GRAHAM ANDERSON & KEVIN KEELING
Mitak has the ability to reverse engineer existing liners using laser and optical technology
Photo by: Creamer Media
Johannesburg-based high-chrome white irons (HCWI) foundry Mitak produces hard-wearing, abrasion-resistant mill and ore-chute linings that can improve the life and grinding performance of mills, and assist in meeting Mining Charter III local procurement obligations, says Mitak business development director Graham Anderson.
Mitak MD Kevin Keeling explains that, as a local supplier, Mitak has an opportunity to provide a competitive offering for local mines in terms of world-class quality, improved service on the basis of proximity, reduced turnaround times, and more competitive pricing.
He notes that Mitak is one of the few companies worldwide dedicated to the supply of HCWI products, a focus it has maintained since soon after its inception in the early 1970s. Hence, Mitak has a “very strong competitive advantage, which has seen it develop into a global supplier to major international original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as the local mining, power generation, construction and industrial sectors”.
About 75% of its castings are exported to mostly OEMs, with Mitak being one of the largest suppliers of hard-wearing pump components worldwide. Keeling comments that, in this way, Mitak’s components are already seeing service in most major South African mines, as part of fully assembled OEM equipment.
“Mitak has a compelling case regarding our mill lining spares. Our range of alloys has been proven in some of the harshest environments the world over, our castings are made according to stringent international standards, and, with the service and expertise to back our product offering, we have great value to add,” comments Anderson.
Keeling adds that South African miners predominantly source liners from international foundries, which ensures that Mitak will not impair its long-standing relationships with its OEM clients should it increase its share of the lining spares market.
The foundry also has the ability to reverse- engineer existing liners using laser and optical technology – displayed this month at Electra Mining Africa – ensuring that the linings are completely bespoke.
The technology enables Mitak to render the liners as solid models and to supply full digital assemblies of the mill. The company has also invested in one of South Africa’s largest computer numerically controlled millers to ensure that the pattern matches the solid model from which it is derived.