Engineering consumables and components distributor Bearing Man Group (BMG) will continue to be prominent in the mining sector as the company’s range of industrial slurry valves are suitable for harsh mining conditions.

“BMG’s range of industrial valves, including the butterfly and knife gate, as well as diaphragm and pinch valves, meet stern quality and safety specifications, which make them appropriate for the control and isolation of harsh slurries in mines,” BMG industrial valves product manager Willie Lamprecht tells Mining Weekly.

He explains that a malfunctioning valve, resulting in the leaking of corrosive material, can significantly affect the safety of personnel, and lead to early system failure and downtime. This highlights the importance of selecting an appropriate valve for an appropriate function.

“BMG’s highly skilled team has a thorough understanding of the process of installing valves, and supports every component with a dependable solutions service to ensure optimum safety, efficiency and the extended service life of each system,” states Lamprecht.

The basis for selecting appropriate industrial slurry valves for mining operations varies, depending on factors such as the size and shape, as well as the pressure, temperature and chemical content of the particles.

Polyurethane-lined knife gate valves are available in sizes of between 50 mm diameter nominal (DN) and DN 600 with manual, pneumatic and electric actuation, and have a wafer pattern. The valves are manufactured from cast and ductile iron with stainless steel discs, and can endure operating temperatures of between –20 ºC and 80 ºC as standard, with higher temperatures on request.

Polyurethane liner abrasion-resistant butterfly valves, which are available in a wafer pattern or lugged design, are used for on/off controls and to control coarse slurries. They are available in sizes of between DN 50 and DN 400.

BMG’s fluid power valves (FPV) diaphragm valves are locally manufactured and are available in sizes from DN 50 and DN 350. They have manual or pneumatic actuation and are designed for abrasive slurry applications. The valves have a body pressure of 10 bar and can endure temperatures of between –10 ºC and 80 ºC.

FPV pinch valves are designed so that the sleeve of the valve is pinched to close mechanically or automatically through a hand-wheel or actuator. The valves are suitable for the control and isolation of slurries.

Open-frame pinch valves are available with a short and long frame design, ranging in sizes of between DN 50 and DN 600 mm. The body is made from mild steel, but stainless steel is also available for certain applications. These valves have soft rubber sleeves, with hydraulic and pneumatic actuation, and can withstand temperatures of between –20 ºC and 80 ºC. They are also available in 10 bar, 16 bar and 25 bar nominal pressure variants.

Thermoplastic Valves Demand

BMG was appointed by corrosion- resistant plastic valves manufacturer SAFi Thermoplastic Valve Solutions as the sole distributors of SAFi’s thermoplastic industrial valves in sub-Saharan Africa last year.

SAFi’s valves, strainers and flow control equipment are a vital part of BMG’s range of fluid technology components, as they can handle the harsh conditions of mining activities.

“The mining industry is looking at more cost-effective, easier-to-install valves to reduce maintenance costs. Therefore, the thermoplastic range of valves is key in reducing maintenance costs and downtime,” says Lamprecht.

An advantage of SAFi products is that they are manufactured from lightweight

thermoplastic materials, thus providing suitability for specific applications. Lamprecht adds that there has been an increase in demand for thermoplastic materials over conventional alloy metals since BMG was appointed SAFi distributors.

BMG’s range of SAFi thermoplastic industrial valves is designed to handle corrosive materials in demanding industries, including chemicals and petrochemicals plants, mining, water treatment, transport and logistics, marine, food production, energy and agriculture.

Lamprecht states that BMG’s diaphragm and knife gate valves have become more prominent in mining projects associated with coal, platinum-group metals, gold, diamonds and zinc.

The increase in demand for thermoplastic valves and becoming the exclusive distributor of SAFi valve products have also enabled BMG to become involved in new industries, such as landfill waste disposal, which the company has not been active in before, says Lamprecht.

“Our opportunities lie in our diverse product range, which we continue to increase to meet the demand from clients for solutions to their problems,” he concludes.