Johannesburg, South Africa – In a significant stride towards modernizing its mining infrastructure, South Africa’s Limpopo province is set to host the debut of Sandvik’s cutting-edge CH662 cone crushers at a major platinum mining operation. This deployment underscores Africa’s growing embrace of advanced mining technologies, challenging traditional perceptions of the continent’s pace in technological adoption.
The Evolution of Crushing Technology: Introducing the CH662
The Sandvik CH662 represents the latest iteration of the highly successful CH660 platform, bringing forth a suite of mechanical and digital enhancements designed to optimize throughput, bolster reliability, and streamline maintenance. According to PC Kruger, Business Line Manager Crushing at Sandvik Rock Processing, the increasing adoption of electrification, remote monitoring, and automation across African mining operations has created a fertile ground for sophisticated crushing systems like the CH662.
“This is creating an environment where advanced crushing systems such as the CH662 are becoming more attractive,” Kruger states. “This milestone order challenges longstanding perceptions that African mining operations are slow to adopt new technologies.”
Key Upgrades and Benefits
The CH662 boasts several critical improvements over its predecessors:
•Strengthened Top Shell and Main Shaft: The redesigned top shell features increased weight and improved material distribution, while a new main shaft enhances reliability, particularly under high-capacity conditions. These structural reinforcements contribute significantly to the crusher’s overall durability and operational stability.
•Backing Compound-Free Design: A notable innovation is the elimination of backing compound, a material traditionally used in cone crusher linings that requires extensive curing periods during liner changes. This steel-to-steel design drastically reduces downtime, saving up to 24 hours of waiting time during liner replacement procedures.
•Advanced Automation and Digital Integration: The CH662 integrates Sandvik’s new ACS-c 5 ASRi control system. This advanced automation package consolidates the functionalities of previous control platforms, offering automated setting regulation, enhanced monitoring, and seamless integration with digital services for real-time performance analysis and remote diagnostics. This is particularly beneficial for remote mining operations, enabling earlier issue identification and preventing unplanned stoppages.
Deployment in South Africa’s Platinum Belt
Two Sandvik CH662 units are destined for a secondary crushing application within an underground mining expansion project in Limpopo. Following successful factory acceptance testing in Sweden in Q2 2026, the units were shipped to South Africa. The order, placed through a major engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, designates one crusher as the duty unit and the second as a standby, highlighting the critical role of crushing equipment in modern mineral processing.
Yashik Anand, Capital Sales Engineer for Sandvik Rock Processing’s static crushing business, emphasizes that this project exemplifies a shift in customer priorities towards operational efficiency, reliability, and digital integration in equipment selection.
The Platreef Project: A Glimpse into the Future of Mining
The platinum mining project in Limpopo province is likely part of the broader development in the region, such as Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef Project. The Platreef Mine is a significant undertaking, aiming to be one of the world’s largest primary platinum group metal producers. The project has seen substantial investment and development, including the completion of Shaft #3, which significantly increases hoisting capacity, and the ongoing expansion of concentrator facilities.
This project not only signifies technological advancement but also a commitment to sustainable practices, as evidenced by initiatives like the Masodi Wastewater Treatment Works, a public-private partnership ensuring sustainable water sourcing for the mine.
Collaboration and Optimization
The successful deployment of the CH662 units also underscores the growing importance of technical collaboration between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Sandvik and EPC contractors. Sandvik’s Plant Designer simulation software played a crucial role in optimizing the crushing circuit for the customer’s specific metallurgical requirements through multiple process simulations and flowsheet iterations.
Future Outlook
Kruger anticipates broader adoption of the Sandvik CH662 across Africa’s mining and aggregates sectors, particularly within mid-range processing operations. The CH662’s production range of 400 to 1,000 t/h aligns well with the typical requirements of African mining operations, which generally do not require the ultra-large crushing systems common in other regions.
Sandvik’s comprehensive upgrade strategy, encompassing retrofit, rebuild, and fully integrated smart crusher options, all backed by a three-year standard warranty, further solidifies the CH662’s position as a leading solution for the evolving needs of the African mining industry.
