Becker Mining SA stepped up to the challenge of a quick turn-around time for the manufacture of rope attachments, for an underground project at a diamond mine in the Limpopo province.
“We received the order to manufacture and supply rope attachments at the end of August 2018, with the requirement to deliver the equipment before the end of December 2018,” says Tom Searle, Senior General Manager: Capital, Becker Mining South Africa (Pty) Ltd. “This large order would normally take between six and eight months to complete, however, we managed to finish the work in three and a half months.
“This equipment, which was designed locally by Becker Mining South Africa, covers the specific winding requirements of this underground mine. Four sets of head rope attachments and four sets of tail rope attachments are required for the 4,5 m drum diameter Koepe winder, which accommodates 38 mm head ropes and 40 mm tail ropes. The fully-machined components – with a total mass of 53 Tons – were packed in 49 large wooden crates and delivered for long term storage, ahead of our deadline.”
This project included the manufacture of a complete running set and a spare set of Koepe attachments for two rock winders at the mine. Each set suits four off 46 mm headropes and four off 48 mm tail ropes. The order also comprised four sets of 30 Ton Rocket type safety detaching hook sets supplied for the man winder and 10 Ton rocket type hooksets for the service cage.
Rocket safety detaching hooks are designed to detach the winding rope from the conveyance in the event of an overwind, and arrest and suspend the conveyance in the headframe. This patented design caters for the prevention of partial detachments whilst in service.b
A Becker Thimble type capel is fitted to the ropes with a hydraulic adjusting linkage fitted between it and the conveyance. This linkage ensures there is equal sharing of the load between the four head ropes.
Jack catch boxes, jack catch lugs and posts were also supplied for each conveyance. These components are mounted in the headgear as a critical safety feature to prevent injury to personnel and damage to the shaft infrastructure should an overwind occur.
Becker Mining also supplied WRC clamps that were used during installation and will be utilised in future maintenance of ropes. A complete spare set of rope attachments was also supplied to the mine.
The completed job included all the statutory testing requirements, to fully certify the equipment in line with the necessary specifications, including mine health and safety acts and mining regulations.
Becker Mining has all the necessary resources to design and manufacture the rope attachments required for any type of mine winder. All equipment is proof load tested to two and a half times the safe working loads it will be subjected to in service. The company’s robust and reliable equipment gives mines the assurance of many years of safe transportation of personnel and materials to and from underground operations.
Becker Mining’s specialist services to the mining sector include energy distribution, communications and automation solutions, mechanical and transportation systems and steel arch roof supports.
