Modern Mining June 2020

Design, real-time monitoring key to process efficiency

Kwatani CEO Kim Schoepflin says while the ramping up of production since South Africa’s Level 5 lockdown has brought some relief to mining companies, rais- ing process efficiency is non-negotiable. Design and monitoring are key factors in continuously improving efficiency levels. “Increasingly scarce resources and cost pressures are challenging the mineral pro- cessing industry,” says Schoepflin. “More than ever, each piece of equipment in the process must deliver efficient output to the exact specification at the lowest cost.” She emphasises design and monitoring as key factors in continuously improving efficiency levels. As a local manufacturer of custom-designed vibrating screens and feeders, Kwatani leverages cutting edge technology with decades of field experience. “Using our virtual design software tools – and digitally prototyping customers’ ore and processing flows – we generate bespoke solutions for each application,” she says. “We work as a team in an ecosys- tem that includes metallurgists, engineers and end-customers – collaborating right through from concept to production.” Kwatani’s designs benefit from the lat- est 3D modelling and design techniques, and are subjected to finite element analy- sis (FEA) to verify engineering integrity. All Kwatani’s vibrating equipment is assessed with in-house test facilities for conformance to the design specification under ideal operating conditions. “Ongoing monitoring is also vital to ensure that planned efficiencies are being met, and the lowest cost of owner- ship is being achieved,” she says. “This is supported by our real-time condition moni- toring service offering.”

Schoepflin sees even greater oppor- tunities for driving efficiency arising from the advance of artificial intelligence in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With the advan- tage of the internet-of-things (IOT), mobile networks and other digital technologies, the process of cost effective customisation has been significantly empowered. “This evolution is taking the customi-

sation of our equipment into the future, including real-time customisation,” she says. “It promises to allow for multiple activities to be simultaneously tackled in real-time and in a customised manner.” Such p r og r es s i n i nc r eas i ng l y demanded by the mining sector, as cost and performance drive the need for tech- nology-driven efficiencies. 

Large scalper screen for screening iron ore, on the test bench at Kwatani prior to being despatched.

New developments in Metso-Outotec merger The Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority on June 15 2020 approved a supplement to the Finnish language demerger prospectus relating to the combination of Outotec Oyj and Metso Corporation’s Minerals business. The supplement relates to the stock exchange release published by Metso on June 10 2020, according to which Metso’s board of directors has resolved on the

performance measurement of the perfor- mance share plans PSP 2018–2020 and PSP 2019–2021 directed to Metso’s top management. The decision on performance mea- surement will become effective upon the completion of the partial demerger of Metso and the combination of Outotec and the Metso Minerals Business. 

June 2020  MODERN MINING  35