en.Wedoany.com Reported - South Africa's Multotec has introduced a proactive maintenance approach for samplers and centrifuges, aimed at helping the mining and mineral processing industries extend equipment life and reduce the risk of unplanned downtime. In mining operations, samplers and centrifuges are critical equipment for maintaining product quality and process efficiency. The former is responsible for collecting representative and repeatable samples, while the latter is used for solid-liquid separation, dewatering, and classification. However, as these devices operate under harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures, corrosive or abrasive materials, maintenance of their electromechanical systems is often delayed, leading to sampling deviations, unexpected failures, and high costs from production interruptions.
Gerrit du Plessis, Multotec's solid-liquid separation product specialist, explains that under operational pressure, maintenance is often overlooked when equipment appears to be functioning normally, only drawing attention when failures occur. Centrifuges are typically installed at the end of metallurgical or chemical process flows for dewatering, and their operation directly impacts the availability of upstream production lines. Samplers are designed to collect representative portions of mineral streams for analysis, with an expected operational accuracy of up to 99.95%. Willem Slabbert, Multotec's sampling and magnetic products specialist, notes that in a typical 56-shift production month, losing one sampling shift due to minor faults or equipment unavailability means nearly 2% of the material flow remains unsampled, directly affecting overall sampling accuracy.
A proactive maintenance strategy is central to addressing this challenge. Slabbert states that in all mining and industrial environments, lifecycle-focused proactive maintenance is crucial for maintaining equipment reliability. He adds that by implementing regular condition monitoring and predictive maintenance interventions, early signs of mechanical issues can be identified and resolved before they escalate. Multotec's best practices include on-site inspections to assess equipment condition, monitoring critical component wear to predict and schedule replacements, while also developing structured service agreements and on-site technical support plans. Du Plessis points out that the company's technicians regularly communicate with customers to ensure daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance checks are completed, plan monthly or quarterly maintenance shutdowns, and provide maintenance personnel training and spare parts inventory guidance.
Multotec's operation and maintenance manuals, based on application knowledge and process understanding, offer best practice guidelines. Slabbert emphasizes that if these practices are followed, equipment can operate reliably for over 20 years; conversely, if operating conditions are not monitored and maintenance is neglected, poor maintenance can lead to catastrophic failure in as little as 18 months. Previously, there was a tendency in plants to prioritize handling emergency failures while neglecting important maintenance. Slabbert notes that a proactive maintenance strategy, including predictive maintenance and well-managed spare parts inventory, can reduce risks and ensure consistent equipment performance. Du Plessis adds that customized service agreements from equipment suppliers, along with structured on-site service plans, enable more effective maintenance planning, faster problem identification, and timely resolution. Multotec works closely with customers through on-site service technicians to maximize equipment lifecycle.
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