Gauteng-based Afri-Tech Mining Supplies is flushed with success as its new self-cleaning power nozzle cuts downtime in mines around the world.

“The power nozzle is a spray nozzle that flushes periodically to clear any debris interrupting the spray pattern,” explains Afri-Tech production manager Gus Basson.

He says that the company wants to use this year’s Electra Mining Africa to officially launch this new product. A live demonstration unit will be running at the Afri-Tech stand to show visitors how the power nozzle works.

Born out of adversity, the power nozzle was developed and improved over the last two years after clients in the North West province platinum mines found that the sticky reef – peculiar to the platinum industry – was not floating through the flotation section of the plant.

With a slight adjustment to the Afri-Tech power nozzle design, the company was able to supply its client with a unit that perfectly suited its needs. With an adjustable nozzle orifice, they were able to adjust the spray finely enough to solve the client’s problem.

“The added advantage of using the power nozzle in this environment is that it can be installed in a relatively inaccessible area. Regular maintenance can be performed remotely, either from a manual control panel, or the plant control room,” the company states.

Proud that the power nozzle was wholly developed, manufactured and tested in South Africa, the company is now looking at exporting to many mining regions across the world, with a focus on the Americas, Australasia and Africa.

However, power cleaning nozzles are not the only product the company has in its portfolio.

Afri-Tech also manufactures screen and filter cloths used in wastewater treatments plants, mines plants, municipalities, food processing plants and the pulp and paper industries. It also manufactures ancillary equipment, such as tracking or spraying systems, used on the machines that use its cloth.

“We have a large stockholding of a large variety of screen and filter cloths, making our delivery times very attractive to clients,” says Basson, explaining that, in the high cost arena of mining, speed is king.

He states that the screen and filter cloth industry has changed considerably in recent years. “If I think back to when I started in this industry, screening and filtering was crude compared with now. Although most screening and filtering principles have not changed much, the equipment used has. More sophisticated and efficient equipment has entered the markets and, with this Afri-Tech has followed by becoming involved in finding the right screening and filtering cloths for these new machines. This places Afri-Tech in the forefront of new developments in the industry,” Basson states.

He adds that doing business is not only about offering quality products, but also requires quality service.

From small beginnings in 2007, the company has steadily grown year on year.

“Steady, reasonable growth is the aim, the industry we work in is highly specialised and rapid growth is normally met with adverse effects,” Basson says, stating that key to growth is listening to its clients.

“Service, service, service is what our clients want. Our team has evolved into a team of people who assist where they can, as well as drive each other to do better each day,” says Basson.

Hall 6 Stand G29