Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes COBRA's Water Bowsers different?

  Our Water Bowsers are custom designed and extensively tested to ensure optimum weight distribution and performance on any chassis, no matter how tough the environment or challenge. Designed with a low centre of gravity for increased stability and safety, our equipment provides peace of mind for both managers and operators alike.

• What are the advantages of COBRA's Boxed Service Units?
  The unique design of our Boxed Service Units allows for the unit to be shipped in two containers, easily assembled on site, and affords the customer lower shipping costs and faster shipping time.
• What is the stemming capacity of COBRA Stemming trucks?
  Our Stemming units operate at a stemming rate of 1,000kg/min, dispensing up to 16m3 stemming aggregate per load. This provides the ability to stem 300 blast holes, in 1 shift, with a single operator!
• What is the float life and expected operational life of COBRA's 120T off-road Lowbed Trailer?
  This trailer offers a float life in excess of 50,000 hours and an expected operational life of 20 years.
• What types of applications does COBRA cater for in their range of Special-Use trucks?
  Our multi-purpose, Special-Use trucks, include high pressure and high-volume water wash trucks, GET support vehicles, drill rod and drill rig support, mobile workshops, and service units with cranes.
• Is COBRA's range of ROPS and FOPS fully compliant with mining safety standards?
  Our ROPS are ISO3471 certified, and our FOPS are ISO3449 certified. The range also has structural optimisation through the use of finite element analysis (FEA) and certified destructive testing.
• Does COBRA refurbish and recertify ROPS/FOPS cabins?
  COBRA offers repairs and re-certification of OEM ROPS/FOPS structures and is licenced and certified by QMW Industries Australia in accordance with (AS: 2294.1 – 7.2) to repair and fully refurbish ROPS/FOPS cabins to ISO 3471: 2008 ROPS and ISO3449:2005 FOPS standards respectively.
• What capacity Diesel Bowser is the most sought after in the mining industry?
  COBRA's 34,000 litre Diesel Bowser is the most common, although we also offer a Lite unit, at a lower capital cost, with a capacity of 8,000 litres.
• What are the most important features of COBRA Water Carts?
  COBRA's Water Carts are fitted with ADE spray systems that offer up to 16 metres of road spray coverage, incorporate a measurable water system option, and can be equipped with machine washing and/or firefighting capabilities.
• How long has COBRA been in the manufacturing industry?
  Founded in 1986, COBRA has been in the manufacturing industry for a total of 35 years.
• Are COBRA's products manufactured locally?

  Yes, all COBRA products are both designed and manufactured on site at our factory in Steeledale, Johannesburg, South Africa.

• Does COBRA offer firefighting solutions specifically for the mining environment?
  We offer a range of firefighting solutions, from drop-in CAFS units, designed specifically for the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, to European style medium-major fire and rescue pumpers, mounted on commercial 4x2 or 4x4 chassis.
• Does COBRA manufacture Underground Work Platforms?

  COBRA is licensed to manufacture a broad range of QMW mining support equipment including Man baskets, Fan Service work platforms, and ANFO work platforms.

• Does COBRA manufacture Underground Fuel & Lube units?
  We manufacture multi-product lube and diesel modules, including water bowsers, to suit underground machines and underground vehicles such as CAT AD30/AD20, and also offer self-powered options.
• Does COBRA offer dedicated Water Wash trucks for machine washing?

  Yes, our dedicated Water Wash trucks are designed to simultaneously clean booms, tracks, platforms, and specific work areas, by using multiple high pressure and high volume washing outlets.

• What is the smallest Fuel & Lube unit that COBRA is able to offer?
  This would be our multi-product module mounted on an IVECO Daily chassis. This unit is suitable for daily support of lighting plants, cell towers, remote machines and pump stations, offering full PTD hydraulic operation, and good flow rates of filtered products.
• What are Recovery Tow Links used for?

  Recovery Tow Links are used for towing disabled rigid load and haul dump trucks, behind a similar truck, of sufficient size, in a safe manner. We also offer optional Auxilliary Power Units (APUs) to provide auxilliary hydraulic power to steering, and electrical power for lights and brake modulation. APUs can also be used to provide hydraulic power for unloading a disabled loaded truck, to make towing easier, and to serve as a portable 35 Amp-24 Volt DC battery charger.

• What are the features of Mining Service Trucks?

  COBRA's Fuel & Lube Trucks, or Mining Service Trucks, offer multi-product combinations, customisable functions and volumes, high flow rate dispensing, fast filling, and optional hydraulic or self-powered options. Robust and versatile, COBRA Service Trucks significantly minimise service time of bottleneck machinery on site, and perform a critical role in supporting vital equipment in the field.

• Is COBRA an approved body builder?

  Yes, COBRA is an OEM approved body builder for most on-highway truck brands, including Caterpillar.

• What brand of hose reels is used in COBRA's trucks?

  Cobra hose reels, designed and manufactured in South Africa by our sister company Cobratech, are used exclusively across all our applications.

• What are the features of the ADE spray system?
  The ADE Electronically Controlled Operating (ECO) spray system suppresses dust and optimises water usage on mine roads.  Delivering consistent, measurable water coverage through the use of the truck's GPS speed, the ADE ECO spray system supplies a precise amount of water to the road.
• Tell me more about COBRA's trailer-mounted, remote control Command FOPS cabin?

  Our FCC19 FOPS trailer-mounted, remote control command centre, is fully fitted out with Sandvik remote control operating system to control two Sandvik Leopard DI 650i drills. These cabins are certified to ISO 3449 level II.

• How are COBRA's water tanks mounted to a vehicle chassis?
  Water tanks are pinned to the vehicle chassis using the existing bin pivot mounting points. The tank rests on elastomeric (bin) pads that allow the chassis to naturally flex underneath the tank. With articulated trucks, the front of the tank is pinned to the chassis at the hoist cylinder mounting points.
• What brand of pneumatic grease and fluid pumps are used on COBRA units?

  Our sister company, Cobratech, supplies us with RAASM pneumatic grease and fluid pumps, which we use exclusively across all our mining support equipment.

• Who is the supplier of COBRA's metering and oil control systems?

  Our sister company, Cobratech, supplies us with Piusi metering and oil control systems which are used exclusively across all our applications.

• Does the company offer product training to its customers?

  Yes, we offers both operational and maintenance competence training onsite.

• Does COBRA offer internships that support professional development?
  Having a close affiliation with higher education institutions, COBRA offers a selective practical training and development programme for technical graduates, on an annual basis.
• Are customers able to access technical support online?
  Absolutely! Our online platform provides each user with unique login credentials, enabling quick access to online technical manuals, drawings, and instructional videos.
• Does COBRA offer a combined water and diesel unit?

  The WIESEL is our water and diesel combo, with the respective tank capacities totally dependent on chassis make and model. 

• Does COBRA have an agent in Botswana?

  Earthridge Engineering Solutions is a Botswana-based company and an authorised agent for Cobra Projects. Earthridge also provides site support and maintenance activities on mining equipment across Botswana, with unconditional support from Cobra in terms of technical and operational skills development within the Earthridge team itself.

• Does COBRA manufacture firefighting vehicles exclusively for the mining industry?

  We recently delivered an off-road bush firefighting truck that is appropriate for many environments other than mining. Click through to our video on YouTube to view our latest firefighting truck in action.

• What are the design features of the COBRA hose reels used across COBRA's applications?

  COBRA hose reels have a compact modular design, water resistant hose guide assembly, sealed main bearings, a power spring manufactured from scaleless blue tempered springsteel, high duty cycle inlet swivel, and high flow main shaft assembly.

• Is COBRA a distributor of Elkhart Brass products?

  COBRA is the sole distributor of Elkhart Brass products in South Africa, using Elkhart Brass monitors, handline nozzles, and accessories exclusively across all of our water carts, water wash units, and firefighting applications. Contact us directly for our full product range and pricing.

• Does COBRA manufacture small field service trucks?

  COBRA manufactures a smaller field service module suitable for daily support of lighting plants, cell towers, remote machines and water pump stations. This field service module is highly suited to the Iveco Daily chassis, offer full PTO hydraulic operation, multi-product dispensing, and good flow rate of filtered product.

• Does COBRA offer mobile welding equipment solutions?
  COBRA is a distributor of MEA (Mobile Energy Australia) mine-site approved range of mobile welding equipment. The Smartweld 500 Air and Maxweld 1000 Air mobile welding units comprise a welder, generator, and air compressor, providing multi-purpose units that offer the ultimate mobile welding solutions.
• What are the main features of COBRA's Waste Oil Filtration Skid?
  Filters up to 16,800 litres of used oil per day, has a second back-up pump to maximise uptime, is equipped with a Smart system to track usage and differential pressure, and can be integrated to remotely transmit alerts to a central database.
• How can the traction capability of the off-road lowbed trailer be enhanced?
  The traction capability of the prime mover can be enhanced with the addition of weight to the prime mover's rear axle. This is achieved by mounting a steel or concrete weight on the prime mover chassis rails. The retro-fitment of such a weight is a relatively simple exercise, should it be required.
• What is cathodic protection?

  Cathodic protection is used to protect steel from corrosion which is caused when two dissimilar metals are submerged in an electrolytic substance such as water, soil, or concrete. This type of metal conducting path between the two dissimilar metals allows a pathway through which free electrons move from the more active metal (anode) to the less active metal (cathode). If free electrons from the anode do not reach active sites on the cathode before the arrival of oxygen, ions at the active sites can then recombine to produce ferrous hydroxide, i.e. rust.

• What is 'deflection limiting volume' in relation to ROPS & FOPS?

  Also known by the term DLV, this defines the volume occupied by the person that may not be penetrated by a protective structure, in accordance with the prescribed ISO 3164 standard.

• What quality assurance standards are in place for ROPS & FOPS?
  All ROPS & FOPS are certified at both the design and production stages, and includes design testing of a prototype and/or design verification by a professional engineer in terms of the prescribed requirements.
• Do the requirements for protective structures vary for surface and underground mining environments?
  For surface operating vehicles all requirements are compliant with ISO 3449:2005 standards or equivalent. Although the same standards apply for underground mining environments, all FORCE requirements must be doubled in respect of vehicles operating under a non-supported roof.
• What is the definition of Finite Element Analysis?
  This method is used to test that FOPS structures conform to the prescribed performance standards. The bottom frame and attachments to the machine frame are designed to remain elastic during testing, while the roof structure is designed to either remain elastic, or to deform plastically within the specified limits.
• What are the standard tank capacities of COBRA Water Bowsers?

  COBRA's Water Bowsers offer a range of capacities from 18KL up to a remarkable 190KL.

• How to select the correct hose for the required hose reel application?

  Due to the multiple different types of hoses on the market and the many varieties of applications, it is important to understand the environment where the hose will fit, the working pressure, the temperature, and type of material running through it. Based on this data our sister company CobraTech will gladly recommend the correct hose type for your specific application. Contact +27 11 568 0732 or email info@cobratech.co.za for further info.

• Which companies does COBRA partner with?

  Go to Cobra's Home page to view our partners and the companies with which we have formed alliances.

• Did you know that Cobra manufactures stemming buckets?

  We have recently manufactured our first QMW stemming buckets under licence with more orders in the pipeline!