Hems Africa Engineering is a renowned engineering firm based in Zimbabwe. With over 24 years of exceptional service. Its expertise lies in SMPP Projects, specializing in structural steelwork, mechanical engineering, piping, platework. Hems also provides labor broking, project management, crane hire and mining supplies. Hems has offices in Harare, Bulawayo, South Africa, and also has interests in Zambia. Their capabilities extend to handling engineering SMPP or Turnkey projects of any size in the SADC area, as evidenced by their extensive portfolio of high-value projects.
In 2021, Hems was awarded a contract to equip Pickstone mine, a project that was recognized as one of the largest in the country and would contribute significantly to the mining industry’s output. The project commenced in early 2022 and its scope entailed both surface and underground equipping. Surface equipping being headgear, surface conveyor, bank screens, a 2500mm diameter sheave, jack catch boxes, bank steel work, ore chutes to conveyor, winder house, ore bin and mechanical installations. The steel works on surface conveyor structures and mechanicals, including the installation of a conveyor vee pulley, were completed in 2 months, overcoming adverse weather conditions.
The Underground scope of works entailed stripping of the old, disused structures and equipping with new equipment for the shaft and tunnels. The shaft stripping and equipping was from surface to 5.5 level, involving extensive development works being side wall supporting, shaft collar civils, shaft steel equipping, compressed air pipe fixing, shaft water pipe fixing, shaft electrical cables fixing, fabrication of kibbles, and Galloway stage..Additionally, our team successfully completed the loading station steel structure civil works, 40m conveyor structure and mechanicals, rail tracking from 2nd level to 4th level, and shaft gates modification from 2nd level to 5th level within the specified timeframes, despite challenges such as water pumping and falling grounds, blockages, bad ground, and water. The total works took 9 months due to blockages and removal of rubble, considering that the Southwell shaft had been decommissioned since 1973 this a notable milestone
Hems Business Development manager Oscar Msowa said that Hems takes pride in its commitment to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. To ensure the safety on site the team followed strict SHE policies and procedures, and maintained a competent team of 80 passionate and resilient individuals in place throughout the project. The project as completed and commissioned without any injuries or fatalities. The mine is currently running and all installations are working up to the required specifications to the satisfaction of the client.
