Analytical chemistry laboratory Set Point Laboratories, a division of the Set Point group, has mobile mineral sample preparation facilities in South Africa and Botswana and is expanding its footprint into Africa, having established a mobile mineral sample preparation facility in Libreville, Gabon, in West Africa, this month.

Aligned to its vision of being the preferred supplier of analytical services to exploration and mining industries throughout Africa, Set Point Laboratories’ new facility, located next to the railway station in Libreville, is the latest in a host of mobile facilities intended to serve the African mining industry.

Set Point Laboratories maintains that outsourcing mine-site laboratories enables clients to focus on their core competencies, while ensuring that the analytical data received is accurate and consistent.

Set Point Laboratories ensures that all on-site laboratories estab- lished meet clients’ specific requirements and that these laboratories are managed and oper- ated with the same levels of quality and efficiency as its commercial laboratories.

The mobile mineral sample preparation facility is able to dry, weigh, crush, split, and repack the samples. The samples are then couriered to Set Point Laboratories, in Johannesburg, for analysis.

Set Point Laboratories highlights that the sample preparation is conducted according to its ISO 17025-accredited sample preparation procedure.

Set Point Laboratories, in Gabon, will also serve as a sample drop-off point for clients requiring water analysis. The water analysis services offered by Set Point Laboratories include the analysis of ground, surface, drinking, waste and process water.

Various testing techniques, such as photometric, electrometric, colorimetric, inductively coupled plasma optical emissions spectrom- etry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and enzyme substrate (microbiological), are employed to offer chemical and microbiological analysis of water and wastewater.

The samples can be dropped off at the preperation facility in Gabon, and Set Point will coordinate the transport of the samples to their accredited laboratories in South Africa.

“Our client base in Gabon is assured of quality analytical results in quick time, with the added benefit of reduced courier costs,” says Set Point Laboratories regional manager Gerrit Fouche.