COMMINUTION & CRUSHING wear and premature failing of their 253-km-long continuous iron ore slurry pipeline ,” Zhang said . “ AM / NS India sought a better classification solution to reduce the generation of ultrafines ( -45 micron ) in the ball mill grinding circuit , reduce the amount of plus-150 micron particles to ensure the protection of the slurry pipeline and improve the blaine number of the concentrate slurry .”
This is where AM / NS India turned to Derrick and the company ’ s SuperStack ® screen .
With eight decks operating in parallel and an innovative Front-to-Back tensioning system , the SuperStack has a demonstrated capacity up to three times that of the best fine screens currently available , according to Derrick .
The SuperStack offered a safe , environmentally friendly and efficient option for meeting the company ’ s stringent requirements , according to Zhang , evidenced through comprehensive lab testing and third-party verification .
Derrick has since installed 10 SuperStack machines at the operation , with the implementation yielding an up to 15 % increase in mill capacity , improved pellet quality and enhanced pipeline protection for the slurry pipeline , Zhang said .
“ Slimes reduction and optimised resource efficiency further contributed to AM / NS India ’ s operational success ,” he added . “ By leveraging Derrick ’ s advanced technology and commitment to customer satisfaction , AM / NS India achieved significant cost savings , increased productivity and a more sustainable approach to iron ore processing .”
In the copper space , meanwhile , Derrick is looking to push higher tonnages through their plants while lowering energy consumption and improving flotation recovery .
According to Zhang , this is achievable by implementing a “ hybrid circuit ” consisting of double classification and double flotation
equipment ( see figure above ). “ This new flowsheet enables a 30-50 % improvement in the grinding capacity , 20-35 % reduction in energy consumption and 3-8 % recovery gains ,” he said .
Outside of these two specifics , Derrick continues to benefit from a move towards ultrafine grinding in mineral processing circuits , with more of these customers leveraging its fine screens to size their feed , according to Zhang .
He said : “ This could be either for removal of the coarse material to protect the mill lining , discs or screw , or for sizing at 45-150 micron
ranges to reject the maximum amount of the already-liberated fines to reduce the capital and operating expenditure of the ultrafine grinding mills .”
Magotteaux increases southern Africa exposure
Magotteaux , a leader in high-performance grinding media , recently increased its ownership
in Grinding Media South Africa ( GMSA ) to 51 % through the acquisition of a 36 % stake in the company .
GMSA , a prominent manufacturer of grinding balls in South Africa , came into being following the division of Scaw , a company renowned for manufacturing a wide range of products , including castings and grinding balls , into four separate entities in 2012 .
In 2018 , Magotteaux acquired a 15 % equity share in GMSA and assumed general management responsibilities of its two plants , building on a rich history of collaboration in South Africa that dates back to 1984 when the company established a long-term technical and commercial agreement with Scaw .
Over the years , Magotteaux has overseen the marketing and distribution of GMSA ’ s products through its local sales team in Magotteaux Pty , establishing a strong market presence in southern Africa , it says . The region , particularly South Africa , has been an essential market for Magotteaux ’ s grinding media products , largely owing to the extensive presence of major mining companies .
GMSA has a grinding media capacity of approximately 200,000 t and , last year , generated sales of approximately $ 175 million , according to Magotteaux .
Gonzalo Cavada , CEO of Magotteaux , said : “ The acquisition of the majority stake in GMSA allows us to further cement our position as a key
GMSA has a grinding media capacity of approximately 200,000 t and , last year , generated sales of approximately $ 175 million , according to Magotteaux
player in the grinding media industry in the region . We look forward to combining our strengths and resources to continue providing top-notch products and services to our valued customers in the mining sector .”
IM
SEPTEMBER 2023 | International Mining