NORMAN MALEKA The department’s core function is to respond to queries from either project houses or original-equipment manufacturers for specific project work
Drive components manufacturer SEW-Eurodrive tells Mining Weekly that its projects department has maintained a continual state of growth and that the majority of its project work has been secured in the rest of Africa.
In close collaboration with SEW-Eurodrive’s exports department, the projects department, situated at the company’s South Africa head office in Aeroton, Gauteng, has realised several growth opportunities on the continent.
The department now offers complete solutions packages, as opposed to standalone products, in addition to the necessary aftermarket support. “This has resulted in consistent year-on-year growth,” says SEW-Eurodrive national sales and marketing manager Norman Maleka.
“SEW-Eurodrive prides itself on its on-time delivery, which is a clear differentiator in a highly competitive market.”
The projects department hosts a drawing office, led by a mechanical engineer qualified to compile any calculations requested by SEW-Eurodrive clients.
Maleka points out that the department’s core function is to respond to queries from either project houses or original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for specific project work. It focuses mainly on greenfield projects related to conveyors, agitators and mixers in mineral-processing applications.
For example, one order entailed five MC-series industrial gear units to be used at a mining operation in West Africa. It was awarded to SEW-Eurodrive. Projects department head Andreas Meid and project sales coordinator Pat Marquez have been responsible for overseeing the entire project from receipt of the initial order to successful installation and commissioning at the mine. Additional support services and technical assistance is also on offer if required.
Further projects include greenfield projects in Mpumalanga, and mines in and around the Steelpoort mining district, in Limpopo.
SEW-Eurodrive tailors its drives to meet the demands of the mining sector, and the company highlights that its X-series and MC-series are ideally suited to the African mining environment.
Both product ranges have been optimised for various drive characteristics, allowing for simple machine design through the addition of features and mounting parts.
SEW-Eurodrive’s X-series range has been optimised for conveyor systems, such as apron feeders, for use in iron-ore, coal, gold, diamond and mineral mining. The series is characterised by a robust design, which requires low maintenance and guaranteed high durability.
The MC-series is an independent gear unit series with a modular concept, and is used in applications that require specialised solutions. The compact drives in the series ensure high torque transmission capability, and are also available in a “drywell” version to minimise leakage. Moreover, stock is readily available, allowing for short delivery times globally.
The MC-series is primarily used for bucket elevators for the handling of bulk materials, but can also be used for agitators and mixers, conveyor systems, shredders and disintegrators, as well as travel drives for cranes.
Maleka stresses that SEW-Eurodrive works in conjunction with project houses and other OEMs to offer a complete solution for mining clients. “We are committed to supplying high-quality products, in addition to the continuous improvement of our customer service offering,” highlights Maleka.