Interconnect Systems in Centurion completed the Scorpion Zinc Mines cabling project in Namibia at the end of 2003. The project started in May 2002 and the contract was awarded to Interconnect Systems by business partners AST.
The Scorpion Zinc Mine has 5 different network infrastructures - for the offices and the DP, then also for the access control, PLC and fire control systems.
The project called for the installation of approximately 30 km`s of dual mode fibre, which needed to be specially manufactured. This particular dual mode fibre, a composite cable, combines single mode and multimode fibres in a single cable construction.
Interconnect did over 2000 splices during the course of this project.
On the PLC side, there was a requirement for the PLC switches to be housed inside IP54 (dust proof) cabinets. Interconnect Systems` project engineers designed special brackets to mount the switches inside these cabinets.
Logistically, the project certainly posed some interesting challenges. At one stage, the Interconnect technicians lived in a mobile Park Home, as the mine is such a long distance from the closest town. The technicians who were involved with the project came from Interconnect branches from all around the country.
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