IMS Engineering returns to Electra Mining Africa 2018

For the first time in several years, IMS Engineering is back at this year’s Electra Mining Africa. The timing cannot be more fitting; the comminution & separation solutions giant will be showcasing several new cutting-edge innovations, all the way from innovative crushing, sorting and screening technologies, to better monitoring and optimisation solutions for existing equipment.

That the local mining industry is at an inflection point, in which newer, innovative technologies have the potential to unlock new ways of managing variability and enhancing productivity, is no point of contention. For this reason, having not exhibited at Electra Mining Africa for many years, South Africa’s leading comminution solutions provider, IMS Engineering is back at this years’ event – scheduled for 10-14 September at Nasrec Expo Centre – to showcase what it believes are the well-timed solutions that offer the mining sector improved ways of executing projects, innovatively, cost-effectively & safely.

Penny Höll, PR & Marketing Manager for IMS, believes that the local mining industry is fully aware of their need to innovate, and Electra Mining Africa, affords them an ideal occasion to shop around for their equipment and technological requirements, all in one place. She is of the view that the local market is dramatically more receptive to new technology and innovation to ensure they keep pace with global industry trends.

“To respond to these industry needs, one of the exciting developments we will be showcasing at Electra Mining is our IMOST system,” says Höll. IMOST is an acronym for Integrated Management & Engineering systems; Optimisation of the equipment and process performance; Support to site through an expert group using leading edge Technologies and tools.   IMOST remotely monitors and manages customers’ IMS equipment in real time via telecommunications, helping them improve their plants’ intelligence, reliability and performance.

While traditional methods of monitoring and control using PLCs and SCADA systems are well established in the mining industry, Höll reasons that these were designed for a world of central management and control, tailored for the production environment, and not necessarily suited to the new world of business imperatives, such as increased plant availability, reduced environmental impact, lower operating costs, reduced labour resources and increased ‘green’ credentials.  

Apart from IMOST, IMS will be showcasing another new interesting tech recently added to its stable, General Kinematics – a two-mass vibratory technology which goes beyond the boundaries of conventional vibratory equipment. “We will also have an Astro Jaw, as well as a Cybas-i Cone crusher at the stand,” adds Höll.

Evolving industry

Höll also reflects on the changing matters of importance for capital equipment owners, saying that the industry has since moved away from just product suppliers to end-to-end solutions providers. “We have aligned ourselves with a trend we have identified; today’s customer no longer wants a supplier to just deliver goods. Our customers have evolved and are looking to align themselves with strategic partners whom they can build long-term relationships with and look up to as process experts,” says Höll.  

In line with this trend, IMS has over the years evolved as an organisation. “Long gone are the days when merely supplying a product was ‘good enough’. An integral component of our evolution was the move to unlock value in comminution and separation processes, with a view to enhance our customers’ business operations during the complete lifecycle,” says Höll, adding that to accomplish this, IMS ensures that all its technologies are leading and proven in their respective markets.   

IMS has developed the expertise to look at an entire flow sheet and make suggestions as to how the customer can further optimise their operation. “This we do through our extensive range of leading edge technologies, state-of-the-art testing capabilities and extensive in-house experience – making us a true total solutions provider as opposed to a once-off product supplier,” concludes Höll.