South African-engineered pinch valves set benchmark in African gold mining
A set of hydraulically operated Corflex pinch valves, installed in 2018 at a major North African gold mine, has delivered seven years of uninterrupted service in one of the continent’s most demanding slurry-handling applications.
These robust pinch valves, which were designed and manufactured in South Africa by Corflex Engineering, in partnership with BMG Fluid Technology, offer a dependable solution that demonstrates sustained performance under abrasive, high-pressure conditions, with minimal maintenance. The valves also boast zero operational failures to date.
The installation comprised 400 mm pinch valves rated to 25 bar, each actuated by a purpose-built hydraulic power pack, which was developed by BMG. The system was commissioned with integrated PLC and SCADA functionality, allowing for full remote operation and automated safety responses. The system incorporates fail-safe closure, pressure-rated sleeves and a robust manifold configuration tailored to the application, also meeting stringent uptime requirements.
The reliability of this installation is attributed to both the valve construction and the hydraulic system design. The core wear component – the sleeve – was pressure-tested to 40 bar, ensuring a 60 percent safety margin over system pressure. With no internal obstructions or mechanical components exposed to media, the valve body has required no servicing since commissioning.
“We didn’t just supply a valve, we engineered a system,” says Taylor Black, Business Development Manager, Fluid Tech Projects BMG’s Fluid Technology division. “Seven years on, those units are still in service and still outperforming expectations. That’s testament to proper specification, quality components, robust local manufacturing and successful technical partnerships.”
The hydraulic power units, engineered by BMG and manufactured in South Africa, use premium hydraulic components and are tailored for the rigours of mineral processing environments. Key features include condition monitoring compatibility, simplified maintenance access and operational resilience in the event of power loss.
Corflex pinch valves – widely deployed across South African mines – are increasingly being selected for international projects due to their full-bore, low maintenance design and ability to accommodate challenging flow conditions. Units have been exported and installed in mining operations across Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas.
The wear sleeve is the only wetted component and is designed for fast replacement, without removing the valve from the line, significantly reducing downtime. Each unit is individually tested to withstand pressures up to 200 bar, ensuring consistent reliability in both greenfield and retrofit operations
Corflex Engineering and BMG Fluid Technology continue to collaborate on integrated solutions that align valve and hydraulic system performance with the operational objectives of the mining sector, including safety, uptime and life-cycle cost efficiency.
The seven-year milestone at this mine is a noteworthy example of the value delivered when fit-for-purpose design meets operational discipline.
The BMG Fluid Technology team designs and manufactures advanced lubrication systems, hydraulic power packs, bulk fuel filtration systems, grease systems, cylinders, manifold blocks and electrical panels.
This equipment is supplied for various projects, including crushers, thickener drives, tailings applications, ball mills, filter presses, stacker reclaimers, fuel and oil filtration, furnace and winder applications, as well as load out stations.
