Press Release - August 2008
Donaldson - Providing filtration solutions to the Mining Industry

Donaldson has over 93 years of global experience in the provision of filtration solutions. The African continent, with its harsh terrains and working environments, poses a unique challenge and through our innovative research and development, we are able to satisfy our customer’s needs of a focused and superior filtration solution.

Mike Parfitt, Managing Director of Donaldson South Africa, explains “Our continent requires filtration solutions which will protect and enhance human working environments on one hand and extend the operating life of vehicles, machinery and equipment on the other.”

Superior filtration systems and products are important because they:

•Reduce downtime and resultant loss of production
•Reduce component repair and replacement
•Reduces fluid replacement and disposal costs
•Reduces the total cost of ownership

When considering the mining industry, Donaldson can be split into two broad focus areas, namely our Engine division and our Industrial Air Filtration (IAF) division. Other specialized divisions are Compressed Air filtration and Gas Turbine filtration. Our extensive range of filtration products has applications in virtually all environments.

Our IAF division provides turnkey dust collection and ambient air filtration systems for mines. These collection systems provide protection for people, equipment and the environment. The undertaking of these projects is of a capital nature and consists of installing air filtration systems for large machinery and plants. Dave Blane, Director of IAF, says the capital expenditure from such projects accounts for approximately 60% of the division’s focus, with repairs and replacement parts accounting for the rest.

Dust filtration is required in materials handling, smelting, crushing and screening environments. In some cases the rate of dust collection is only a few kg’s per hour, while in material recovery systems it can be accumulated in tons per hour.

The filtration system in modern mobile mining equipment is complex and specialised filtration is used throughout the machine to ensure optimum protection within the operating environment. Among these filtration systems are air pre-cleaners that filter out 90% of the dust before it enters the air cleaner.

Donaldson’s Engine Division adopts a total systems approach, an important factor when one considers the vast range of vehicles and applications within the mining sector. Donaldson has a vast product range which covers Hydraulic and a complete range of air oil and lube filters. This encompasses fuel and lubrication filters, coolants and coolant filters, fuel filter water separators, transmission filters, air filters and related accessories.
Donaldson’s engine business is in the heavy duty automotive engine sector with products being particularly suited for the harsh operating environments experienced in the mining sector.
 
Rob Simpson, Sales Director, says “Today’s heavy-duty engines operate at high injection pressures, which makes them more vulnerable to contaminated fuel. The machine tolerances are lower and with smaller pumps, these modern engines are even more susceptible to dirt ingress, therefore placing a greater emphasis on good quality high efficiency filters.”

Donaldson is one of the few filtration companies that can find a product to meet almost every requirement, from industrial, to engine, to compressed air and various specialised industries.

We are excited to be an exhibitor again at Electra Mining and are looking forward to meeting you at Donaldson’s stand! Our stand no is F24, Hall 5.