FLSmidth has long been a leader on the African continent with its suite of minerals processing, materials handling and cement processing solutions, and its participation at Electra Mining Africa 2016 will underpin the importance that this region continues to have for the company.

An in-depth knowledge of the particular logistical challenges that can be faced in different countries in African has enabled FLSmidth to grow its footprint, and today the company can point to references where its products continue to operate reliably and efficiently in the region.

With FLSmidth’s ongoing focus on improving efficiencies, reducing costs and increasing throughput for its customer in the mining and minerals processing industries, the company’s primary objective at Electra Mining Africa 2016 is to interact with operational personnel from its customer base. To facilitate this, a team of technically competent individuals will be on hand at all times to discuss FLSmidth’s solutions offering and how the various technologies can be leveraged to optimise efficiencies and increase throughput where relevant.

Terence Osborn, sales and marketing manager – precious and base metals at FLSmidth, says the nature of visitors that Electra Mining Africa draws makes it the ideal platform on which to engage at an operational level, and will allow the company to unpack its various support options that are geared at reducing total cost of ownership.

“Crucial to the successful operation of any minerals processing and materials handling equipment is the level of support that is rendered. FLSmidth has technically competent and skilled Customer Service teams that interact directly with customers on site,” Osborn says. A significant aspect of the FLSmidth support offering is the ability to assess an individual plant and tailor a support programme that will enable customers to maximise sustainable operating practices.

Another important aspect that will be covered is FLSmidth’s extensive product and solution portfolio which has grown extensively over the last 15 years. “By discussing the full spectrum, we can assist customers in identifying other areas where we can assist in optimising a plant by introducing new technology,” Osborn says. 

An example would be the Reflux Classifier® (RC) which represents the latest in fine particle gravity based separation technology. Already proven in gravity-based separation engineering in Asia, Australia, North America and Africa, Osborn says the RC is the next generation of fine coal and mineral processing equipment and is more efficient and compact than competing fine coal and mineral processing equipment such as spirals, up-current classifiers and teeter bed separators.

Another technology that has been successfully applied by FLSmidth is its VXPmill which has established a benchmark in the regrind of gold flotation concentrates resulting in significantly increased gold recovery. This technology will be particularly important now and into the future since ore grades are declining and minerals becoming more finely disseminated within the ore. Successful recovery hinges on liberation of the minerals and convention grinding technologies are not able to efficiently achieve the fine product sizes required.

Another solid example of how FLSmidth’s ongoing research and development has benefited the minerals processing sector is nextSTEP™ rotor/stator. This combination represents the newest design in forced-air flotation technology and offers major advantages to the market. The design of the stator was reinvented in the development of the nextSTEP™. Slots were added to the stator, making energy dissipation more uniform resulting in a higher probability of bubble particle contact during the flotation process.

Osborn says that reducing energy consumption is a prime topic on mines today and through the use of more effective dewatering technology energy consumption can be dramatically reduced.

FLSmidth has a broad product range suitable for sedimentation, filtration and drying technologies. Access to this wide range, together with its expert personnel, enables the company to structure a fit-for-purpose solution that will meet individual application needs and with many different in-house technologies available ensure selection of the best solution in each unique case.

“A solution that has been proven internationally by FLSmidth and that will allow mining companies to reduce their environmental impact is the dry stacking of tailings. This is used instead of the traditional wet tailings depositional facility and is particularly suitable for arid climates where water is scarce,” he says. The FLSmidth Rahco® brand comes with over 60 years’ experience in leveraging technology to provide solutions to the mining, aggregate and bulk solids industries.

One of the main attractions on the FLSmidth stand will be specially developed holograms which illustrate a coal plant and a flotation concentrator plant. These three dimensional images will allow interaction with technical personnel able to explain the various technologies used.

Physical products on the display will include FLSmidth’s Meshcape® screen media product range which will be showcased on a demonstration table where visitors can see the ease with which these screen panels can be removed and replaced without affecting the fixing arrangement. Also on display will be a 3D printed model of a Krebs® UMD™ pump. This newly designed heavy duty slurry pump has been engineered to ensure optimum wear life while still maintaining the highest efficiency. 

“With FLSmidth considered the leading solutions provider in minerals processing, materials handling and the cement industries, Electra Mining Africa is certainly an opportunity to reinforce our brands and how we can use these to improve our customers’ ore processing and handling operations,” Osborn concludes.