As part of the biggest mining and industrial trade show in Africa, Siemens will be presenting its drive and automation technologies at Electra Mining 2016. As a leading provider of efficient, sustainable and class-leading equipment for mining companies in Africa, Siemens offers solutions tailored to the region’s needs.

Some of the innovations that will be presented at the event include integrated drive systems, couplings, automation systems and motors, including the demonstration of the newly launched process automation mobile unit outside Hall 7.

The key focus at the Siemens stand is the FLENDER helical gear unit. These universally applicable gear units are customised and application-specific gear units that cover almost all drive-related needs in industry and primary production. The gear unit now includes the condition monitoring system (CMS), which supports and assists in constantly assessing machines and plants. Maintenance procedures can be planned better and only performed when they are actually necessary.

Outside Hall 7 at the Nasrec exhibition centre, is the process automation mobile unit, which includes some of the latest engineering solutions installed. These include the Simatic PCS7, ULTRAMAT gas analysers, level measurement ultrasonic switches, SITRANS T temperature measurement, Coriolis, electromagnetic and ultrasonic flow measurement, Siwarex WP231 weighing and batching systems, and integrated data networks for industrial communication.

Visitors can also experience Siemens' digitalisation in mining via virtual reality by engaging with mining solutions and other technologies at the Siemens stand.

DIGITALISATION IN MINING
To explore the digitalisation in mining topic, Henk Viljoen, MD at ESTEQ, will be presenting 'Mining 4.0 – The Connected Mine' on September 12 at Electra Mining. A 'digital twin' model of the Siemens gearbox application in Solid Edge and NX will be available as a 3D JT model for viewing. This will support Siemens' digitalisation drive.

Technologies are available today to help mining companies increase digitalisation. Siemens creates sustainable value for its customers in the mining industry by optimising plant efficiency, and digitalisation can help the minerals sector tackle major challenges, like productivity improvement. Digitalisation is one of the levers that Siemens is offering its mining customers for mastering major challenges, such as the need to increase productivity. Based on many decades of experience in the mining sector, Siemens provides a wide range of transport solutions from a single source, for instance, perfectly coordinated and integrated drive and control components or in-depth software engineering expertise. Digitalisation is the main driver for change, innovation and modernisation of mines

To drive the progress of highly efficient and sustainable mines, Siemens offers proven digitalisation solutions: an industry-specific process control system for comprehensive automation (MinAS), an engineering tool for effective plant management (Comos), and a platform for aggregating, relating and presenting operational and business data for the big picture (XHQ). It’s time for a higher degree of digitalisation ‒ to gain a true competitive edge.

REFERENCE PROJECTS
As part of its track record in Africa’s mining sector, Siemens in Africa has completed some exciting projects. Anglo American uses Simatic PCS7 from Siemens at many of its coal plants. One such plant is Dalyshope in South Africa. In this instance, Siemens answered the question of how to control a plant remotely without using the conventional communication system, thereby lowering downtime. Standard software blocks as well as used blocks were developed and used throughout the software. Online monitoring made possible by Simatic PCS 7 is also profiting operations at Isibonelo colliery, Anglo American’s latest openpit coal operation, around 120 km east of Johannesburg

Moreover, the Lumwana copper mine in Zambia relies on Siemens for all of its electrical equipment, including automation. “Africa is a challenging place to operate,” says Zane Berry, the superintendent of Lumwana mining company. “Therefore, mines need the most reliable solutions available.” A highlight at the mine is the truck-trolley system: Siemens provided the electrics for 28 Hitachi 250 t mining trucks, including the electrical variable speed drives, as well as the electric wheel motors, each rated at 2 MW.

FULLY AUTOMATED DC CONTAINERISED SUBSTATION SOLUTION
Billions of litres of diesel are consumed annually by the global mining industry, which is under severe pressure from weak commodity prices. Up to 80% of this costly fuel consumption comes from haulage trucks moving uphill on ramps. In addition to its drive and automation technology, Siemens SA recently launched its fully automated DC containerised substation at 11 MW, reinforcing its position as global pioneer in trolley-assist technology for over 30 years. This has established Siemens as a world leader in manufacturing DC containerised substations. Siemens SA launched one of three completed units at its Siemens Northriding. They will be used to power a fleet of Komatsu 960E trucks, which are among the industry’s biggest and highest-capacity mine haulage vehicles, with a load capacity of 214 m³ or 327 t. We now have the skill sets locally to manufacture components at our Northriding factory. This is not only good for job creation, but also reduces manufacturing costs which, in turn, contributes to lower prices and improved turnaround times.

MEDIA LINKS:
www.siemens.com/mining www.siemens.co.za

MEDIA CONTACT:
Keshin Govender
Phone: +27 11 652 2000; E-mail: keshin.govender@siemens.com
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Siemens is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalisation. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems. It is also leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT.

In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated a revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of September 2015, the company had around 348 000 employees worldwide.

Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.