Supplements

October 2004          

 

CONTENTS

Unitrans Freight acquired the Western Stars through Western Star distributor, Liebherr-Africa (Pty) Ltd.

The scale of the operation

Unitrans Freight Mining Services Division supports Richards Bay Minerals with the following:

  • The annual transfer of 3,6 million tons of Heavy Metal Concentrate (HMC) from various mining stockpile sites in the dunes to a Mineral Separation Plant (MSP)

  • Return loads of HMC tails and Roaster tails from the MSP back to the dune sites.

  • MSP cleaning.

  • Removal of sludge from the Char Plant, Iron Injection and Bag House.

  • Ilmenite loading.

Unitrans Freight operating data is on a large scale -

  • 152 staff members control nine Western Star truck tractors and one Mercedes 2644, together with 12 'Yellow' machines for loading and lifting.

  • 1,3 million kilometres are travelled every year.

  • Four drivers per 150-ton GCM rig operate 24 hours per day in three 8-hour shifts.

  • Annual diesel consumption is 2,5 million litres.

  • 'Yellow' equipment is used for 48 500 hours annually.

  • There are 722 rolling wheels. 

  • 400 tons of Heavy Metal Concentrate is delivered hourly to the Mineral Separation Plant.

RBM principal products are:

  • Titania slag and rutile used for the manufacture of titanium metal products.

  • High purity pig iron.

  • Zircon.

RBM supplies:

  • 25% of the world's pigment and welding rod market.

  • 25% of world demand for iron for ductile casting.

  • 25% of the world's zircon used in the production of ceramic tiles and sanitary ware.

Copyright © 2004 FleetWatch magazine and FleetWatch On-Line.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission from the publishers. Views published are not necessarily those of the publishers.