Sabinet Online Limited and ConveyorKit South Africa have launched the CKIT knowledge base, offering the broadest range of bulk materials handling and engineering information to the market. CKIT will be accessible through subscription.
CKIT strongly focuses on high-technology belt conveying systems for bulk materials in the mining, cement, power generation and petrochemical industries. It is expanding to also cover, among others, pneumatic conveyor equipment, vibrating equipment, stacking and reclaiming machines, etc.
Philip Staples, managing director of ConveyorKit SA, says rather than providing only textbook-type generic information, CKIT focuses on practical data to bring the user into contact with existing technology sources. "With access to a single repository of information, materials handling entities can empower their own staff to solve problems and introduce significant cost savings in terms of consultant fees.
"Large costs can be incurred in contracting consultants, who generally have to travel to remote sites to identify and solve problems. In many cases, such solutions could be provided telephonically or via e-mail had the user sufficient knowledge to explain the difficulty in context for the expert."
The empowering of staff members through training and development from CKIT is a cost-saving reality, he adds. "The knowledge base is also very attractive to academic institutions locally and abroad, especially tertiary institutions in the US offering mechanical engineering and related courses.
"CKIT is currently negotiating with various places of learning to formulate and introduce structured courses on bulk materials handling."
Online information will also be accessible on compact disc, enabling users to take the knowledge onto sites without Internet access, make it available via the company intranet, and make full use of CKIT's animation and graphics facilities.
Staples says the portal has been available for a year in an experimental phase, with recorded visits to the Web site exceeding 17 000 per month. "Consistently favourable feedback has been received from materials handling professionals, with over 60% of visits to the portal originating in the US."
Vanessa du Plessis, executive director: Sabinet Online corporate business division, says Sabinet Online adds value to the CKIT knowledge base by incorporating specialised information, such as mining and engineering legislation. A number of additional optional products will be made available to subscribers only, such as a confidential question and answer service, she notes.
Referring to the agreement between Sabinet Online and ConveyorKit, she explains: "With CKIT, Sabinet Online also enhances its offering to its existing client base, while ConveyorKit benefits from Sabinet Online's expertise in facilitating access to online information, and its marketing strengths."
In addition, Sabinet Online is investigating the possibility of adding information on standards regulating this industry to the knowledge base, Du Plessis concludes.
Share
ConveyorKit South Africa provides consulting services to the international materials handling industry, and has a proven track record of introducing innovative concepts, designs and components into new and existing plants.
Sabinet Online
Sabinet Online has established itself over the past twenty years as an expert in facilitating electronic access to information for users in business and industry, and to academic, business and government libraries.
Editorial contacts