The slow introduction of mechanisation and innovation to South Africa’s mining sector has contributed to a decrease in production over the past few years, despite the country’s significant reserves, Swiss protection systems designer and manufacturer Geobrugg Africa manager Bart Schoevaerts tells Mining Weekly.

Geobrugg will be one of the exhibitors at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, in Cape Town.

Schoevaerts says companies’ reluctance to invest in mechanisation at their South African mining operations is attributable to the high related costs and local socioeconomic parameters.

“The result is that the local mining sector is being overtaken by other countries in terms of production,” he notes.

However, Schoevaerts says the South African mining industry can improve its safety and production rates by adopting innovation, mechanisation, improved energy infrastructure and new skills sets.

“Initial investment in mechanisation will be expensive, but it will increase production and offer investors a quick return on their investments. Socioeconomic factors that influence the mining industry’s decision-making and that hamper investment are, among others, nationalisation rumours, planned high mine taxes and unions demanding higher wages.”

He warns that companies will not invest in training staff in mechanisation if unions are pushing in the opposite direction.

“Increased mechanisation does not mean that fewer workers will be required but, rather, that more skilled workers will be required. The challenge in Africa is not finding enough people, but finding people with the right skills sets.

“The time is right to introduce new machinery, innovative products and alternative mining techniques, as these will increase the overall profitability of mines and improve their sustainability,” he points out.

As mechanisation and innovation will lead to safer mining operations and increased production rates, it will be the focus of the company’s exhibition, says Schoevaerts.

Geobrugg will showcase its Rock Mesha mechanised mesh handler for the installation of its high-tensile steel mesh products, Tecco and Deltax.

The handler was introduced to the local market early last year and test trials were successfully completed at mining house Gold Fields’ South Deep gold mine, in March last year.

The Mesha is compatible with all multi-arm drilling jumbos and enables a fast, safe and fully mechanised installation of Tecco and Deltax mesh.
Schoevaerts says the company will also intro- duce its Deltax and Tecco products to the local mining sector.

“The mesh has been successfully used in civil applications, such as rockfall barriers and slope stabilisation systems on mountains, for about 60 years. However, five years ago, mining houses in Australia indicated that it could be effectively applied in underground and openpit mining to significantly improve safety. We believe this application will be well received by the local mining sector as well.

“With our presence at the indaba, we hope to attract mining houses and evaluate their need for the Mesha handler, rockfall barriers and mesh products at their operations. Geobrugg also wants to engage with the wider mining community, such as consultants, investors and contractors,” he states.

Tests done by the Western Australian School of Mines have proven that Tecco can carry higher static and dynamic loads than traditional reinforcement nets.

Schoevaerts says the Tecco and Deltax high-tensile steel mesh provide up to 30% faster installation and decreased manual handling (owing to mechanical installation using the Mesha), higher energy absorption, less over- lapping of mesh in tunnels and drives, as well as improved corrosion properties in underground mining and tunnelling operations, compared with conventional welded-wire mesh products.

Further, the high-tensile steel is four times stronger than standard mild steel and signifi- cantly lighter in relation to its strength.

Schoevaerts points out that the rockfall barriers are successfully tested and certified according to the Swiss guidelines for rockfall net approvals.
“Wider post spacing enables shortened installation times and the barriers can be easily cleared out after a rockfall event, as no retaining ropes are used,” he assures.

The company has evaluated the use of its Mesha and Deltax products as underground support and as rockfall barriers in openpit operations owned by various mining companies, including Gold Fields, Petra Diamonds and AngloGold Ashanti.

Product Development

Schoevaerts says Geobrugg undertakes continuous research and development to improve its products.

“We have been working with the University of Cape Town to improve the corrosion resistance of our mesh and we are researching a variety of mesh types, as the mining industry requires different sizes [compared with] the civil sector.”

To further support its business growth, Geobrugg is also planning to start local production of its products in the near future,” concludes Schoevaerts.

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