The UG2 phase-two project will produce 255 000 t of UG2 ore a month and resulted in a need for more wagons to transport consumable items from the central stores to the various shafts of the project.

Galison Manufacturing was awarded a contract worth R2-million to supply five wagons to the UG2 phase-two project.

The contract was awarded four months ago and was successfully completed in May.

The contract involved the design, manufacture and supply of 5DZ-type flat-deck wagons complete with bogies, couplers and brake-gear– all built to American Association of Railway (AAR) standards.

“The wagons are 13 m long, 2,5 m wide and are designed to carry up to 70 t of goods.

The wagons have a grating-type deck to reduce weight and prevent water and mud accumulating on the deck surface.

“It will move the items on the same rail system which transports ore from the shafts to the central treatment plant,” explains business development and export manager Andrew Thorburn.

Some of the goods moved are ventilation pipes, supports, scrapers, steel and containers.

The distance travelled by the wagons between the furthest shaft and the central stores is 20 km.

“Approximately 12 people worked on the contract to build the wagons,” says Thorburn.

The company is currently involved in a number of surface rail contracts to the combined value of R12-million.

It is currently building ten 50-t ore wagons for Impala Platinum mine and has also been awarded a contract to refurbish and modify seven ore wagons at Savuka mine; these are being converted from a manual door-opening system to a pneumatic system.

Further, the company is also busy with a contract to refurbish and modify Rustenburg Platinum Mines’ 60-t ore wagons as well as a contract to manufacture six 50-t wagons for a mine in Zambia.

The company is a large mining-supply company situated in Welkom, in the Free State, with additional facilities near Kitwe, in Zambia.

The company has been in existence for 26 years and was awarded ISO 9001/2000 accreditation in August 2001.

Galison is the leading supplier of underground and surface ore-carrying wagons to the mining industry in South Africa.

“Through the purchase of Hunslett Hudson’s hopper division in 1996, the company is the original designer of all ore wagons used by Anglo Platinum at its various divisions, having built over 90% of the wagons used by Anglo Platinum,” enthuses Thorburn.

It is also the leading supplier of scraper scoops and grizzlies in the country.

In addition, it manufactures and repairs material cars, hopper wheels, chutes, buffers, tipping ramps and does general, medium and heavy fabrication.

Galison employs more than 250 people and has extensive manufacturing facilities housed in 15 000 m2 of factory space, capable of processing more than 1 000 t of steel a month.

“Our customers include all large underground mining companies throughout Africa,” he concludes.

[By Andrea Marais for Internal]