Refurbishment of a large 1420 BWE, previously supplied by another OEM, has been successfully completed by the team at TAKRAF India. This means that this major piece of machinery will be able to work considerably more years of productive and efficient operation.
The machine has proved to be a faithful workhorse at the mine where it was installed in 1990 and has operated continuously in the arduous environment for nearly 30 years. Such conditions have had an inevitable impact on the machine and its structural and mechanical parts.
The refurbishment project was awarded to TAKRAF in the last quarter of 2019, with the refurbished machine inaugurated on 11 Jan 2021 in the presence of various dignitaries. The project concerned the following sevices:
- Disassembly and dismantling of the machine
- Where appropriate, repair, reconditioning or replacement with new components
- Overhaul work prior to reassembly
This refurbishment project forms part of a greater life extension program initiated by the client for many of its older pieces of mining equipment, which will occur in a phased manner over the next 10 to 15 years. Such machines represent a considerable capital investment for mining companies and refurbishments can significantly extend the life of the equipment at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new replacements.
K. Ramasamy, TAKRAF India Senior Vice President – Projects, had this to say: “Thank you to the team at TAKRAF India, who, despite the working restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic and with all safety protocols in place to minimise risk from Covid-19, ensured that the excavator was refitted, and all aspects, including safety, checked thoroughly. Successfully delivering this project only serves to entrench TAKRAF as a leading provider of refurbishment and support services – we not only sell equipment, but we are able to provide comprehensive aftermarket services too.”