Mining and cement equipment multinational FLSmidth is producing equipment for mines and processing plants globally at the newly upgraded Delmas Supercenter, including large vibrating screens and flotation components, as well as repairing and upgrading customer equipment.

The upgrade improves productivity and stock availability, and reduces lead times for clients. The expansion, which increased the facility’s engineering capability to support local customers and boosted its global competitiveness, is aligned to the group’s aim to provide sustainable productivity enhancements that benefit its customers, says FLSmidth sub-Sharan Africa and Middle East manufacturing and warehousing director Stephan Kruger.

The upgrade of the facility, in Mpumalanga, resulted it expanding to 10 500 m2 under roof – double its previous size – with 100 employees. It manufactures a range of mineral processing and materials handling equipment as part of the company’s global technology and manufacturing capabilities, says FLSmidth Group CEO Thomas Schulz.

For example, the data from the rigs that test the massive 50 t vibrating screens (built for a mining operation in Kazakhstan) is sent to the company’s technology centre in Australia for review, while the modular polyurethane flotation stators made in Delmas were designed by the company’s processing development centre in Salt Lake City, in Utah, US.

“While the Delmas Supercenter is producing excellent vibrating and flotation equipment, all our facilities are keyed to serve all our clients worldwide. “The Delmas facility serves as a centre of excellence, a training centre, a client engagement and a service centre, and produces international-quality equipment for local, regional and export customers,” he explains.

FLSmidth Delmas Supercenter operations manager Warren Walker highlights that the facility compares well in terms of competitiveness with international peers and includes a polyurethane facility, a sandblasting and painting facility, a heavy manufacturing facility, a wire and wedgewire screen manufacturing line and a general engineering and specialist welding line.

All chemicals are handled according to strict safety and environmental regulations, including international standards such as ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2011, with extraction hoods in the polyurethane facility and spill control systems in the chemical containment areas, in addition to regular surveys and tests, he adds.

“We can design, make, maintain and refurbish any FLSmidth original components, assemblies and equipment that our clients have, as well as design and make specific equipment to meet their needs. We also retrofit and upgrade clients’ equipment at the facility,” he says.

Delegates, dignitaries, including the Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant and the ambassador of Denmark to South Africa, Tobias Elling Rehfield, and clients were given a tour of the upgraded facility in April.

The Delmas Supercenter is a globally competitive original-equipment manufacturing facility that consolidates the company’s specialist knowledge and expertise, says Kruger.