Power management company Eaton Hydraulics launched two new ranges of engineered hydraulic solutions at this year’s Electra Mining Africa exhibition in September – the Eaton Airflex WCBD3 and WCSB3 water-cooled third-generation brake systems and the Hydre-MAC piston motor.

Eaton GM Emil Berning told Mining Weekly on the sidelines of the expo that, after client consultations about three years ago, the company started merging different products into one engineered product that would perform tasks specified by clients operating in the African mining industry.

“We have just opened an office in Lagos, Nigeria, in addition to our offices in Nairobi, Kenya, in Johannesburg, South Africa, and in Casablanca, Morocco, because we found that it is best to understand clients’ needs by operating close to them rather than . . . remotely.”

He added that Eaton considers every individual client’s products and redesigns them to fit Eaton’s power management strategy, which aims to reduce the cost of energy, increase efficiency and focus on the total cost of ownership and reliability.

Product Portfolio
Berning tells Mining Weekly that Eaton’s Airflex WCBD3 and WCSB3 brake ranges have been designed for the oil, gas and mining industries. The brake’s custom design helps dissipate high thermal energy loads that are experienced in applications such as draw works, marine winches, cranes, metal-processing facilities and dynamometers.

“The design allows for faster drilling and enables original-equipment manufacturers, distributors and end-users . . . to downsize their brake equipment, which can lead to a saving of up to $60 000 on a brake installation,” he explains.

The WCBD3 and WCSB3 brake systems are part of Eaton’s Airflex line and they integrate seamlessly into other brakes in this product line.

The range is backward compatible with existing WCB, WCBD and WCSB applications and features improved wear adjustments and an increased brake size horsepower rating. It is also easy to replace and maintain, and is more cost effective than similar-style brakes available in Africa.

“Eaton is dedicated to providing safe, reliable and efficient braking solutions for our customers in Africa. Our water-cooled third-generation brakes provide that, while also reducing costs and increasing productivity,” he elaborates.

Meanwhile, Berning describes the Hydre-MAC piston motor as a low-speed high-torque direct-drive radial piston motor that features a cam lobe design. He says the Hydre-MAC is ideal for offshore and marine applications, metal recovery, mining, the pulp and paper sector, and off-highway stationary applications.

The motor was created using UK-based materials handling systems designer MacTaggart Scott’s heavy-duty motor design, based on Eaton’s industry knowledge and experience in providing customised solutions for Africa’s oil and gas, mining and manufacturing industries.

“The Hydre-MAC motor provides efficient, reliable and serviceable power at a low cost of ownership. It increases component life, as it features two inlet and outlet ports that reduce pressure drops at high power. “The motor also generates less heat overall and it features a symmetrical 18-piston roller- assembly design, which eliminates piston side loading and reduces wear and tear.

“To help customers in Africa increase their uptime, which we consider a crucial element for successful operations, the Hydre-MAC motor is a direct drop-in replacement for the industry’s most installed motor, reducing switching costs by eliminating the need to replace the machine shaft and torque arm,” concludes Berning.