Cradle to grave
Black Rock benefits
from big jib crane
V
erlinde Cranes & Hoists has
announced the completion of its
biggest jib crane at Black Rock
Operations in South Africa. Located on
Nchwaning 2, the jib crane forms part
of the Black Rock Expansion Project
(BREP) and will assist with service and
maintenance of the new loadout station.
Sitting atop a 40m load-out station,
the jib crane has an overall height
of lift of 47m and a span of 10m.
The performance of the jib is further
complimented by a 5t Verlinde
wire rope hoist, the EUROBLOC
VT, which on its own accounts
for over 50 patents exclusive to
Verlinde Lifting Equipment.
“This is the biggest jib crane
completed by Verlinde Cranes & Hoists
and the biggest jib on Black Rock, and
possibly the biggest jib in southern
Africa,” says Warren Shankland, MD
of Verlinde Cranes & Hoists, South
Africa. “The completion of this project
further cements our commitment
to delivering lifting solutions to our
customers, where it matters.” Initiated
in 2014, the Black Rock Expansion
Project aims to increase output of the
Black Rock Operations in the Northern
Cape. The expansion project is set to
be in full operation by 2020, and will
have the capacity to increase current
output of 3.2Mt to 4.6Mt per annum.
The expansion project includes three
underground mining complexes –
Gloria, Nchwaning 2 and Nchwaning 3.
“The loadout station is the final point
of contact the product will have with
the mine before being transported to
port for shipment, and there for is a
valuable part of the production process
at Nchwaning 2,” says Shankland.
Black Rock Operations is one of the
oldest manganese mining operations in
the country, making modernisation of
the mines crucial to meet the increase
in demand of high-grade manganese
ore products, while at the same time
ensuring the mines longevity.
“The BREP demanded effective
solutions to maximise output, the
inclusion of the crane to assist
with maintenance will prove to be
a valuable long-term investment,”
says Shankland. “Any unnecessary
downtime will have a negative
impact on production and business.”
Verlinde Cranes & Hoists has
been the official distributors of
Verlinde Lifting Equipment in Africa
for more than 40 years. Francois
Gurniki, MD of Verlinde Lifting
Equipment, says the company’s
involvement with projects in southern
Africa and Africa has always been
rewarding and he is optimistic
about future collaborations.
“Our long-standing relationship
with Black Rock reaches as far back
as the 1990s and it is a privilege
to have been a part of assisting the
mine with the necessary upgrades to
improve production and meet their
business goals,” says Shankland.
Verlinde Cranes
& Hoists has
announced the
completion of its
biggest jib crane
at Black Rock
Operations in
South Africa.
[36] MINING MIRROR JANUARY 2018
Sitting atop a 40m load-out
station, the jib crane has an
overall height of lift of 47m
and a span of 10m.