Modern Mining May 2015

CRUSHING, SCREENING AND MILLING

Multotec aims to be top in screening

Multotec believes that remaining competitive and driving sustainability are not based on complacency, but rather on strategically mapping a series of plans that will carry its business into the future. The company aims to become the number one screening media technology solutions provider for the global minerals processing industry within the next five to ten years. This objective was set down a year ago and involves the implementation of a number of initiatives.

W ith more than 40 years’ experience, an extensive branch infrastructure that is situated close to its cus- tomers and a team of tech- nically skilled sales personnel with process knowledge, Multotec is geared up to achieve its documented goals. International exposure to best practice, as well as collaboration with international companies and customers, allows the company to stay abreast of technology. Rhodes Nelson, Managing Director of Multotec Manufacturing, explains that one of the company’s action points is to increase its collaborative efforts. “In the past collaboration was done within the local minerals process- ing environment and included inter-mineral collaboration. A major step has been setting up collaborative initiatives on a global scale and, most importantly, across industry sectors. Markets where collaboration is taking place range from traditional minerals processing in the mining sector to industrial processing, chemicals, food and beverage, and aggregates. On a more intimate level, our collaboration

Above: Rhodes Nelson, MD of Multotec Manufacturing, and Roy Roche, Vice President Screening Media at Multotec, examining a screen panel with the O-slot™ aperture. Centre: Multotec’s state- of-the-art rubber injection moulding plant where rubber screen panels are produced.

with global sister companies will allow us to bring technologies and solutions into Africa.” Another very significant initiative is the acceleration of Multotec’s R&D programme. This comprises collaboration with tertiary insti- tutions, including universities in South Africa. “While Multotec R&D has largely always been needs driven, we welcome active participation from customers who have specific needs. In these instances we can develop an appropri- ate solution by including input and feedback from customers. Some of the R&D being done is aimed at reducing costs and also trying to improve process efficiencies, which proves challenging due to the fact that the industry is mature,” Nelson continues. Technology at the forefront A number of product developments and inno- vations from Multotec are aimed at increasing throughput and efficiency in various applica- tions. These include visual wear indicators on individual screen media panels that show the incremental wear rates that occur on screening media. In another example, three-dimensional

feature

52  MODERN MINING  May 2015