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PRODUCT News
54
MODERN MINING
October 2016
When it comes to under-performing mills
in the grinding circuit, it pays to look into
the performance of the mill liner. This is
the view of Fernando Monteiro, MD of
Tega Industries, a leading manufacturer
and supplier of mill liners.
The optimisation of mill liners can
reduce the overall cost of ownership of a
mill which translates to lowering the cost
per ton treated.
“Apar t from improving physical
Mill liner optimisation can lower treatment costs
service, we employ the latest technology
to undertake our mill studies,” Monteiro
continues. “Once we have the opportunity
to undertake an analysis, we are invariably
able to give clients the lower cost of own-
ership solutions for their mill. But, perhaps
more importantly, we also provide entire
technical backup and aftermarket sup-
port which is critical in ensuring the mill
performs at optimum at all times, even as
orebodies and conditions change.”
Tega Industries strives for a concept it
calls ‘Partnerships in Practice’ which works
on the principle of working with custom-
ers to constantly improve their processes
in every part of a plant – from bulk materi-
als handling to conveyors, chutes, transfer
points, screens andmills. This is done using
good old-fashioned human experience,
plus the addition of high-tech techniques
such as discrete element modelling, finite
element analysis and computational fluid
dynamics.
Tega Industries, tel (+27 11) 421-9916
Ball mill with rubber lining.
throughput, a good liner will ensure the
mill uses less power to drive the mill,
lower relining cost and less downtime
due to longer intervals between mill liner
changes,” says Monteiro. “In addition,
inspections using modern scanning and
analysis devices can precisely measure the
remaining life of mill liners to ensure that
they are only changed when necessary
and coincide with planned shutdowns.”
He adds that while most plant manag-
ers are aware of this, staff further down the
procurement chain are not always
familiar with overall cost-of-own-
ership benefits. Procurement
officers may be inclined to buy
a cheaper liner rather than
a slightly more expen-
sive engineered liner
that saves costs else-
where in the process and
at the same time boosts
production.
“When it comes to this type of