Mechanical Technology February 2016

Mechanical Technology — February 2016

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Materials handling and minerals processing

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ccording to O’Bryan, Weir

Minerals’ global product man-

ager for screens and screen

media, achieving TCO goals

is possible by carefully and strategically

Using finite element

analysis assists in providing

lower cost solutions to customers.

In the coal processing industry, the total cost of ownership (TCO) model

is heavily dependent on strategies that lower the initial capital cost of

replacement screening machines. Coupled with this is an emphasis on

an improvement in the overall durability of traditional coal dewatering

screens towards lower operating costs. Weir Minerals’ Kurt O’Bryan (below

left) and Winchester Maphosa (below right) explain.

matching solutions to specific customer

needs and applications. He notes that

the company’s latest developments in

coal screening technology are focused on

increasing the size and mechanical dura-

bility of its coal duty vibrating screen line.

The Enduron

product range from Weir

Minerals – formerly known as Linatex

– concentrates on increasing throughput

and decreasing downtime.

The supply and installation of Linatex

screening equipment in the coal industry

spans a number of decades. The first

Linatex dewatering screens for a coal ap-

plication were supplied in 1983 to Anglo

American Coal’s Kleinkopje operation in

South Africa. Linatex dewatering screens

have since been successfully supplied

for fine coal applications, where they

significantly reduce the moisture content

of the fines product.

Over 450 Linatex banana and hori-

zontal screens in single and double deck

format, sieve bend static screens and

horizontal rotary screens have been sup-

plied to the coal industry for applications

ranging from primary dewatering and

desliming to dewatering of final product.

The customer list includes Anglo Coal,

BHP Billiton – now South 32 – Exxaro,

Coal dewatering solutions

for lower ownership costs