As skills shortages tighten their grip on Africa’s mining sector, FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA is reframing its role in the industry, from product supplier to on-the-ground reliability partner focused on rebuilding maintenance capability. At Mining Indaba 2026, the company is spotlighting how targeted technical support, condition-based lubrication and hands-on coaching can help mines counter the loss of experienced artisans, engineers and fitters, an erosion that is increasingly linked to rising downtime, safety risks and operating costs.
“Even with premium lubricants and world-class equipment, performance comes down to how well solutions are applied. When maintenance teams have the right knowledge and support, reliability follows,” explained Dave Gons, National Manager Mining and Regional Mining Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. With poor lubrication practices responsible for a significant share of premature equipment failures, FUCHS is positioning lubrication management as a frontline defence against both breakdowns and safety incidents. Its approach combines root-cause failure analysis, standardised lubrication frameworks and on-site specialist support which is designed to help lean maintenance teams do more with less.
In a mining environment shaped by skills constraints and stricter compliance demands, FUCHS argues that reliability is no longer just about products, but about people and processes. By strengthening maintenance capability at the coalface, the company aims to help mines protect uptime, improve safety outcomes and sustain productivity despite an increasingly constrained talent pool. FUCHS experts can be engaged at Stand 1L62 at Mining Indaba 2026, where the focus is firmly on restoring the human foundations of reliable mining operations.
