MechChem Africa March-April 2025

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

FUCHS lubricants for HVAC sector

the shift toward environmentally friendly refrigerants while ensuring optimal equip ment performance. FUCHS provides a diverse portfolio of synthetic lubricants based on advanced chemistries such as polyol esters (POEs), polyalphaolefins (PAOs), alkyl benzenes (ABs), and polyalkylene glycols (PAGs). These solutions ensure reliable performance for a broad spectrum of refrigerants, including conventional HFCs such as R134a, R410A, and R407C; along with natural refrigerants such as NH 3 (ammonia), CO 2 , and hydrocar bons; and emerging hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants, including R1234ze and R1234yf. “Our development laboratories are ac tively testing HFO mixtures to ensure that we are always ahead of industry requirements,” says Ashleigh Pollen, Industrial and Speciality Grinding Roll (HPGR) solutions another step forward, with the release of the HPGR Pro. McKay points out that HPGRs have gained considerable popularity for their energy savings, which the HPGR Pro has enhanced. “The key attribute of the HPGR Pro is the innovative rotating side plates, which can also be retrofitted onto equip ment already in the field,” he says. Coarse particle flotation is another contributor to efficiency in produc tion, through FLS’s coarseAIR™ technol ogy. Floating coarser particles means that minerals can be liberated with less grinding, saving on energy and grind ing media, notes McKay. Importantly, mill capacity can be enhanced at the

Manager at FUCHS. The RENISO range is engineered to provide superior miscibility, stability, and lubrication across a wide tem perature range, ensuring compatibility with both legacy and next-generation refrigerants. FUCHS’ commitment to innovation is exemplified by its advanced in-house testing capabilities. Through Sealed Tube Apparatus Tests, the thermal and chemical stability of re frigerant-oil mixtures is thoroughly assessed to ensure long-term reliability. Miscibility and solubility tests are conducted to guarantee optimal interaction between refrigerants and lubricants, even under challenging conditions. “We offer extensive support to clients for their transition to sustainable refrigerants and to enhance system efficiency and longev ity,” concludes Ashleigh Pollen. www.fuchs.com/za same time – by more than 30%. “We are continuously progressing our technologies, leveraging the power of innovations in our REFLUX Classifiers – which incorporate coarseAIR as well as our REFLUX Flotation Cell (RFC),” he adds. “The RFC reduces residence time of material from an average of over 30 minutes to between three and four minutes – while achieving an increase in recoveries of 1 to 3% and using around 27% less energy.” He concludes that FLS’s MissionZero drive continues to support mines’ carbon emissions and sustainability goals while al lowing more ambitious production targets. www.flsmidth.com

The RENISO product range from FUCHS of fers synthetic lubricants specifically designed to meet the stringent requirements of modern refrigeration systems, including those being adopted by the EU. These oils align with the latest sustainability standards, supporting Ashleigh Pollen, Industrial and Speciality Manager at FUCHS.

FLS technology drives mineral production Driven by its MissionZero strategy, FLS invests in sustainable technology develop ment to underpin increased mining output – especially of those minerals in growing demand by economies moving toward a lower carbon future.

“In the category of critical minerals, there are 16 commodities which are vital,” says Alistair McKay, FLS Vice President for Capital Sales in Europe, Arabia and Africa. “A shortage of these minerals could derail economic activity, so we have put our weight behind industry efforts to raise levels of sustainable production.” FLS therefore commits over 50% of its substantial research and development budget to technology that will have a noticeable impact on reducing carbon emissions, as well as on water and energy consumption, all while also improving plant performance. Among its innovations is the rail-run ning belt conveyor, which has proved itself to be a gamechanger in energy efficiency and operational flexibility. It can reduce the carbon footprint of operations by be tween 20% and 90% – with commensurate savings in energy costs. In the primary crushing circuit, FLS’s Eccentric Roll Crusher (ERC ® ) is another efficiency-focused technology – reducing energy consumption by up to 40% while enabling throughput increases by as much as 20% for the same product size. Key to its success is the design integration of grizzly and crusher, and its high reduction ratio of 1:6. FLS has also taken its High Pressure

The FLS HPGR Pro takes grinding to the next level of efficiency.

40 ¦ MechChem Africa • March-April 2025