Diversified engineering group Sandvik Materials Handling is working on a contract to provide Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) with a 2 500-t/h- capacity ship loader to be located at the Port of Richards Bay.

The contract was awarded in June and work started in August, with the completion date slated for March 2013. The scope includes the design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of the ship loader.

The contract is valued at about R130-million. The maximum ship beam is 55 m long and the boom conveyor belt is 1 350 mm wide.

The ship loader has the ability to separately convey 12 different types of materials at any given time, says Sandvik project manager Martin Nel.

“ Although this machine will be manufactured in China, part of the agreement with TPT is to conform with the Compe- titive Supplier Development Programme (CSDP) initiative. This means being able to procure a significant number of the mechanical and electrical components in South Africa. These will then be shipped to the structural fabricator in China for installation and cold commissioning, after which the complete machine will be shipped back to the Port of Richards Bay,” says Sandvik contract manager Colin Hallaby.

The CSDP aims to contribute towards the competitiveness of the domestic supply chain and procurement environments, leveraging the procurement capacity of original-equipment manufacturers through the development of downstream suppliers. Further, it aims to expand the local supplier base.

Sandvik says it supports the need for skills development and offers a two-year operator training course at its Jet Park training centre. For this contract, 15 artisans have been identified by TPT to undergo training. “This is part of our corporate social respon- sibility initiative by which we share our expertise with young minds to retain the skills in the country,” says Nel.

“We have a significant budget for training and development,” says Hallaby.

Sandvik will also offer operators of the ship loader on-site training on how the software works and on maintaining the machine. This includes an additional two years for further maintenance and operational training.

Hallaby notes, even though the company places emphasis on quality and meeting the delivery deadline for this contract, it also wants to fulfil the CSDP requirements, which include allocating a substantial amount of the contract value to local procurement.

Sandvik is putting a plan together to indicate the percentage of local procurement to ensure skills transfer and to provide training to ensure that the skills development is sustainable.

“The CSDP will ensure that project deadlines are met because the duration of the contract [will not be extended]. “It will also ensure that the machine runs continuously throughout the year because, when the machine needs maintenance or a spare part, it can be sourced locally and at a faster rate, owing to all products being locally sourced,” says Nel.

The loader has a fitted dust collection system as a way of enhancing environ- mental sustainability. “The materials can be recovered from the dust collection bin and placed in a bay. The client decides how to dispose of the waste materials. The contract required this green element, as a way to ensure that the client also contributes to curbing environmental impact,” concludes Nel.