Weir Minerals Africa’s Linatex facility in Alrode is poised to relocate to the nearby Weir Minerals Africa site in Clarke Street, Alrode, to accommodate planned growth and the need to integrate the company’s Alrode operations under one roof.

“Apart from the fact that the Linatex operation has outgrown its original premises, by consolidating all our activities in this area we will be creating capacity for future growth,” Grant Ramsden, from Weir Minerals Africa says. “Market uptake for Linatex products has been remarkable, with hose output doubling over the previous year and rubber lining output increased by 50%.

“Since Weir Minerals Africa is accredited to ISO 1800 and 1400, the Linatex operation will also benefit from falling under a single quality system. In addition, we expect to achieve faster throughput of these products.”

Weir Minerals Africa has sold the original Linatex site and Ramsden says the move to Clarke Street will be completed by May 2012.

In 2010 the Weir Group Plc purchased the Linatex group of companies, a Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based provider of wear-resistant products to the mining and sand and aggregates industries, in a US$200 million deal. Weir said the acquisition was in line with its strategy to grow its global capability, expand its emerging market footprint and further strengthen its aftermarket presence. The company’s products are today marketed as Linatex® rubber products.

At the time of acquisition Weir chief executive, Keith Cochrane, said: the acquisition of Linatex would create great opportunities for Weir’s Minerals division. “By combining Weir’s expertise in pumps, valves and cyclones with Linatex’s renowned rubber products and branding, we will have a highly complementary and competitive offering to satisfy our customers' demand for leading-edge products and service. There is great potential to enhance the overall offering to customers and thereby also create opportunity for employees and the continuation of the long tradition of the Linatex brand.”

Ramsden says Linatex products are proving a valuable addition to an already formidable Weir Minerals product line serving the company’s key markets of mining, dewatering, energy, oil and gas, transportation, milling, processing, general industrial and water/waste management.

“Linatex is working well in tandem with many of our products, as well as bringing exciting new and diverse solutions for us to offer our customers throughout all our markets,” he adds.

Weir Minerals delivers end-to-end solutions for all mining, transportation, milling, processing and waste management activities. The company specialises in delivering and supporting a wide range of slurry equipment solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones, wear-resistant linings and dewatering products.

CAPTION PIC 01: An overview of the Weir Minerals Africa screens manufacturing facility.
CAPTION PIC 02: Grant Ramsden, general manager operations at the Weir Minerals Africa Linatex facility in Alrode.
CAPTION PIC 03: The Isogate JCO pinch valve fitted with the unique Linatex rubber lined sleeve.
CAPTION POC 04: The largest Linatex hose bend produced by Weir Minerals Africa at the Linatex facility in Alrode.