African mining operations are placing more emphasis on efficiency, reliability and local support regarding crushing, screening and milling equipment – a shift that South African original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Vibramech says is driving demand for customised, energy efficient and digitally monitored vibratory equipment solutions across the continent.

In responding to these changing dynamics, the company is focusing on helping mines meet strict vibratory performance requirements while ensuring sustainable operations through carefully selecting equipment to meet customer-specific requirements, says Vibramech research and development department mechanical engineer Amin Jami.

This involves a detailed understanding of the ore type, particle size and abrasiveness, as well as the positioning of feeding systems.

Vibramech sales engineer Mamadupe Hlahane agrees, noting that mines are increasingly searching for vibratory solutions that not only deliver higher throughput but also extend equipment life.

“Vibramech continuously engages with . . . clients to address their needs for better efficiency and improved throughput. Often, our team are tasked to replace an underperforming competitor screen or upgrade an existing screen to accommodate higher tonnages,” she explains.

This requires careful optimisation of material velocities, bed depths, drive angles and deck media to achieve the best results without costly plant modifications.

Automation, Digital Monitoring

Automation and digital monitoring have become key tools in achieving reliability and avoiding unplanned downtime.

The Vibramech Vibrasure system empowers clients to increase plant reliability through real-time tracking, early fault detection and automated alerts, says Vibramech sales engineer Mike Newby.

By monitoring vibrating equipment continuously and intelligently, the system delivers enhanced uptime, improved reliability and greater overall productivity. It also provides valuable information that can be used to refine future equipment design.

Flexibility has also become important, as mines deal with fluctuating ore grades and shifting production requirements, adds Jami, noting that Vibramech’s custom-designed vibratory equipment enables clients to upscale or downscale as required.

Hlahane adds that most vibrating motors are set to 80% of maximum force, providing flexibility for customers to increase feed rate capacity, while interchangeable screen deck media enable operations to adapt quickly to changes in material properties.

Reliability is also reinforced through strong aftersales support, with dedicated, experienced technical regional sales engineers in different provinces regularly visiting client sites.

“During site visits, spare parts holdings are assessed and critical components are ordered to keep downtime to a minimum,” adds Hlahane, noting that the company has 12 field service technicians who can conduct on-site repairs, maintenance and commissioning.

Local Base

All equipment is manufactured in-house by Vibramech at its 32 000 m2 premises in Chamdor, 35 km west of Johannesburg, South Africa. Almost every piece of equipment is custom-made to suit a client’s specific requirements, from both a plant layout viewpoint and process considerations.

Newby notes that the company also partners with South African suppliers for outsourced components, thereby ensuring that local supply chains benefit from mining sector growth.

Vibramech’s record extends across commodities, including a recent contribution to the world’s most advanced diamond recovery vessel, where more than 36 Vibramech vibrating units have been installed.

This unique installation includes heavy duty, high-capacity primary and scalping screens, as well as diamond recovery feeders.