A recently announced partnership aims to give mining companies in Southern Africa even greater access to German-manufactured products.

VGL Africa has become the exclusive distribution partner for German manufacturer RÄDER VOGEL in the Southern Africa region. VGL Africa distributes a range of German-manufactured industrial products and engineering solutions to the Southern African mining, infrastructure and energy sectors.

Wheels & Castors (W&C) Vogel’s portfolio includes highly specialised wheels designed specifically for mining applications. Harmony, Anglo, Sasol, and ArcelorMittal are some of the company’s existing clients and the new distribution channel aims to extend its reach across the Southern African Development Community.

Its specialised products for mining applications are designed to withstand harsh conditions such as heat, water, dust and mineral deposits, as well as 24-hour operations. The company uses a range of wheel tread materials, suitable for use on soft or hard rock and underground or above-ground applications, such as:

Load-haul dumpers: require durable, long-lasting wheels to prevent production losses, and tailor-made solutions for low vehicle heights

Monorail systems for mining: wheels designed using high-performance VULKOLLAN 95 Shore A treads to withstand high dynamic loading stresses, characterised by a high static friction coefficient that enable wheels to overcome inclines of up to 300.

Pit cages: wheels made with anti-static materials to ensure smooth-running, well-damped and safe wheels made with anti-static materials are an absolute must for mine-hoisting systems, said to last up to six times longer than conventional wheel tread materials, at speeds of up to 21 m/s.

Shuttle cars: wheels with and without treads to master difficult and uneven surfaces.  Wheels with PEVOTEC treads can handle higher loads and can be customised for specific needs.

With all its products manufactured in Germany, W&C Vogel asserts that its high standards, quality, and innovation have made it a leading manufacturer of wheels, pallet rollers, press-on tyres and swivel and fixed castors. Its products are used in a range of industries and applications, including extraction and processing of raw materials, intralogistics, transportation, and supply systems.