Scientific oil analysis, transformer oil analysis, reliability services, and water testing and analysis are some of the condition monitoring techniques that will be displayed by specialist condition monitoring company WearCheck at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba.

WearCheck offers a variety of predictive maintenance techniques, products and services that benefit the mining industry across the African continent.

The company’s stand, which will be manned by a team of technical experts and hosted by WearCheck marketing manager Vanessa Evans, will demonstrate some of the company’s technology-based solutions.

“Mining Indaba visitors form a key target audience for us, as we can show them exactly how our tried and tested condition monitoring techniques can enhance their operations,” she explains.

Evans adds that this applies to potential new clients and existing long-term clients, saying “. . . it is a golden opportunity for us to showcase the most up-to-date technology and our most innovative solutions”.

In addition, the WearCheck team always enjoys the chance to meet up with its clients in person, many who have been with WearCheck for so long, some of them since the company’s inception 48 years ago, that they are more like old friends than clients, she says.

Oil Check

WearCheck’s core service is the scientific analysis of used oil, fuel and other fluids.

“This process entails analysing fluid samples for trace particles, which indicate a particular component that could be suffering unusual wear patterns,” says Evans.

This is followed by a team of specialist diagnosticians who assess the results and propose a course of remedial action, if it is required.

The company has, over the years, expanded to offer additional predictive maintenance techniques, which are selected for each client’s condition monitoring programme, based on the machinery and components being monitored.

Some of these include asset reliability care services, transformer chemistry services and advanced field services, such as non-destructive testing, technical compliance and rope condition assessment.

Evans points out that WearCheck also offers lubrication-enabled reliability, providing clients with customised solutions to ensure that their lubrication systems are well managed, efficient and cost effective.

Further, WearCheck’s expansive service offering also includes scientific water analysis through its water division, which analyses the quality of wastewater, groundwater and surface water in areas surrounding mining and exploration sites.

“The water division caters to a variety of needs, for example, ensuring that effluent [or] wastewater is compliant and safe for disposal,” she says.

Compliance with municipal by-laws and environmental safety standards enables the safe disposal of wastewater into streams and rivers.

“Additionally, ground and surface water quality analysis allow for determination of water safety for use on equipment, drinking, washing and other purposes,” concludes Evans.