Electra the great

Electra the great

Electra Mining Africa exceeded expectations this year, giving the mining, engineering and construction sectors a bigger and better display of SHEQ products, services and equipment. BLAIR BURMEISTER reports.

A bustling, dust-filled atmosphere surrounded the Nasrec grounds in Johannesburg on the first day of Electra Mining Africa 2012. It took place from September 10 to 14, attracting plenty of local and international exhibitors and visitors.

From engineers and quality controllers to safety officers and project managers, there was something for everyone, with established players and a few newcomers showcasing their latest products and technologies.

In the safety department, there was no shortage of activity. MSA Africa had a very busy stand with visitors keen to try out the interactive fall protection range. “Users and guests were intrigued by the demonstrations and showed interest in trying out the new products,” says Emmanuel Manaka, MSA Fall Protection product manager.

Electra the greatHe adds that visitors seemed to enjoy the testing of new products on the training tower. MSA Africa will be launching three new products in October: a galvanised and stainless steel self-retractable lanyard in nine metre and 15 metre options, and the Evotech full body harness. The latter, targeted primarily for use in refineries, is new to the African market.

Lauren Clueit, marketing manager at HSE Solutions also reported high levels of interest at the HSE stand. “We offer protective wear for a variety of industries,” she says. The stand showcased the latest in protective eyewear, with Honeywell Safety Products (HSP) launching the Honeywell Adaptec protective eyewear system. The adjustable eyewear can be worn by a diverse range of workers and delivers maximum protection, premium optics, superior comfort and customised adjustability – intended to enhance worker acceptance and compliance.

As usual, Becker Mining South Africa attracted plenty of attention with the showcasing of the EMIS electrical flameproof equipment, designed to enhance safety on mines. The company is set to launch the new EMIS ProLoc electronic protection and control relay system for the optimum protection of motor and feeder circuits connected to outlet sockets. The system is suitable for the thermal overload protection of conveyors, compressors, crushers, pump motors and fitting panels.

Whether working with harmful sprays in a vehicle body shop or moving hazardous materials, workers need appropriate protection from contaminants and particulates. DuPont has been successfully protecting people for 18 years, and its second-generation coverall, the Tyvek Classic Xpert, provides superior protection and comfort in the type 5/6 categories. This was exhibited at this year’s event. The company continuously applies high quality health, safety, environmental and ethics standards.

Electra the greatThe manufacturing companies behind the safety brands mentioned above are all committed to the most stringent quality control procedures. The standards conform to the expectations and demands of the global mining, engineering and construction industries.

Xylem demonstrated its commitment to quality assurance and customer satisfaction with a solution for the dewatering of mines. The company’s extensive rental fleet of 720 units in Africa and its robust stock holding of new units means it can satisfy customer demand immediately. This is backed up by spare parts availability, back-up service and on- and off-site maintenance and repairs. “The combination of all these services adds up to a complete dewatering solution that can be tailored to suit the unique requirements of South African customers,” says Xylem sales director Darryl Macdougall.

Wonderstone Ltd, a member of the Assore Group, has launched its new company, iCermax, to further exploit the unique properties of Wonderstone Ceramic. The company’s exhibition was in line with its mission to provide the market with high quality products. iCermax can tailormake ceramic filters to satisfy specific needs of clients. The filters use depth filtration of hydrocarbons to achieve sustainable cleanliness levels and have a high contaminant holding capacity. Wonderstone claims that their long-term performance, durability and lifespan are exceptional.

Wap South Africa showed its dedication to the environment with the launch of various eco-friendly products, such as the Nilfisk CS7000 sweeper-scrubber – the cleaning industry’s first hybrid and ePower drive combination. An economical and ecological solution available with ePower technology for emission-free indoor operation, this product signifies a new era in ride-on combination machine technology.

Electra the greatElenex Africa – the international electrical engineering, lighting and power generation exhibition – was co-located with Electra Mining Africa this year. It focused on energy efficient products and technologies. With South Africa’s energy shortages, climate change and rising maintenance costs putting pressure on the industry to become more energy efficient, this part of the event was well supported.

Another highlight was the exhibitor soapbox hosted by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Taking place daily, it gave visitors the chance to attend 30 minute presentations highlighting the latest exhibitors had to offer.

The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy hosted a surface mining conference that looked at the best practices and advances in surface mining. The conference put a lot of emphasis on health and safety topics, highlighted as the key parameters in influencing sustainability, social responsibility and the environment.

According to John Kaplan, chairperson of Special Exhibitions Montgomery, Electra Mining Africa had a record 870 exhibitors this year. From the tried and trusted to the innovative, visitors were given plenty to think about and possibly budget for. Electra Mining Africa continues to meet the needs of the industry, and its 2014 outing is sure to do even more to support health, safety, efficiency and productivity throughout the industrial sector.

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