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African mining operations seeking modern, cost efficient mill linings

29th May 2015

By: Bruce Montiea

Creamer Media Reporter

  

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An increasing number of African mines are re-examining their mill lining requirements and opting for new and modern liners that offer cost benefits in terms of the initial procurement price and total cost of ownership, says materials handling products company Tega Industries SA sales engineer Bobby Stevens.

He says this trend is especially evident in the Central African copper regions, as well as among gold and platinum producers.

“Considering the high capital cost and mission-critical role of mills in the beneficiation of commodities, mines cannot afford to cut corners, while reducing costs. Therefore, many of the more progressive technical teams on the continent’s mines are choosing to opt for locally manufactured products that are individually engineered to meet a mine’s specific requirements.”

Stevens tells Mining Weekly that cost pressures, owing to lower commodity prices, have caused an increase in demand for well-priced mining equipment and parts to fulfil the role of similar, but more expensive counterparts.

He notes that Tega Industries has provided liners for the industry at reasonable prices since 1989, adding that the company’s liners have since then been widely accepted into the mainstream market.

“Tega Industries has played an important role in the provision of rubber, as well as combination steel, rubber and ceramic linings since 1989. These modern polymer and combination liners have given miners two to five times better life, compared with traditional steel liners. Tega Industries’ products also have less stringent maintenance requirements and are easier to install.”

Stevens says Tega Industries is working with mine engineers to convince them of the usefulness of rubber liners, and assisting them in changing the specifications as they replace their metal liners.

“In such instances, we usually put in a trial ring, which is generally sufficient to convince a client to convert from using steel liners to rubber ones.”

Stevens adds that, through the correct selection of liners and the use of new mill optimisation and efficiency software, the company’s liners are able to drive down the cost per ton of processing and thereby counteract the effect of lower commodity prices.

He says, through improv-ing the grinding capability of the mill and thus the feed rate, Tega Industries’ liners can play a significant role in improving the quality and quantity of the end-product.

“Although our liners are cost effective, we do not cut any corners and rather choose to undertake studies of the attributes of each grinding mill to improve the productivity of each client’s operation,” says Stevens, adding that the company uses key software programs, such as Mill Traj, Tega Soft, Steve Morell and Bond power models, to assist in developing and supplying mill liners to clients.

He further states that the programs also help the company to accurately predict the motion of media in the mill, thereby allowing for the optimisation of everything, from media to power consumption and wear properties.

Tega Industries has branches in South Africa, Zambia and Ghana, “as well as representation in all countries where mining takes place”. Therefore, the company can meet the requirements of any mine on the continent, says Stevens.

Some of the companies that use Tega Industries’ liners include mining majors Glencore, Anglo American, First Quantum, De Beers and Vedanta.

“Our mission is to distinguish ourselves by providing lasting solutions for the complex problems of materials handling, wear and ore separation.”

He concludes that the company’s new factory, built this year, as well as its advanced distribution network, enables it to provide solutions efficiently and cost effectively, which is to the benefit of customers across Africa.

Edited by Leandi Kolver
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

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