Screen manufacturing accuracy emphasised

12th April 2013

By: Zandile Mavuso

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

  

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Global engineering company FLSmidth expects its new Vibro Optimax wire to assist in the accurate manufacture of screens to meet the strict specifications of screening media used to recover minerals in the mining industry.

The accurate manufacture of screens is a challenge for the screen-manufacturing industry, as many companies can manufacture screens but not all of them can manufacture the apertures correctly, according to required specifications, says FLSmidth industrial consumables manager Ian Hewat.

“Screening is a critical part of many mineral-processing circuits and keeping the aperture of screening media within specification is vital to ensure the efficient performance of a processing plant,” he notes.

The product trials for FLSmidth’s new Vibro Optimax wire have been completed and FLSmidth is in the process of officially launching its new wire, which has been developed over the past 18 months.

“What differentiates the new Vibro Optimax wire from other wires in the market is its hardness and greater wear resistance, which increase the life span of the screen and decrease maintenance downtime of the operation. The wire is suited to hard-rock applications, such as screening aggregates and ores for gold, manganese, iron and others,” adds Hewat.

Should the aggregate not comply with the requested specifications, this can lead to a loss of millions of rands owing to lower prices achieved for the product or the cost to resupply. For this reason, besides others, more emphasis needs to be placed on the quality and consistency of the screening media being used. This will inevitably reduce the overall cost per ton to produce the end product, states FLSmidth screen media GM David Sibley.

Accuracy is equally important when export- ing screening media and FLSmidth is con- sidering the export of its screening media to Africa and some parts of Europe.

“If high-quality material is used, good results will be achieved. Traditional screening is replaced every week, which is efficient for operation; however, Vibra Optimax requires replacing only every three weeks,” highlights Hewat, who points out that the product’s performance is also dependent on proper assembly.

Therefore, FLSmidth sets up on-site training courses for operations to train workers in the theory of screening and how to set up machinery to achieve good results.

Hewat mentions that the company presented a two-day training workshop at an original-equipment manufacturer’s facility to assist in the operation of the screening media on site.

“What is significant is that we are the only company that has International Organisation for Standardisation accreditation for all its screening products. “Our listing with classification society Lloyd’s Register for the past 16 years also sets us apart from other companies,” concludes Sibley.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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