The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Mechanical Laboratory is uniquely positioned to provide support for the mining industry with its testing and inspection services. Established as the Government Mechanical Laboratory by the Department of Mines in 1935, the laboratory offers 90 years of experience in superior testing facilities, targeted at safety in critical lifting and hoisting equipment, as well as support with mine products for South Africa’s deep and ultra-deep underground mines. The CSIR has been the proud custodian of this national asset since the mid-1960s and continues to provide expert mechanical testing services that contribute to worker safety and regulatory compliance in the mining industry and other industries. 

The CSIR Mechanical Laboratory offers an independent and objective testing service to the industry with a niche capability to test large items. This service includes proof load tests carried out on new and refurbished products, such as lifting and hoisting equipment. This rigorous process aims to confirm structural integrity and load-carrying capacity before these items are released into service. The mechanical properties of materials and the ultimate strength and modes of failure of products can be determined through destructive testing. The performance and behavior of items such as load cells and hydraulic jacks and cylinders can be evaluated under application of prescribed loads. 

Albeit heavily applicable to the mining industry, the specialised services offered by the CSIR Mechanical Laboratory apply to various industries across the country, including civil construction, road and rail transport, power distribution and marine. Users from the mining industry include the manufacturers of lifting and hoisting equipment and mine support products, as well as the end-users of these items. 

The collaborative approach of the laboratory and the availability of complementary capabilities in the rest of the CSIR positions the Mechanical Laboratory as a capable partner in addressing distinctive and challenging testing requirements of its clients. This includes investigating and recreating mechanical failures of equipment, which can provide valuable insights during product development or as part of failure incident investigations. 

Testing services are offered at the CSIR mining laboratories located in Johannesburg. A team of capable CSIR personnel working in the Mechanical Laboratory receives test requests and items for testing on a daily basis. The laboratory is equipped to carry out tensile testing in the force range 1 t to 1 500 t (10 kN to 15 000 kN) and can accommodate test items up to 25 m in length. In compression testing, the laboratory can handle test items up to 4 m2 footprint and 4.5 m in length, while applying compressive loads up to 1 000 t (10 000 kN).