When selecting equipment for use on mines, a number of factors come into play. Due to the harsh ambient operating environment, quality and ruggedness feature high on the list of must-have characteristics.

“An attractive knock-on benefit of having these two elements in place when choosing a two-way radio is the inclusive, lifetime cost effectiveness of the technology. It’s all very well choosing a cheaper radio but if the longevity and consistent performance of the radio is sacrificed in this trade-off, then ironically, customers end up paying more money for an inferior product in the long term,” says Sean Mervitz, Sales Manager at Global Communications (an Elvey Group company and part of the Hudaco Group of companies), Kenwood’s distributor for Sub-Saharan Africa.

The mean time between failure (MTBF) of a radio is a defining measurement of its overall quality. In essence, it signifies the average time between equipment component failure. “Undoubtedly, the mining environment is excessively demanding on radios. This is not only because of the dusty and hot conditions of most mining operations, but furthermore, because mines are often widespread and radios may be the only form of reliable communication available. Therefore, a radio simply cannot afford to have weak components,” says Mervitz.

Mervitz explains that Kenwood has sourced the highest quality parts, spares and components and run intensive tests on all of these components individually as well as on the finished product itself. The end result is an extremely admirable MTBF of up to 40 000 hours. “This creates a massive return on investment for mine operators due to the substantial savings they incur on repairs, maintenance and replacement of the Kenwood radios.”

So confident is Global Communications in selected two-way radios in the Kenwood NX1000 range, that they offer customers an unprecedented five-year warranty on these models, within the parameters of the company’s terms and conditions.

For more information contact Global Communications, +27 (0) 12 621 0400, info@globalcomms.net, www.globalcomms.net