Split roller bearings (srbs) installed at Anglo Platinum's South African mine are set to cut the costs of downtime in production considerably.

Revolvo's srbs can be installed in an hour, compared with the eight hours for solid bearings, and with the estimated costs of downtime estimated to be as much as R500,000 per hour, could save mines up to R4 million each time a change is required.

Srbs also minimise downtime because their superior sealing arrangements, coupled with the fact that they cannot be cross-located, means that they last longer, so will have to be changed less often.

Meanwhile, the fact that the srbs use grease instead of oil for lubrication reduces wear from friction and significantly prolongs their life.

Currently the sole distributor is OE Bearings, which claims to have received orders totalling R900,000 for the product from 18 mines throughout South Africa, including North & SouthShaft, Modikwa Platinum, Bleksop and Rustenburg.

Anglo Platinum recently announced that it expects increased production from new mining operations to result in refined platinum production figures of between 2.8 and 2.9 million ounces in 2007.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd