SCREENING
Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions South Africa has been formed from Kwatani and the mining related business of Schenck Process Group in South Africa
with the successful completion of its first South African-manufactured screen package . This milestone project was undertaken at the company ’ s Spartan facility in Johannesburg , which already produces the Kwatani and Schenck products as part of Sandvik ’ s screening solutions offering . The capability to also produce the Sandvik original screen range signalled a new phase in Sandvik ’ s African presence and growth , the OEM says .
Riaan Steinmann , Europe , Middle East and Africa Operation Director Screening Solutions at Sandvik Rock Processing , says the achievement is a testament to the facility ’ s local design and engineering prowess . He emphasises the South African facility ’ s capability to build high-quality vibrating screens from raw materials , which also includes a range of exciter gearboxes using locally procured castings .
This innovative approach enables the company to maintain strict quality control and facilitates shorter delivery times for its customers , thereby improving the customer experience significantly , Sandvik said . The screen package that marks this milestone was specifically ordered by a gold mining client located in northeast Africa . It includes a vibrating grizzly screen with a motordriven exciter , five feeders and two customengineered feed-in chutes .
Steinmann praised the facility ’ s streamlined processes and the benefits of local procurement , which collectively allowed the project to be successfully completed within an impressive timeframe of three months . “ Manufacturing screens in South Africa represents the same standard as those produced in Europe or India ,” Steinmann says , underscoring the global quality benchmark . He also notes the multiple benefits including reduced shipping times and costs due to Southern African Development Community trade agreements . Moreover , he highlights the positive impact on the local economy through exports and increased capacity , leading to job creation .
“ Importantly , we aim to serve not only the African continent but also other regions within the Sandvik Rock Processing group ,” Steinmann concludes . “ The successful execution of this first Sandvik screen package has not only underscored our position as a world-class manufacturer but also underlines our ambition to become Africa ’ s preferred screening solution partner .”
JOEST continues to innovate in Australia
In a further reflection of JOEST Australia ’ s commitment to continuous improvement , the company says it has now established a solid reputation in the bulk mining / scalping application as the country ’ s premier grizzly screen manufacturer .
The collaborative approach utilised by JOEST Australia personnel to address operational issues has evolved an already successful Extra Heavy Duty JOEST design to successfully screen material , with an further increased feed to the average of 6,600 t / h .
In addition to enhancing the machine design to process an additional 40 % feed rate , JOEST Australia personnel have engineered a cassette arrangement that has delivered a significant improvement in wear life , along with efficiency improvements required to handle the increased tonnages .
JOEST Australia also continues to support the iron ore sector with scheduled equipment inspections and a refurbishment program to maintain performance and reliability . A suite of seven double deck multi-slope screens and vibrating feeders commissioned in 2022 operate in the customer ’ s iron ore processing facility is purported to be one of the most technically advanced iron ore mines in operation . The collaboration of JOEST Australia personnel with the customer ’ s EPCM enabled the condition monitoring for the equipment package to be integrated into the plant process control .
JOEST Australia has also further increased its footprint within the Australian battery metals industry . It is in the final stages of manufacture for a second stage of new machines comprising different sizes and configurations , from dry scalping and sizing through to wet screening applications , to process the spodumene ore used in the conversion process to yield lithium hydroxide for the expanding battery industry . Due to the project ‘ s specific requirements , JOEST
Australia personnel worked in close collaboration with the customer ’ s process design team to optimise the feeding and screening equipment used in this latest landmark greenfield project .
Metso expands in Brazil and Mexico
Metso is also going big in Brazil , this year celebrating the inauguration of an extended manufacturing capacity of large screening equipment in Sorocaba . The total Sorocaba production capacity will grow from 250 to 500 units per year , covering among other things the high-performance energy and water efficient UFS Series™ and BSE Series™ banana screens that are part of the Planet Positive offering .
Further , Metso is investing in new fabrication component manufacturing capabilities for screens and screening parts in the same area . The value of the investment is approximately three million euros , and the fabrication unit is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2023 . Metso has also invested in a new injection press for screening media rubber panels which will increase production capacity by 50 %.
“ The screening business is one of the growth areas for Metso . These investments will help Sorocaba become a centre of excellence for screening products and they will strengthen our position in South America , offering sustainable and high-quality screening solutions for customers with competitive lead times in a safe and energy-efficient manner ,” says Eduardo Nilo , President , South America market area , Metso .
“ Strengthening our end-to-end manufacturing capability in Sorocaba that covers equipment manufacturing , repairs , maintenance services , screening media production and screening product engineering knowledge , enables us to better serve our South American customers and manage the complete product life cycle ,” says
Eduardo Freire , Vice President , Screening Products , Americas , Metso . The screening equipment factory and the
Metso this year celebrated the inauguration of an extended manufacturing capacity of large screening equipment in Sorocaba
46 International Mining | OCTOBER 2023