certification, operating conditions, inspection requirements and which components may or may not be modified.” Operational visibility is another growing priority. Fleet managers want real-time information on equipment utilisation, operating hours, impact events and maintenance requirements. Fleet management systems such as Toyota I_Site help improve productivity while reducing downtime. Sustainability is also influencing equipment selection, with growing interest in electric forklifts and lithium-ion technology. However, Molapo cautions that electric equipment is not automatically explosion- safe. Battery systems, charging infrastructure and the complete equipment must still be assessed against the operating environment and relevant certification requirements. When selecting equipment, Molapo says the starting point should always be the mine’s risk assessment rather than a product catalogue. “The customer and supplier must first establish where the machine will operate, which gases, vapours or combustible dusts may be present, how frequently they occur and how the area has been classified.” The next step is verifying that the complete machine is certified for that environment. Equipment certificates, markings, gas or dust groups, temperature limits and operating restrictions must all align with the mine’s hazardous-area classification. South African mining guidance references SANS 10108 and the SANS 60079 family for hazardous atmospheres, while SANS 868 applies to compression-ignition engine systems and equipment operating in explosive gas or dust environments. Operational requirements remain equally important. Mines should evaluate lifting capacity, mast
height, gradients, floor conditions, braking performance, tyres, visibility, lighting, operator protection, ventilation and expected operating hours. Maintainability is equally critical. Unauthorised repairs or modifications can compromise the integrity of an explosion-protection system, making competent servicing and certified replacement parts essential. “The equipment is only one part of the safety solution. Its long-term performance depends on operator training, daily inspections, planned maintenance, technical competence and the availability of the correct parts,” notes Molapo. Toyota Material Handling supports customers through operator licensing and certification, novice and refresher programmes, product training and on-site instruction. Its aftermarket services include maintenance, genuine parts, load testing, engineering support, field service, rentals and Toyota I_Site fleet management. Looking ahead, Molapo believes connectivity will drive the next phase of mining equipment development. “Telematics already enables fleet owners to monitor utilisation, servicing and downtime, and as data quality improves, maintenance will increasingly be based on actual machine condition rather than fixed schedules. Electrification will also continue to expand where mines seek to reduce emissions, provided solutions meet operational requirements and hazardous-area certification. “Over the next decade, the winning model will be a connected ecosystem where equipment, operators, technicians and customers share reliable information to improve safety, maintenance planning and equipment utilisation without compromising compliance,” concludes Molapo. n
OCTOBER 2026 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 35
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker