Referro Systems \u2013 a distribution company for many of the world\u2019s leading electrical, automation and global software and hardware brands \u2013 recently completed a project for a large iron ore mining operation in the Northern Cape, where the team leveraged their experience and long-standing client relationship to see the solution to success. The complex multi-million rand project involved the supply of intelligent motor control, control system and HMI, as well as full integration into the existing plant control system, among other interlocking for the mine\u2019s new discard spreader conveyor system .<\/p>\n
Adrian van Wyk, Managing Director, Referro Systems explains: \u201cThe client required an integrated discard spreader conveyor system, which levels out discarded low-grade iron ore to create stable piles. The spreader conveyor ensures the product is stored optimally in terms of safety, space, location and accessibility. This helps manage the product more efficiently, and mitigates the need for heavy hauling trucks, reducing the mine\u2019s carbon footprint as well as automating the process.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mine produces around 600 tons per hour of low-grade product for the discard pile. Prior to automation, trucking the product could only manage a maximum of 400 tons an hour when running at full capacity with a truckload every six minutes, weather conditions permitting. \u201cTo optimise the materials handling capability, the spreader conveyor can now manage 1500 tons per hour optimising the piling, while lowering the operations CO2<\/sub> footprint as this function is now fully automated,\u201d explains van Wyk.<\/p>\n The project required Referro Systems to install an integrated HMI, control and motor control solution, which was also required to be integrated into the existing control system backbone. \u201cWe installed an Allen-Bradley ControlLogix system into the existing substation as well as the discard spreader conveyor for the new system, which enables future expansion. To reduce starting currents required by the conveyor, we added Allen-Bradley SMC Flex low voltage soft-starters which were crucial to ensure efficient start-up control of the conveyor,\u201d says van Wyk.<\/p>\n Van Wyk explains that the project faced several hardware supply challenges due to global supply chain disruptions impacted by the availability of plastics and semiconductors. \u201cThis limits the availability of certain products key to industrial applications. However, our in-depth understanding of our client\u2019s systems and processes as well as our detailed knowledge of our customer\u2019s hardware standards coupled with Referro Systems\u2019 comprehensive Allen-Bradley product range \u2013 built over years of working together \u2013 ensured we were able to overcome several challenges without impacting the project negatively or compromising the system\u2019s functionality,\u201d stated van Wyk.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to have built lasting relationships with our customers and suppliers, which gives our customers a competitive edge over their global competitors in delivering projects to a high standard which are fit for purpose. We continue to grow our expert delivery in the project environment with our clients in the mining industry,\u201d van Wyk concludes.<\/p>\n About Referro:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Referro Systems is a sales and distribution company for many of the world\u2019s leading electrical, automation and global software and hardware brands across industrial and commercial sectors. The Level 2 BBBEE company supplies best-in-class industrial automation, electrical control and instrumentation fit-for-purpose and provides cost-effective solutions \u2013 info@referro.co.za<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Referro Systems \u2013 a distribution company for many of the world\u2019s leading electrical, automation and global software and hardware brands \u2013 recently completed a project for a large iron ore mining operation in the Northern Cape, where the team leveraged their experience and long-standing client relationship to see the solution to success. The complex multi-million rand project involved the supply of intelligent motor control, control system and HMI, as well as full integration into the existing plant control system, among other interlocking for the mine\u2019s new discard spreader conveyor system .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-releases","category-referro"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17340"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17342,"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17340\/revisions\/17342"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swmcommunications.co.za\/press-office\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}