Local company Swisslog Trans-Tele is putting the finishing touches
to a R30 000 extension to the diamond-sorting operation at De
Beers‘ Premier Diamondcrusher for asphalt in india Mine near Pretoria.
In accorglass bottle crusher machine in indiadance with the contract, the companysmall mobile ball mills for gold mining designed and is
installing air-tube transportation systems for product to and from
two additional gloveboxes in which diamonds are hand sorted.
The company completed the existing air-tube system, servicing five
gloveboxes, in 1996.
When the latest extensions are complete, diamond concentrate will
be transported at an average speed of eight metres a second through
a total of 90 m of 63 mm diameter polyvinyl chloride tubing to the
gloveboxes for sorting.
The final product, placed in carriers, will then be sent through
exit tubes for sizing and valuation.
Swisslog MD John Meiring reports that a ’soft landing‘ capability
for the carriers has been programmed into the system as added
protection for the diamonds against impact.
„The software also ensures that only one carrier at a time moves
through the tube system,“ he adds.