https://www.miningweekly.com

New tech boosts productivity

2nd October 2020

By: Darren Parker

Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

Comminution, separation and sorting technology provider IMS Engineering now supplies process systems and equipment manufacturer General Kinematics’ STM-Screen – which can replace a brute force screen and provide an increase of up to 40% in circuit capacity, helping mines to improve their productivity and reduce costs.

“IMS Engineering signed a distribution deal with General Kinematics at the end of 2018 and has been representing the US company and its range of vibratory equipment since then,” IMS Engineering national sales manager Etienne Swanepoel tells Mining Weekly, adding that IMS Engineering has distribution rights for all of Africa.

“One of the main objectives of the comminution process is to maximise throughput. With tonnages increasing, mines are looking at ways of increasing circuit capacity at the lowest possible cost.”

Swanepoel explains that the STM-Screen is designed to fit within the existing space and rest on the existing screen footing, without overhauling existing support structures.

“The STM-Screen should not require modifications to the existing structure because subresonant, two-mass vibrating screens have far lower dynamic forces than equivalent-sized brute force screens,” he says.

Standard single- and double-deck machine sizes range from 1.4 m to 5.4 m wide and 10 m long. All can be modified to mount on an existing screen footing.

Purpose-built machines can also be designed to match the size specifications of an existing machine and can feature hybrid decks and triple-deck configurations.

The large model STM-Screen, which is more than 2.4 m wide, can be designed in a modular fashion so that it can be dismantled in sections after test runs in the factory, whereafter it is shipped and reassembled at the mine site.

The two-mass vibrating screens are modifiable to accommodate higher tonnages and deeper material bed depths, Swanepoel explains. He adds that masses can be made heavier, motor horsepower increased and more springs added to the spring network to ensure that material is consistently stratified along the length of the screening surface at the constant design stroke amplitude.

“Machine stroke is maintained under full load to sustain designed material stratification and screen efficiency, whereas the stroke of brute force screens is dampened as the material load is increased and screening efficiency is negatively affected,” he says.

The material retention of the STM-Screen is typically three to four times higher than that of brute force screens to achieve higher screening efficiency.

“Brute force screens accelerate material to thin the bed depth, limit material weight on the screen and retain the material for only 8 seconds to 12 seconds,” Swanepoel explains.

For wet screening applications, the STM-Screen has significant dewatering advantages. Typically, the water spray is limited to the first two-thirds of the screen length, leaving only the final third for dewatering.

“With greater material retention time on the STM-Screen, there is a corresponding increase in dewatering, allowing for more excess water to be removed,” Swanepoel concludes.

Edited by Nadine James
Features Deputy Editor

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION