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PRODUCT News
April 2015
MODERN MINING
49
Cost pressure brought about as a result of
lower commodity prices has given rise to
a rush of demand for well-priced mining
equipment and parts to fulfil the role of
similar but more expensive counterparts.
Mill linings are one area where many
mines in Africa, especially in the central
copper regions, as well as gold and plati-
num producers, are re-examining their
requirements and opting for new, more
modern liners that offer cost benefits both
in terms of initial procurement price and
the total cost of ownership.
According to Bobby Stevens, Tega
Industries SA Sales Engineer, considering
the high capital cost and mission critical
role of mills in the beneficiation of com-
modities, mines cannot afford to cut
corners while cutting costs. As a result, he
says, many of the more progressive tech-
nical teams on the continent’s mines are
choosing to opt for locally manufactured
products that are individually engineered
to suit the mines’ own requirements by
Tega Industries South Africa.
“Tega Industries has played an impor-
tant role in the provision of rubber, as well
as combination steel, rubber and ceramic
linings since 1989,” says Stevens. “These
modern polymer and combination liners
(PM) have given miners two to five times
better life over the usual steel liners with a
product that is lighter for maintenance and
installation purposes.
“Having been widely accepted into the
mainstream market fairly recently, sales
still hinge largely on convincingmine engi-
neers that a better way exists and working
with them to change specifications and
replace metal liners. In such instances we
usually put in a trial ring for our clients and
Miners look for mill liner efficiency
generally this is sufficient to convert clients
from steel liners to PM.
“Other new products such as our
recently tested Combi liner for SAG and
AG mill applications combine the lifter bar
and shell plate to spread impacts across
the mill surface and vastly improve the
efficiency of the mill,” he continues. “Other
innovations improve the performance of
a mill such as the introduction of a spe-
cial rubber base to assist in unstable mill
applications (or in aggressive applications)
where it is able to deal with larger fluctua-
tions in operating parameters.
“Through the correct selection of liners
and the use of powerful new mill optimi-
sation and efficiency software our liners
are able to drive down the cost per ton
of processing and thereby counteract the
effect of lower commodity prices. Also, by
improving the grinding capability of the
mill and thus the feed rate, our lining can
play a large role in improving the quality
and quantity of the end product.
“Although our liners are cost effective,
we cut no corners and rather choose to
Bobby Stevens of Tega Industries SA.
undertake studies of the attributes of each
grinding mill to improve productivity of
each client’s operation individually. We use
key software programs such as Mill Traj,
Tega Soft, Steve Morell and Bond power
models to assist with mill liner develop-
ments and apply it to both the design and
application of liners for individual mills.
Programs like Mill Traj and Tega Soft even
help us to predict the motion of media in
the mill with great accuracy, thereby allow-
ing us to optimise everything from media
to power consumption and wear proper-
ties,” says Stevens.
Vishal Gautam, Tega Industries, tel (+27 11) 421-9916
Fast work on screening plant by ELB
ELB Engineering Services (ELB) reports
it has completed the design, fabrication
and construction of a 250 t/h iron ore wet
screening plant for Sedibeng Iron Ore (SIO).
For Sedibeng to comply with restrictions
which limit the maximum percentage of
fines allowed in its products, a wet screen-
ingplant was required. ELBwas approached
to implement a solution for washed prod-
uct with very short project duration.
ELB worked closely with the client’s
team and a mere two months after con-
tract award the team introduced ore into
the plant.
ELB Engineering Services describes itself
as “an internationally recognised technol-
ogy driven holistic solutions provider to
the mining, power, port, construction and
industrial sectors in the field of materials
handling and beneficiation plants.”
Cornel Charlton, ELB Engineering Services,
tel (+27 11) 772-1509