Sandvik Rock Processing has established a dedicated exciter repair and refurbishment facility at its Kitwe operation in Zambia, bringing specialised original equipment manufacturer (OEM) servicing closer to local mining customers.
The expanded capability will allow vibrating-screen exciters to be repaired and refurbished in Zambia, eliminating the need to transport these high-value components to South Africa. The initiative is expected to reduce turnaround times, lower transport costs and improve equipment availability for mining operations.
Initially, the service will focus on Sandvik Rock Processing’s installed equipment base in Zambia.
Local servicing improves equipment availability
Ivan Senekal, Sales Development Manager for Africa at Sandvik Rock Processing, said the Kitwe facility now offers capabilities comparable to the company’s established exciter service operation in Johannesburg.
By reducing the time required to complete repairs, mining companies can also reduce the number of spare exciters they need to keep in inventory, freeing up working capital.
The local service capability is particularly valuable when unexpected equipment failures occur or maintenance schedules are disrupted. Transporting exciters from mines to the Kitwe workshop can now take only a few hours, according to Makumbi Mulenga, Service Manager for Central Africa at Sandvik Rock Processing.
Investment supports local skills development
The establishment of the workshop also supports local skills development and increased participation in Zambia’s mining services sector.
Sandvik’s Zambian technicians received specialised exciter refurbishment training in South Africa and continue to receive practical support from experienced Sandvik Rock Processing specialists in Kitwe.
Mulenga said the facility uses specialised equipment and follows the same refurbishment procedures and quality standards as the Johannesburg operation. The work is also subject to Sandvik Rock Processing’s compliance oversight, ensuring that locally refurbished components meet OEM requirements.
Precision engineering and testing ensure quality
Exciter refurbishment requires specialised technical expertise because vibrating-screen exciters operate under substantial dynamic forces and at high rotational speeds.
Within Sandvik’s installed base in Zambia, the units operate at approximately 800 revolutions per minute (rpm) and generate forces exceeding one meganewton each.
During refurbishment, components are measured to micron-level precision to determine which parts require replacement. Reassembly follows a prescribed sequence using dedicated equipment to achieve consistent results.
Before being returned to customers, each refurbished exciter undergoes full-load testing at the Kitwe facility. Units are operated at 100% load for several hours on a dedicated test bench to replicate operating conditions.
Strengthening lifecycle equipment support
Namit Sachar, Business Line Manager for Parts and Service at Sandvik Mining Central Africa, said the investment forms part of the company’s broader lifecycle support strategy, which focuses on equipment uptime and predictable maintenance outcomes.
He noted that mining customers consider not only repair costs but also how long critical equipment will remain unavailable and how reliably repairs can be completed.
The expanded Kitwe operation strengthens Sandvik’s service infrastructure in Zambia through specialised workshop and testing equipment, local technical skills development and ongoing knowledge transfer.
