Partnerships In Practice Help Mines To Perform Better

Over the space of half a century, Tega Industries has evolved from an inwardly focused supplier of rubber components for OEM manufacturers, to a thriving specialist company supplying rubber, polymer and hybrid wear liners, materials handling and beneficiation products to mining and other industries.

Simultaneously, it has developed hi-tech optimisation and management services and solutions designed to optimise entire plants and processes.

As part of its growth plan, its expansion into Africa over the past two decades has also seen the company become a key supply partner to the majority of mines across the continent.

Tega’s evolution mirrors the changing needs of the global mining industry. What began as a specialist manufacturer of wear products has grown into one of the world’s largest producers of mill liners and mineral processing consumables – with operations in more than 100 countries and manufacturing bases across India, South Africa, Australia and Chile.

Throughout this period, the growth has been underpinned by a philosophy of engineering-led solutions and close collaboration with customers.

Tega Industries Africa CEO, Vishal Gautam, says the South African manufacturing plant has become a critical part of the company’s global footprint and has developed into a major force in primary grinding mills across the Southern and Central African regions. Over the past seven to eight years especially, the business has recorded sustained growth driven largely by the conversion of large primary ball mills from traditional steel liners to Tega’s hybrid and composite solutions.

“While in the past mining managers tended to stick to known technologies, the need to lift volumes and operate more efficiently has led them to seek new technologies that do not need a complete overhaul of their plants. Rather, they are recognising the operational benefits of our hybrid liner systems with lighter components for faster and more efficient processing, as well as longer lifespans and safer, faster relines,” he says.

“When we combine these advantages with management tools such as our condition monitoring, scanning and reporting services, it provides mine managers with massive advantages over the traditional ways and as a result we have experienced a massive shift towards our products and services across every type of mining operation, and almost every commodity. It is an undeniable fact that our customers in mining are moving away from reactive maintenance, and towards data-driven shutdown planning that allows consumables to be used to their maximum potential,” says Gautam.

He adds that local capability is as important for African operations, where the company’s end-to-end design, manufacturing and distribution centre in South Africa assists mines to mitigate long lead times and supply chain disruptions. It enables faster turnaround from order to delivery and has become a key differentiator in a tough market.

Tega’s 50th anniversary also marks a new phase of partnerships with local mines, as the global company expands its offering into a vast range of new equipment offerings through acquisitions of several well-known companies, and invests in further research and development to expand its existing ranges. These developments fit hand-in-glove with changing requirements – and are pivotal to supporting regional growth in areas such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Botswana, as well as opening new markets in Mozambique.