FILTRATION & THICKENING have reached in the market to date. But of course there will be integration- especially in terms of synergies as part of Sandvik’ s growing mineral processing flowsheet, which now includes major market shares in crushing, screening and filtration.”
Diemme has already made significant progress in digital monitoring of its filters via AIDA, its IIoT solution that allows its customers to have a real time, detailed and clear view of their solid-liquid separation process, including the performance and efficiency of the system. Here there is also potential for synergies with similar systems already within Sandvik such as the ACS-s next generation condition monitoring for vibrating screens and feeders; and its Remote Monitoring Service offering for crushers.
A diverse global thickener market
The thickener market has become very competitive in recent years – with Chinese companies like Toncin, Xinhai and others very active in markets like Africa and southeast Asia. A lot of this is based on the fact that in the mid range of thickener sizes, up to 30-35 m diameter, the market is quite price-oriented. There is still a reasonable amount of competition in the 35-50 m diameter range, but less so than in the < 35 m diameter range. Once you get into 50-60 m or even above, the range of companies involved is more limited to the full flowsheet mineral processing leaders like Metso and FLS, but also a few other specialists like DELKOR( part of TAKRAF) and ANDRITZ. In addition, other players like McLanahan and PHOENIX Process that have traditionally been more active in the aggregates and sand market becoming much more visible in mining as well – and with success. The paste thickener market in particular also has some other important competitors like WesTech Engineering.
FLS on diameters and differentiators
Craig Gilbert, Global Product Line Director for Thickening Products at FLS told IM:“ There is no doubt that up to around 35 metres in diameter, the high rate thickener market has become quite price-driven – with the design of the tank, feedwell, rake mechanism and drive system being relatively simple, although there are still the important and critical considerations of competent structural designs of tanks and the relevant seismic zone. We are also active in this market, where we can still differentiate our
Upgrades and retrofits remain a major part of FLS’ s thickener business in addition to new installations
offering with our E-Volute™ feedwell and E-DUC ® feed dilution, for example.”
He added:“ Once you get into large sizes, the internal component designs really start to make a difference in performance – as you are looking at very considerable drive power as well as ensuring uniform distribution of settling solids. Equally, for more complex duties, including high density and deep cone paste thickeners, the pool
International Mining | OCTOBER 2026 61
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