Pegasus: a telehandler for Namibian mines

The African territory is extensively covered with mines, whether open pit or underground. Mining metals and precious stones is one of the continent’s most important economic sources and it is not a surprise to learn that many of these places have a tradition going back hundreds of years.

Over the decades, the mining methods, the operational investment of resources and the focus on safety in the workplace has changed considerably. To speed up, simplify and optimize processes, it is now essential to rely on robust, high-performance machines suitable for the most adverse environments, such as DIECI’s Pegasus rotating telehandlers.

DIECI telehandlers in the mines of Africa

DIECI telehandlers, which are distributed by DIECI Southern Africa, are a product of excellence within the mines of Africa. These vehicles are used in various sectors, such as in the depths of the diamond mines of the Impala Platinum Mine, simplifying various types of activities, covering multiple roles through their versatility, simplified by innovative technology and highly specialized equipment that enables high performance.

The great success of DIECI telehandlers at mining sites has also conquered the historic Namibian Uis mine, one of the most important in the region. Here mining is carried out on 10-m high benches, while loading and unloading is carried out using a fleet of excavators and trucks. In order to make each process faster and simpler, the company decided to employ the Pegasus 50.19 rotating telehandler, one of DIECI’s most reliable vehicles.

Why Pegasus

DIECI rotating telehandlers represent one of the best solutions that can be used inside extensive areas with unstable soil, such as mining quarries. The great strength of this machine is its operating performance, enhanced by the boom that can make a continuous rotation of 360°, encompassing an area of up to 2350 m².

Besides the high performance of the boom, which is reinforced with high-strength steel, the other two strengths that make Pegasus telehandlers highly performing within mining contexts are:

• Maneuverability, through the presence of three steering modes, which ensure excellent vehicle response to every operator request;
• Safety, as a result of being able to operate perfectly even in extreme conditions, guaranteeing high performance, protecting the work and the operator’s well-being.

In both cases, what makes the difference is the presence of outriggers with automatic leveling functions and an electronic control system that make the range the perfect solution at mining work sites where it is essential to operate in full control of the vehicle.

Therefore, the main advantages of using the Pegasus telehandler inside a mine include:

• Limits function, to limit the working area of the boom and vehicle;
• Anti Tilt System, to operate at maximum performance but in total safety;
• Automatic adjustment to the work area based on the outriggers feet, to further simplify the operator’s work;
• Soft Motion, which automatically slows down movements according to load and configuration;
• Load Sensing – Flow Sharing Control Valves.

In addition, DIECI telehandlers can be further customized with specific and highly specialized equipment according to the requirements of the mining area.

Telehandler in mining: all the advantages

As a result of their strength, endurance and the high levels of performance achievable even within atypical environments and under extreme conditions, telehandlers have gained an important role within quarries and mines over the years.

Combined with their high loading capacity and outreach to cover large areas, one of the strengths of these vehicles is their ability to further specialize, through technical arrangements made from specific customer requirements.

Among all telehandler models, such as fixed or articulated, the rotating range stands out precisely because of its operational versatility. In fact, Pegasus telehandlers can be used in a variety of jobs, providing important optimization in terms of production efficiency and cost.

Starting from these specific needs, it is now possible to access a new range of rotating telehandlers completely revamped in terms of performance and innovation, consisting of 9 models divided into 3 lines:

• Essential, with non-continuous boom rotation up to 400°. A reliable, essential product that is intuitive to use;
• Classic, with continuous boom rotation up to 360°. An excellent combination of load capacity and lifting capacity, offering an even more reliable and safe vehicle;
• Elite, which combines the Classic line with the Easy Tech System technology for greater ease of use, comfort and safety.

High performance can be accessed with the Pegasus range, offering technology and innovation available to the operator.

Tin Mining in Namibia

The Uis tin mine is located in a small town in the Erogo region of Namibia, which is particularly known for its mineral wealth. The mining project was started in 1958, at that time the largest tin mining site in the world.

Currently, redevelopment operations at the historic Uis mine are being carried out by AfriTin Mining, a company working to develop the tin business in Namibia and South Africa. The significant tin production expansion potential along with lithium and tantalum by-product development make this project remarkably scalable.

The conventional open pit mining method is used for the Uis mine. Mining is carried out on 10-m high benches, while loading and transport is carried out using a fleet of excavators and trucks. Using the Pegasus 50.19 telehandler, these operations are speeded up and simplified.