Modern Mining April 2016

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PRODUCT News
Multotec’s pipe launders are well known
in the mineral sands and iron-ore mining
industries. According to the company,
the polyvinyl chloride pipe launders have
proved their worth in these arduous
applications for many years, significantly
outperforming their steel rubber-lined
counterparts. Now, chrome producers are
taking note of their benefits.
This includes Nor tham Chrome
Producers, the first chrome miner to put
Multotec’s pipe launders to the test, and
Multotec’s Graeme Smith reports that the
company will be supplying an additional
400 running metres to another undis-
closed chrome producer shortly.
The pipe launders were supplied as
part of a spiral retrofit project at Northam
Chrome Producers’ recovery plant. A total
of 72 of Multotec’s HX5 and HX3 spi-
rals were designed, manufactured and
installed, boosting the plant’s recoveries
by as much as 6 %.
The plant was using conventional steel
Pipe launders make their way to chrome
rubber-lined pipe launders that had been
designed initially for the previous installed
spirals and were also due for replacement.
Smith says that Multotec’s Technology
Division discussed the many advantages
offered by its pipe launders with the plant’s
management team. “We detailed the pro-
posed layout of the launder solutions, and
the team really liked our idea of ensuring
a more durable and tidier installation that
would also be safer and easier to maintain
over time,” says Smith.
One of the biggest benefits offered
by the company’s pipe launders is their
durability. Smith says some of the com-
pany’s installations in the mineral sands
production environment have lasted for
up to nine years in highly corrosive coastal
environments. What is more, they are easy
to maintain. Their design incorporates a
replaceable polyurethane boot inside the
pipe that endures wear, as opposed to the
inside of the pipe.
Manufactured from a much lighter
material than steel and having a smaller
outside diameter, the Multotec pipe
launders are easier to handle and can be
installed by two men without the need
for any lifting or hanging equipment.
The launder pipes supplied to Northam
Chrome Producers have outside diameters
of 200 mm, 255 mm and 400 mm.
Every pipe launder, which is installed
from the collection point leading down
to the sump, had to be specially designed
and manufactured to fit into the existing
footprint of the plant.
Bernadette Wilson, Multotec Group, tel (+27 11) 923-6193
The cleaner concentrate and tail pipe launder arrange-
ment, together with Multotec distributors.