News
10 July 2009
Hansen Transmissions conveyor drives for coal mine expansion project
Hansen Transmission SA, a leader in gearbox technology and manufacture, is firmly entrenched as one the fastest growing and most trusted suppliers of globally respected large industrial drives to Southern African industry. The company's reputation for superior product quality, technical advice, service support and customer relations, remain uncompromised, undoubtedly important considerations that influenced one of South Africa's major mining houses in a decision to select Hansen Transmissions for the design of conveyor drives for a coal mine expansion project in the Witbank/Middelburg area.
"The end users of the project are well acquainted with the Hansen Transmissions product and service ethic which made the task of choosing Hansen products for the project, just so much easier," says Ludwig Maier, Project Manager for Hansen Transmissions. "It is certainly no secret that Hansen produces a very reliable gear unit. We believe that a combination of the assistance we provided in the design of conveyor drives on the expansion project for the better part of three years, as well as the platform of integrity on which we base our company, made ‘driving' of the project on the tried and tested Hansen route, the best and safest option," adds Ludwig.
"The bulk of our portion of the project consists of orders placed in May and October 2008," continues Ludwig. "The first order for over-land conveyors, placed in May 2008, specified the supply of 35 drives designed for installed powers ranging from 160kW to 690kW. Another two orders for a 315kW breaker drive with fitted barring drive were confirmed in October 2008, followed in March 2009 by an order for 9 drives for installed powers of 160kW to 355kW, destined for the project's stock yard," explains Ludwig.
Ludwig says that the October 2008 order was for the plant portion of the project and consists of 15 drives ranging from 7.5kW travel drives to the larger 340kW drives. "So, to summarise, we will be supplying a total of 61 gear units, consisting of three geared motors, two I4 units and fifty six P4 units shared for the expansion project."
Discussing the application, Ludwig says that more than 90% of the units will be conveyor drives but that Hansen will also be providing a breaker drive with barring drive and two travel drives for the shuttle conveyors. "Specified modifications presented no undue delays in planned delivery dates as Hansen Transmissions, with sound engineering backing and many years of experience, is well able to meet the specification demands of all the applications effortlessly."
"We are building all the gearboxes for the project in parallel which means that the delivery program is running from March 2009 to early 2010," continues Ludwig. "The customers are taking care of installation but we will be very involved with the commissioning and will most likely assist with maintenance throughout the early stages of operation. At present there is no service contract between Hansen and the customer, but I am quite convinced that a contract will be on the agenda after commissioning", concludes Ludwig.
Hansen Transmissions is renowned for a policy of building long term relationships with customers and the relationship with the stakeholders involved in the expansion project, is no exception – for example, Hansen Transmissions can trace one of these business relationships back to the late 70's.
Fritz Fourie, Hansen Transmission SA Managing Director emphasises that the company backs sound customer relations with a superior Hansen Transmissions product range. "Our products are always in demand because they are engineered for excellence and energy efficiency. Also, our customers know that they can rely on superb service support with our fully equipped, highly skilled field service units on call 24/7/365 and we always live up to our slogan of "In Gear for your Success".
