NSK and the German Aerospace Centre are developing a robotic hand system that will help
automate manual tasks, particularly in the service industry. The concept centres on a
customisable robot hand comprising individually configurable finger modules, thought to be
an industry-first. Through a combination of versatility and affordability, this innovative new
product will contribute to the automation of manual work that involves grasping a broad
variety of objects.

Many countries around the world, including several in Europe, are facing serious labour
shortages across a number of important industries. Robots that can take on manual work
represent a good way to overcome this increasingly prevalent situation. However, the
introduction of robots has not progressed sufficiently in the retail, restaurant and some
manufacturing sectors for tasks that require a high degree of dexterity. A significant factor
here is price. While the price of robot hands that can grasp only a single type or size of
object is low, robot hands that can grasp a diverse range of objects are extremely
expensive.

Against this backdrop, NSK and the German Aerospace Centre are working in tandem to
develop a robotic hand system with finger modules that offer easy reconfiguration according
to each use case. The individual finger modules enable the construction of robot hands with
the minimum configuration required to meet customer needs: it is easy to create a robot
hand that grips only standard products or a robot hand that grips a variety of objects.
Notably, by limiting production to individual finger modules, NSK aims to achieve a low unit
cost through mass production. This should prove highly appealing to companies with target
applications that require smooth finger movement, easy layout changes and optimised
finger module placement.

The smooth motion and gentle gripping of diverse objects arrives through the wire drive
technology of the German Aerospace Centre, while NSK’s proprietary detachable magnetic
mechanism makes it quick and easy to alter the layout of finger modules simply by pulling a
lever to attach or detach accordingly. In terms of finger module placement, NSK’s digital
twin technology led to the development of an algorithm that optimises this task according to
object size and shape.

To contribute to mechanisation and automation in a wide range of industries, including food
service, retail, manufacturing, logistics and agriculture, NSK is now in the process of
making solution proposals to robotic system integrators and customers with existing robot equipment. Field tests will commence imminently.

Major miners like BHP, Rio, MMG, and Codelco are stopping material losses in the supply chain. Sealed in a container at the Pit and opened in the ship, CBH saves 2% material loss and has no pollution.

CBH is a zero-loss dust-suppression logistics solution that allows the exporting of dry bulk from any port and any crane type. It can be started in six months with low capex.

CBH – a proven dust-free bulk handling solution

The CBH solution is already a  proven solution to the issues of dust generation during the transportation and handling of dry bulk commodities.

By using sealed open-top containers for transport and storage, the CBH system also uses a rotating spreader called ‘revolver’ to handle the container and remove the lid before gently rotating the container 360 degrees to decant the commodity at its destination.

Environmental best practice

The solution is environmentally best practice, as the commodity only sees the light of day immediately before being decanted, with a dust suppression system around the ship’s hatch containing the dust plume generated during the unloading process.

The dust suppression system produces microscopic droplets, creating a wall of dry fog around the ship’s cell to contain the commodity.

Box clever: Zero material loss

Not only does Revolver CBH protect the environment and reduce particulate matter, but it also protects valuable commodities from loss or contamination.

Most bulk logistics systems lose between one and three percent in the handling process with multiple handling and dust generation; CBH stops this. RAM has saved customers more than two million USD annually for mineral concentrates using the CBH system.

Lifting the lid on bulk handling

CBH follows a simple and easy handling process of load & seal, transport, store, and unload. From its initial process of loading the bulk into open-top containers, a lid is placed locking the commodity, where it is transported either by road or rail, then can be stored without stockpiles or storage sheds, and finally picked up and unloaded by the ‘revolver’.

The ‘revolver’ locks onto the container as a standard spreader does, removes the lid from the sealed container before rotating the container and replaces the lid back onto the empty container, completing the lift cycle.

Low CAPEX – Fast to market

CBH is a highly flexible logistics solution, enabling all types of dry bulk to be exported from any port, allowing export from the nearest port, shortening the entire support chain and allowing ports to store multiple types of commodities without stockpiling or cross-contamination.

With most equipment readily available at the port, CBH bulk export can be launched quickly with the RAM ‘revolver’ and sealed open-top containers is all that is required to begin exporting.

A global success – 10 years of Operations in Africa

Since its introduction in Australia in 2011, with the same machine still in operation today, the RAM CBH system has also been used in Africa for over ten years, with the first unit deployed in Port Elizabeth for Elitheni handling coal. Other RAM CHB projects followed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Eritrea and Mauritania.

Today, ‘revolver’ CBH has gained worldwide popularity, supporting the operations of some of the largest mining companies in the world, including the UAE, Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Telephone:           +44 (0) 1695 556355

Telefax:                +44 (0) 1695 556356

E-mail:                  p.draper@ramspreaders.com

Web:                    www.ramspreaders.com

The forecast of the silica sand market in KSA, the potential available through use of wash plants and unlocking the value of C&D waste were the focus of the seminars specifically targeted at the MEA region at a recent virtual symposium, held by wet processing technology manufacturers CDE.

“The last decade showed a fluctuation in silica sand consumptions in several industries and reached the lowest level in 2009 due to the global recession. Due to the variety of products and the new or future developments in applications, the long-term forecast of silica sand requires nonconventional methods of production,” commented Hatem Ibrahim, Managing Director at Mineral Processing Engineering & Consulting (MPEC).

On the topic of transforming recycled products, CDE’s Eunan Kelly said, “Todays customers have high expectations of the technology, they want recycled products that are comparable to Virgin materials and that expectation, helps drive that technology forward”.

Engineering Insights

These were standout sessions at CDE’s recent Engineering Insights virtual symposium, which was held online from 18-20^th May. The event followed a hugely successful 2020 inaugural conference, responding to a desire for industry professionals to engage in global learning and networking in the absence of international tradeshows and in-person conventions.

To support the continued sharing of insights and facilitating pertinent discussions regarding the global market, CDE once again brought together industry leaders and programmed a series of dynamic and beneficial panel discussions and presentations that covered sectors including sand and aggregates, construction and demolition waste recycling, industrial sands, mining, and wastewater.

Across three days, CDE experts led on the seminars that catered to the company’s global audience.

CDE in Middle East & Africa

At the lead seminar for the MEA region, CDE’s Regional Manager for MEA, Ruchin Garg, and Hatem Ibrahim, Managing Director at Mineral Processing Engineering & Consulting (MPEC), discussed the challenges and opportunities in Saudi Arabia regarding maximizing the silica sand market potential.

Strategically located at the crossroads of three continents – Asia, Africa and Europe – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s most important commercial and trading hubs and is the largest market in Middle East-North Africa.

During the seminar, they discussed how silica sand is a low-priced product but a primary ingredient for a diversity of products. On the whole, the consumption of silica sand can be measured as indicator to the global economy’s trends and circumstances. As mentioned, it is predicted that demand will in future require alternative methods of production than those currently being utilised.

Ruchin Garg commented, “Most of silica sand deposit are of good quality starting from 80% and above. However, for producers to add value, a beneficiation and processing plant is recommended as to reach high purity Silica sand that can be used in different applications.”

CDE is currently supporting many companies across the Middle East & Africa to realise the hidden value in their operations.

In a panel discussion between Doğan Ozel, Business Development Manager for MEA at CDE, Ruchin Garg and customer Scott Watson, CEO of Kunooz Oman Holding, Watson detailed his experience of venturing into wet processing and the impact CDE products have had in transforming unused waste streams into valuable sand and aggregates.

Watson commented that when working for a previous employer, “Commitment from the CDE Owner Mr Tony Convery and the professionalism of the management team were key in the decision to purchase a wash plant from CDE. Being modular, the plant was easy to install and produced a high-quality sand for inhouse use in Block Manufacture and RMC, thus reducing our dependence on dredged sand. When we moved to another quarry within the group, being modular meant that our plant made that transition also and it is still in operation 22 years after purchase.”

Watson moved to Oman in 2016 to take up position as General Manager of Kunooz Gypsum, followed by becoming Kunooz Oman Group COO in May 2018 and CEO in December 2019.

Here, crushed 0-5 mm sand accounted for 45% of production, and high powder content was limiting sales, resulting in excessive stocks. The company needed to act and offer its customer base the full range and therefore decided to invest in a wash plant. Once again, having reviewed all options, the company made the decision to purchase a CDE plant (Evowash 102 and Thickener) that is producing high quality Wash Sand and Plaster Sand, while the Thickener recovers 90% of water used – hugely important as the use of borehole water is prohibited.

The final session for the MEA market day of the virtual event involved an engaging panel discussion that explored the global, regional and local viewpoint of unlocking the value of C&D waste in MEA. Led by Ruchin Garg of CDE, the panel consisted of Eunan Kelly, CDE Head of Business Development for Northern Europe, Nisrine El Hougeiri, Director of Environment Division at Laceco and Ahmed Taher, General Manager of AL Dhafra Recycling Industries.

The panel discussed the challenges and successes of C&D waste recycling in MEA, as well as what the future looks like and how technology providers, consultants and contractors can help further drive and raise greater awareness within the region C&D waste recycling in the MEA region.

“The construction industry is one of the world’s largest consumers of energy and raw materials using almost 40% of resources and 17% of freshwater reserves,” commented El Hougeiri, adding that there are 120million tonnes per year of C&D waste, approximately 55% of the total waste stream generated in the gulf region alone.

El Hougeiri stated that the public perception of recycled materials needs to change, and people need to accept recycled materials are indeed an equivalent to virgin materials in order to affect true change.

Virtual global learning

The packed three-day programme featured 16 expert discussions involving almost 50 speakers.

CDE’s CEO, Marc Jennings, says: “In 2020, despite the global circumstances, CDE utilized its network to bring together industry leaders and professionals virtually to discuss the prevalent issues of the day. We are proud that in 2021, we were able to build upon this and host our second Engineering Insights virtual symposium.

“We have continued to facilitate global learning and our conference was once again a huge success, as 600 industry professionals registered, engaging with our event from around the world.

“Challenges in our industry such as water management, sand depletion and sustainable mining continue to dominate important conversations, and we believe it is of great importance that industry experts sustain these virtual discussions in order to aid progression, indeed as the world progresses out of the global pandemic.”

The full Engineering Insights programme is now available to view on-demand for registered attendees. For more information, please visit cdeglobal.com/vevent.

ENDS

Media contact

Alana Hughes, JComms

E: alana.hughes@jcomms.co.uk

DD: +44 (0) 28 9076 0066

The Federal Government has stressed the need to computerise the nation ‘s mining sector , saying  it will enhance development and efficiency of the sub -sector of the economy.

Sensitising primary stakeholders on the adoption of the Electronic Mining Cadastre System, (eMC+), in Ibadan, Director General/ CEO, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, under the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, South West region, Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, said the new system was designed to cater for the entire process of Mineral Title administration; from application submission, payment of fees, granting (refusing) up to the issuance of certificate.

According to him, the efforts towards the computerization of the Mining Cadastre Office picked up with development focused on enhancing development.

“EMC+ is simply like the word, Electronic Mining in Cadastre and like i said, somebody will say what is the +, we will have to be able to put the + looking at the global trend; what are the attributes you need to add and that is the +,  to make it effective, efficient, transparent  and we will be able to adapt it to the whole word and things that are coming.

“One needs to now put those attributes in place. so Electronic Mining Cadastre will be able to now access the system from anywhere in the world, you dont need to come, you don’t need to leave Ibadan, even with your phone you will just see and have access to the status of the mineral titles, you will be able to have email send to you, stages of your licencing proceedings.

In his goodwill message, Commissioner for Environment, Oyo State, Abiodun Oni lauded the initiative, saying it will go a  long way in the effectiveness and efficiency of the mining cadastre processes.

The commissioner who represented the state governor, Seyi Makinde, therefore urged all relevant stakeholders to take maximum advantage of the programme, stressing  it will benefit the mining sector tremendously.

“I dare submit how easy my job will become with this innovation. Technology they say is the bedrock of modern civilization, without technology the mother of modern technology will not grow.

“I am particularly inspired by some of the hurdles this innovation will address. This will set the pace for the mining sector to work and deliver more efficiently and effectively.

Barrick Gold, a large gold producer, has partnered with PRISMA Training Solutions, a leading professional training provider, to enhance training at its sites in Tanzania.

The gold producer has targeted fostering local mining sector growth at its North Mara and Bulyanhulu mining projects and has collaborated with PRISMA in order to deliver tailored and sustainable education and training solutions. The aim of the partnership is to enhance productivity, efficiency and safety at the sites while prioritising human capital development and elevating the capabilities of local suppliers.

The project, which is expected to last three to five years, began with a gap analysis encompassing technical training, compliance, safety measures, surface training, career development and training planning. Initially, the focus was on evaluating mine technical training with the subsequent phase assessing surface training, soft skills, mineral processing and plant operation training.

With this completed, a formal analysis report was generated with recommendations for the implementation of necessary training services at the mines. The advised actions revolve around resource allocation, trainer placement, curriculum design, learning material enhancement and the potential inclusion of software and technology. It also addressed community upliftment and skills transfer at both mining sites.

In January 2023, PRISMA began deploying trainers to develop learning materials and evaluate the competencies of both permanent and contracted employees on-site. They also established concrete career path frameworks to rectify existing frustrations surrounding the lack of growth opportunities in the mining environment.

Jacques Farmer, managing director at PRISMA, commented, “This effort aligns with our resource management and human capital development strategies. We are moving forward toward the ultimate goal of transferring skills and competencies to the organisation’s internal training department. This will establish their efficiencies and effectiveness to eliminate the need to rely on external training providers from other African countries.”

The project is now deep in the third phase. At this point, PRISMA has begun implementing the recommendations made in the first two phases that will set the wheels in motion for self-sufficiency.

The two entities have highlighted the focus on localisation, with PRIMSA proposing conducting induction and initial training in Kiswahili, the local language, and establishing clear career paths for mine workers. In addition, the Women in Mining initiative was championed to raise diversity and inclusion, with 20 women from local communities trained to operate underground dump trucks over approximately six months.

Notably, PRISMA has promoted the use of cutting-edge technology in teaching methods. At the Tanzanian sites, it utilised both underground and open-air mock mine environments to simulate real working conditions for trainees. By interacting with lifelike simulations, miners can refine their skills, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

The organisation’s e-learning platform is being updated, and this is being incorporated into training practices along with a psychometric assessment tool to assess learners’ capabilities in different underground mining scenarios.

“Looking at Barrick’s journey from last year to now, there’s been a transformative shift. We’ve introduced a human capital development career path for miners and completed the implementation of a total quality management system,” remarked Farmer. “Moving forward, whether it’s a PRISMA or Barrick trainer, they will be equipped with the process to train, assess, manage grievances, handle discipline, conduct moderation, perform audits, and manage training matrices and needs analyses for the upcoming year.”

“This partnership serves as a testament to the profound impact of localised skills development within the African mining sector. It underscores the pioneering role of African suppliers, showcasing their ability to deliver world-class training interventions right on the continent. This alliance stands as a transformative model, charting a path towards enhanced productivity, safety, and industry excellence for years to come.”