Modern Mining February 2021

WearCheck adds non-destructive testing to its offering assessments and inspection of ancillary equipment such as main vent fans, compres- sors, mills, pumps and conveyors.

Advanced field services, transformer chemistry testing, reliability solutions – these are some of the extra services offered by condition moni- toring specialists, WearCheck, in addition to traditional used oil analysis following recent expansion. The company’s advanced field services (AFS) division incorporates specialist monitor- ing techniques such as rope testing, technical compliance and non-destructive testing (NDT). Adri Ludick, NDT manager for WearCheck, outlines the benefits and details of various non- destructive testing techniques. “The NDT approach features a variety of testing techniques through which the proper- ties and condition of a component or system are evaluated without causing any permanent damage to it. NDT is typically used in critical component assessments, machine condition TAKRAF develops new DELKOR BQR flotation cell Maximising the sustainable recovery of minerals has become a critical success factor, especially at a time when the efficient recovery from less rich ores, aging or secondary deposits is one of the mining industry’s key challenges. TAKRAF Group, with its DELKOR brand for liquid/solid separation and beneficiation equipment, has developed new generation BQR flotation cells with the proprietary MAXGen mechanism for best-in-class metallurgical performance. The MAXGen mechanism is the result of extensive research and development from bench scale tests, 3D prototyping, pilot scale studies and plant scale trials. MAXGen stands for superior recoveries with higher mineral grade, along with faster flotation kinetics by generating favourable bubble size distribu- tion and energy efficient hydrodynamics. The distinctive configuration of rotor and stator enables the rotor to operate at a lower tip speed. Hence, it reduces operational cost with lower power consumption and wear. The new flotation cell also boasts more eloquent features addressing many practi- cal challenges when improving installation, maintenance and operation of flotation cir- cuits, particularly in existing concentrators. For example, the “bypass ready tank design” allows the installation and upgrade with cell bypass systems at any stage of the project, without compromising the original layout and without any modification to the tank shell. 

“WearCheck’s NDT team delivers quality assurance and quality control of new as well as refurbished components. Our array of NDT tests includes eddy-current-, magnetic- particle-, liquid penetrant-, radiographic-, ultrasonic-testing and visual inspection,” he says. The main advantage of NDT methods is that they do not permanently alter the test object undergoing inspection, making NDT a

valuable tool that can save both money and time in a condition monitoring programme.  WearCheck senior technician, Jaco Venter, conducting NDT.

February 2021  MODERN MINING  35