Modern Mining April 2015

PRODUCT News

Miners look for mill liner efficiency

Cost pressure brought about as a result of lower commodity prices has given rise to a rush of demand for well-priced mining equipment and parts to fulfil the role of similar but more expensive counterparts. Mill linings are one area where many mines in Africa, especially in the central copper regions, as well as gold and plati- num producers, are re-examining their requirements and opting for new, more modern liners that offer cost benefits both in terms of initial procurement price and the total cost of ownership. According to Bobby Stevens, Tega Industries SA Sales Engineer, considering the high capital cost and mission critical role of mills in the beneficiation of com- modities, mines cannot afford to cut corners while cutting costs. As a result, he says, many of the more progressive tech- nical teams on the continent’s mines are choosing to opt for locally manufactured products that are individually engineered to suit the mines’ own requirements by Tega Industries South Africa. “Tega Industries has played an impor- tant role in the provision of rubber, as well as combination steel, rubber and ceramic linings since 1989,” says Stevens. “These modern polymer and combination liners (PM) have given miners two to five times better life over the usual steel liners with a product that is lighter for maintenance and installation purposes. “Having been widely accepted into the mainstream market fairly recently, sales still hinge largely on convincingmine engi- neers that a better way exists and working with them to change specifications and replace metal liners. In such instances we usually put in a trial ring for our clients and

generally this is sufficient to convert clients from steel liners to PM. “Other new products such as our recently tested Combi liner for SAG and AG mill applications combine the lifter bar and shell plate to spread impacts across the mill surface and vastly improve the efficiency of the mill,” he continues. “Other innovations improve the performance of a mill such as the introduction of a spe- cial rubber base to assist in unstable mill applications (or in aggressive applications) where it is able to deal with larger fluctua- tions in operating parameters. “Through the correct selection of liners and the use of powerful new mill optimi- sation and efficiency software our liners are able to drive down the cost per ton of processing and thereby counteract the effect of lower commodity prices. Also, by improving the grinding capability of the mill and thus the feed rate, our lining can play a large role in improving the quality and quantity of the end product. “Although our liners are cost effective, we cut no corners and rather choose to

Bobby Stevens of Tega Industries SA.

undertake studies of the attributes of each grinding mill to improve productivity of each client’s operation individually. We use key software programs such as Mill Traj, Tega Soft, Steve Morell and Bond power models to assist with mill liner develop- ments and apply it to both the design and application of liners for individual mills. Programs like Mill Traj and Tega Soft even help us to predict the motion of media in the mill with great accuracy, thereby allow- ing us to optimise everything from media to power consumption and wear proper- ties,” says Stevens. Vishal Gautam, Tega Industries, tel (+27 11) 421-9916 team and a mere two months after con- tract award the team introduced ore into the plant. ELB Engineering Services describes itself as “an internationally recognised technol- ogy driven holistic solutions provider to the mining, power, port, construction and industrial sectors in the field of materials handling and beneficiation plants.” Cornel Charlton, ELB Engineering Services, tel (+27 11) 772-1509

Fast work on screening plant by ELB ELB Engineering Services (ELB) reports it has completed the design, fabrication and construction of a 250 t/h iron ore wet screening plant for Sedibeng Iron Ore (SIO). For Sedibeng to comply with restrictions which limit the maximum percentage of fines allowed in its products, a wet screen- ingplant was required. ELBwas approached to implement a solution for washed prod- uct with very short project duration. ELB worked closely with the client’s

April 2015  MODERN MINING  49