BUSINESS
a rebuild , or an exchange part . Customers can even buy the kit separately if they want to .”
Komatsu Mining also offers oils and lubricants specifically designed to improve the operation of its equipment . “ These are synthetic oils that we ’ ve developed in collaboration with the oil companies and that are designed for specific applications and conditions ,” explains Kesztler . “ So , for example , we have general mechanical oils , mine-duty grease , and oils for extreme pressure and for extreme temperature . And if our customers use the oils recommended for their specific machines and applications , we can even extend their warranties .”
Barloworld Equipment & Caterpillar
Barloworld Equipment is another large OEM that has a specialised maintenance and refurbishing centre for Caterpillar equipment . The Barloworld Rebuild Centre ( BRC ) opened its doors in Boksburg in 2012 to offer customers off-the-shelf remanufactured components for Cat mining and other key machines . Specialising in the Big 5 components — engine , torque converter , transmission , differential , and wheel station — the BRC can also rebuild all Cat hydraulic cylinders and pumps , including most of the EMPR product range .
Located in Boksburg , the BRC is the largest of its kind in Barloworld ’ s global dealer network . Willie Coetzee , who was appointed general manager of the BRC in May 2015 , recognised the potentially significant opportunities in this area of Barloworld Equipment ’ s business , with remanufactured components providing fast , cost-effective solutions to maintain mining machines and their productivity . By focusing on improving quality of service and remanufactured components , the BRC ’ s turnaround times were reduced by almost 20 % by the end of 2015 .
“ We started by looking at everything that needed attention , then we prioritised and fixed the top 10 problems by the end of 2015 ,” explains Coetzee . In 2016 , focus switched to maintaining improvements and implementing smarter , more cost-effective solutions to satisfy customers .
One such solution is a robotic system that has modernised the refurbishment of track shoes for Caterpillar bulldozers , effectively replacing the monotonous , manually driven process with an automated , end-to-end mechanism requiring little human involvement . The system , nicknamed ‘ Tokolosie ’, was developed by Zurich-based ABB Robotics , and significantly reduces refurbishment costs while improving product quality and cutting turnaround time . The development of the endto-end re-grousing system started in October 2014 and the robot was delivered to Barloworld Equipment ’ s Middelburg facility in May 2016 for installation and commissioning . “ Before the robot was introduced , it took five days for two people to manually refurbish the tracks for a D11 bulldozer . The robot does the same
Robyn Grimsley Robyn Grimsley
Komatsu Mining showcased its service products , upgrades , and consumables at its recent Technology and Consumables Show , held at the eMalahleni JoySmart Services Centre .
Komatsu Mining engineers or selects each product and consumable to ensure the best system performance .
work in 20 hours , with one operator ,” says Schalk Burger , service manager at Barloworld Equipment . “ Our people now do 5 % of what they used to do manually , reducing exposure to heat and potential injuries . This also allows the operators to use their skills more optimally .”
“ The reduction of human involvement in the refurbishment process will go a long way towards helping us achieve our safety objectives . The endto-end re-grousing process will reduce human involvement in material handling and reduce the exposure of humans to heat and accidents ,” said Samantha Swanepoel , divisional executive director for Marketing and Communications at Barloworld Equipment .
Barloworld Equipment ’ s Middelburg facility also offers Cat Certified Rebuilds , during which 7 000 Cat parts are replaced and more than 350 tests and inspections are carried out . Customers can also buy remanufactured parts for engines , transmissions , torque converters , differentials , wheel stations , and hydraulic components at competitive rates , allowing them to stay operational , extend machine life , and reduce repair costs . In addition , the Cat Connect ( for construction equipment ) and Cat MineStar ( for
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