will assist them on their education and career journey. Whether these students find their career at a Cat dealer or with a customer, we are excited to know that we have been a part of their journey,” concludes Kirgan. a

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IQSA REVIEW

PLUGGING THE SKILLS GAP IN THE QUARRYING INDUSTRY In response to the shortage of skills in the industry, the Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa (IQSA) used this year’s conference to launch the IQ CDP Select – an eLearning programme that provides a flexible and innovative approach to continuous professional development (CPD), Quarrying Africa reports.

The programme offers access to the latest bite-size eLearning modules and structured content.

T

CORPORATE PARTNERS

he IQ CPD Select Series provides employers and learners with short, accredited learning modules that can be taken on their own, in bundles or in a bespoke package. All the units are delivered online and can be worked through at the learner’s own pace.

“The programme offers access to the latest bite-size eLearning modules and structured content, all of which can be undertaken based on each business’s needs,” explains Jeremy HunterSmith, the newly appointed IQSA chairman.

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www.rocktechnology.sandvik/en/

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www.sanysouthafrica.com

Jeremy Hunter-Smith, IQSA chairperson.

“The Institute of Quarrying’s (IQ) training and qualifications are recognised globally with flexible learning formats available to meet the needs of both individuals and quarry operators.”

“The IQ Academy Select is our way of championing skills development for our members,” adds Hunter-Smith. “The programme will allow young professionals to gain CDP points along their journey to their required professional field within the industry. It is designed for all learning styles and members can learn at their own pace.”

www.loadtech.co.za

www.global.weir

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www.kemach.co.za

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www.booyco-electronics.co.za