More and more of the critical resources needed now and in the future to satisfy global expansion are being mined in remote locations around the world. Often these locations lack adequate infrastructure to cost effectively get the commodity from pit to an inland river terminal/sea port.

As a consequence miners often have to invest heavily in infrastructure to get the material to the port and then onto the vessel. Even with the infrastructure in place, bottlenecks along this logistics chain can prevent the realization of export potential and the associated revenue streams.

Telestack has designed, manufactured and installed a number of rapid deployment solutions using a unique range of self- powered mobile conveyors and hopper/feeders that enable miners to quickly and cost effectively stack and reclaim material at the mine, load it onto a rail wagon or truck to then transfer to the port, unload stack and reclaim it at the port and load a barge or sea going vessel.

 

Telestack rapid deployment solutions around the world are handling a wide variety of materials from heavy ores, to coal to biomass and tonnages of up to 3,500tph (tonnes per hour) often operating in extreme conditions; from the high temperatures of Africa to ice cold Siberia to the high altitudes of Chile.

Vessel sizes range from barges right up to Baby Cape and stockpile capacities can be as high as 400,000 tonnes of ore with a standard system and even higher for customized applications.

All Telestack’s Rapid Deployment solutions are designed to ensure that:

a) the customer can very quickly be generating revenue streams as:

  • lead times from the factory can be as little as 10 weeks;
  • all machines are fully designed, assembled and tested at the factory prior to disassembly and packing into 40 foot containers and shipping;
  • on-site assembly is typically one week and it does not require any on-site welding, on site electrical specialist services, or on-site specialist hydraulic services;
  • mobile equipment often means less stringent planning requirements/restrictions so you can be up and running quicker than if using other ‘stationary’ solutions;
  • users can quickly start exporting material from a new mine or a mine expansion project; and
  • users can quickly create buffer stockpiles at the mine or at the port to help offset any unplanned downtime or bottlenecks.

b) operating costs are significantly less than traditional systems as:

  • Telestack solutions are continuously loading as opposed to grabs/ wheel loaders/trucks coming back empty in the cycle;
  • all machines are simple to operate, maintain, troubleshoot as there are no complicated electrics/electronics to manage and hydraulics can be kept to a minimum;
  • simplicity ensures skill levels are not as demanding/costly as traditional material handling methods;
  • all machines can run off diesel hydraulic power, diesel electric
  • power via on-board generators or from electric power already available on site; and 
  • wear-and tear-parts are easily and quickly replaced


c) the customer can better adhere to environmental requirements as:

  • all machines can have fully sealed transfer points to contain dust/spillage;
  • dust is controlled via either suppression, containment or extraction;
  • material is contained using under trays, side walls etc that are easily cleaned; and
  • discharge chutes can be fitted to direct material into bottom of vessel.

d) the customer can better adhere to health and safety requirements as:

  • fewer operators are needed so less potential for human error;
  • less movement of equipment is needed so less potential for
  • human error; and
  • higher risk activities such as having equipment/people within the hatch during loading is eliminated so less potential for human error.

e) Telestack helps reduce initial capital expenditure as:

 

  • Telestack solutions are typically significantly cheaper to buy than mobile harbour cranes, stationary systems and the like;
  • mobile equipment means there are typically significantly lower civil engineering and infrastructure costs;
  • mobile self-powered equipment means the equipment can easily and quickly be moved around the mine or port eliminating the need for other equipment to move the Telestack;
  • mobile means the customer can free up valuable real estate at the port or the mine;
  • mobile equipment means it can be used at the mine or at the port or in transshipment from barge to ship; and
  • mobile means that Telestack can easily link into existing material handling systems.

 

f) react quickly to changing economic/political conditions as:

 

  • innovative designs mean it is very easy and quick to disassemble and pack into containers and can be ready to ship in as little as a week; 
  • equipment has excellent resale value as it can be shipped and re-sold globally; and
  • can be re-sold into applications in sea ports, river terminals, mines, quarries, power stations, cement plants, steel mills etc.

 

Telestack solutions are already working successfully in mines and ports around the world and especially in more remote locations in Africa, Asia and South America.

The company has a proven track record with companies such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Xstrata, Anglo American, London Mining Company, Arcelor Mittal, Jindal Steel, Suek, Mechel, and Norlisk Nickel. It has also worked on projects with many of the major EPC companies including Ausenco, Hatch, SNC Lavalin, Mott MacDonald & Mofatt & Nichol.

Telestack’s ISO 9001:2008 certification demonstrates its commitment to helping ensure that its processes and procedures are robust to deliver what the client orders, on time and to the standards agreed. This applies not just to the equipment itself but also to the necessary documentation pre- and post-sales as well as aftermarket support in terms of technical assistance, spare parts, local agents etc. Everything is designed, manufactured, fully built and tested at Telestack’s factory in the UK so it remains in complete control of the whole process reducing the potential for problems on site during installation.

The costs of getting commodities out of the ground, to the port and onto the vessel are increasing if using traditional material handling systems. Telestack believes a different approach using self-powered mobile solutions can offer a more efficient logistics chain and thus help its customers achieve lowest delivered cost per tonne.