Transnet Port Terminals’ (TPT’s) Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal on Monday embarked on a five-day shutdown for the maintenance and servicing of equipment on two tipplers.
The tipplers, which are critical machines in the terminal’s operations, facilitate the offloading of iron ore from train wagons onto conveyor belts, before it is loaded into vessels scheduled for export.
TPT Acting Western Cape Region Managing Executive, Oscar Borchards, said: “The mini shutdown is critical in our operations as it ensures that the terminal minimises unnecessary disruptions which may hinder smooth operations. This strategic approach enhances the reliability and performance of our equipment, and helps us meet the needs of our customers, which is a top priority.”
To maintain the tipplers' reliability and performance, critical maintenance tasks are planned during the mini shutdown period. These include replacing the entry tippler drum drive's concrete base and the dust plant filters on the tipplers.
Borchards added, "While ongoing maintenance is a regular feature of the terminal's operations, the mini shutdown serves a distinct purpose by allowing the terminal to complete tasks that cannot be accomplished during the routine 12-hour maintenance windows, which occur weekly."
