Mining Mirror November 2018 | Page 40

Cradle to grave The future of facilities management Facilities management is a broad term that brings together many aspects of any business. It often does not get the attention it deserves. The goal of effective facilities management is to ensure the smooth running of the practical aspects of a business. This could include phone lines, electrical services, air conditioning, employee safety, meeting building codes, and ensuring that the work environment is both healthy and supportive for clients and employees. For many businesses, it makes perfect sense to appoint a single vendor that can manage all their facilities — from security systems to laying optic cables and servicing the air conditioning. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also gives the company the added benefit of focusing on their core business. “There’s a lot to consider in terms of facilities management. It’s not just about taking care of the building’s facilities and keeping them in good condition. It also involves communication systems, project management, human capital, and considerations for the environment. If the infrastructure that supports the smooth running of a business is neglected, it may result in a negative impact on the business itself,” explains Themba Gumbi, director at BT-SA. The digital revolution is having an impact on the facilities management industry and today, a building is no longer just bricks and mortar: it’s a rather complicated piece of machinery. The Internet of Things (IoT) is continually gaining ground and will undoubtedly influence how businesses are run in the future. While, at this point, cost may be a factor in not pursuing IoT, the reality is that most systems will eventually need some sort of IoT integration in the coming years — at the very least, a central hub from where devices are operated and monitored. Automation is also something that businesses are moving towards, and with the advent of IoT, it can become a reality. As businesses embrace the way that technology can streamline day-to-day tasks, they move towards a more automated workplace where employees can be more effectively utilised, ensuring a more productive environment. “Businesses have no time to waste as far as adapting to new technologies and deploying them in facility management is concerned. The digital age is transforming the way we do everything, and we at BT-SA are forward thinking. Digital is already here,” says Gumbi. Transformers custom-designed for pit conditions [38] MINING MIRROR NOVEMBER 2018 The Zest WEG Group mobile transformer was designed upward from a robust steel base frame with a modified 12-metre shipping container on top, catering for a switchgear chamber for the 33kV supply, a transformer chamber, and another switchgear chamber for the 6.6kV output. the mine was looking for a more efficient and cost-effective solution. To optimise the mobility of these units, Zest WEG Group Integrated Solutions designed a removable gooseneck system on the front of the unit, and a removable bogey at the back. The adapted mobile transformer can now be easily moved as a truck and trailer configuration to various operational areas and when positioned, the gooseneck Mobile pit transformers are essential in opencast mines where electricity is needed. At times it is also necessary to custom design transformers so that they can be adapted to local pit conditions. When new pit transformers were needed at Swakop Uranium’s Husab Mine near Swakopmund in Namibia, Zest WEG Group’s Integrated Solutions division was able to adapt its design to suit new requirements. “Zest WEG Group provided the mine with four skid-mounted pit transformers in 2014. More recently, the company was contracted to supply the mine with another unit. According to Alastair Gerrard, Zest WEG Group Integrated Solutions executive, “The first units were designed to be located in the pit and dragged short distances to follow the drills rigs and electric shovels. The new unit, however, needed to offer the capability of improved manoeuvrability across longer distances within the operational area,” says Gerrard. In some cases, transporting a skid-mounted containerised transformer greater distances outside of the mining area meant employing a crane and low-bed, and can be removed and the landing legs extended. The mobile transformer was designed upward from a robust steel base frame with a modified 12-metre shipping container on top. The mine was provided with an interface point to receive 33kV from the mains reticulation, stepping down with a 5MVA transformer to 6.6kV, which was fed out to the equipment. www.miningmirror.co.za