The mechanisation and automation of mining in South Africa will improve productivity and extend the operational lives of many mines that would otherwise have closed, benefiting equipment manufacturers, such as Tecman.

Tecman South Africa CEO Darrell Bendall tells Mining Weekly that he believes automation will be an increasingly important part of future mines. It is also seen as an advantage to Tecman, which supplies rock breaking boom systems and is about to launch a new heavy-duty rock breaker robot.

Made in France, the new Tecman RocBot is a heavy-duty remote-controlled low-profile machine, which has been designed and manufactured specifically for mine operations.

“The heavy-duty frame and undercarriage married with heavy- duty tool carrying capacity, make the RocBot ideal for breaking in galleries and grizzly bars,” Bendall explains, adding that the RocBot has a tool carrying capacity of up to 950 kg.

The RocBot has the option of diesel or electric power packs. Controls are fully computerised, allowing for bespoke control options to be added to suit individual client requirements. Other options include hammers from 300 kg to 650 kg, pulverisers, quick couplers and an adaptable boom design to allow for all types of demolition requirements, to scaling and breaking in low-profile mine applications.

The new RocBot heavy-duty mining robots will be introduced to the South African market at Electra Mining Africa, where Tecman will exhibit at Stand P11 in the outside exhibition area.

Founded in France by Luc Templier in 1993, Tecman is a multifaceted manufacturer of rock breaking machinery for mining and quarrying, exporting throughout the world. Tecman started exporting to South Africa in 2007 and three years later, the company opened the doors of its South African office.

Tecman’s rock breaker boom systems are some of the most innovative in the market.

“The integrated column system for boom systems on jaw, impact and small gyratory crushers is unique to Tecman and offers a low-cost method of mounting boom systems exactly in the position required to obtain the perfect operating geometry,” Bendall explains.

The global company has recently sold its one-thousandth rock breaker boom system.

To work alongside rock breaker boom systems, Tecman also has a large hydraulic hammer, rock grapple and demolition grapple range, which is extensively used in aggregates, quarry, mining and demolition applications.

Bendall says that more than 200 of Tecman’s hydraulic hammers are operating throughout Southern Africa.

Hall OS Stand P11c