WINNING
The next 20 years will be taken up straightening out the walls.
of spec. If any sample does not meet the
required specification, we put it aside and
re-process it through the plant.”
With regards to quality control,
AfriSam performs a test at 500t intervals
on all aggregate products to pick up any
fluctuations. Such fluctuations happen
slowly, typically as a screen panel wears
causing a slight increase or decrease in the
product grading. This is quickly revealed
by the daily testing, says Celliers. “As soon
as you see a fluctuation, you know the
screen panels are worn or a gap on the
crushers needs to be re-set and prompts
you to take action.
“We have an excellent maintenance
system in place with regards to critical
equipment and auditing. It provides us
with the capabilities to know exactly where
20_QUARRY SA| JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
our focus should be to ensure continuous
and consistent production. AfriSam prides
itself in having an effective preventative
maintenance programme and close working
relationship with our OEM suppliers.
“AfriSam contracts with competent
outsourced load-and-haul and drill-
and-blast contractors. This enables us to
effectively manage the fleet requirements
based on market demand changes,
ensuring proper utilisation of an
outsourced fleet. This level of flexibility is
essential in current unpredictable market
conditions,” says Celliers.
“Buoyancy in the construction does
create a fluctuation in market demand at
various times, and this remains a challenge
as operationally we need to be able to
predict and react to these changes in time.”
The pit fleet, which is outsourced,
consists of Hyandai Excavators 520 and
380; Bell ADTs: 4 to 40-ton machines; and
Bell ADTs: 2 to 30-ton machines. In the
plant there are crushers from Osborn; two
jaw crushers including a 42*48 as well as
a 30*42; three cone crushers from Metso
including two STD and one SHD; and two
Barmacs (VSIs) from Techroq.
“The average time of the loading cycle
varies depending on the distance from
the blast to the two primary crushers,
ranging from 28 minutes to as little as 15
minutes. The quarry is situated next to the
processing plant, so the haul distance has
no significant effect on viability for this
operation,” he explains.
There have been a number of technical or
operational innovations in the operation in