Mechanical Technology — August 2013
27
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Materials handling and logistics
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Multotec differentiates itself through its process and
applications knowledge, and its Hawkeye internet-
based monitoring programme is increasingly in de-
mand by customers to bolster the predictability factor.
and Multotec’s range of wear resistant
material has resulted in significant
maintenance cost savings and improved
plant availability. The company recently
introduced a revolutionary new material
for manufacturing wedgewire screen
products for the coal industry. The
new speciality material has exceeded
all original expectations in terms of
wear life and performance in local and
Australian coal operations.
“Both our development team and the
clients at whose sites we’ve tested the
new material have been astounded at its
performance,” he comments. “In cen-
trifuge baskets, this material improves
the overall efficiency of the process for
longer periods than ever before, as a
result of slower wear of the aperture. In
other words, the material maintains the
integrity of the aperture far longer than
any material previously used.
“We’re also trialling some new
ceramic materials for dense media
and classification cyclones to achieve
greater cost savings. Reducing energy
consumption is a key driver and one
of our major successes has been the
development of a flame-proof air-cooled
overbelt magnet for underground tramp
iron removal that uses less energy.”
In terms of water savings, closed
water circuits, more efficient filters and
enhanced dewatering using centrifuges
are coming to the fore. To this end,
the company has developed an envi-
ronmentally friendly water filter press
believed to be a world first. Traditionally,
hydraulically operated filter presses are
used in process and water reclamation
plants, but these conventional prod-
ucts are associated with a high risk
of contamination from oil and other
lubricants during operation. Maritz says
it has become essential to overcome this
challenge to protect the environment
and assist mining companies to comply
with environmental legislation.
On the process side, coal operations
are seeking more effective ways to
beneficiate fine coal particles and here
Multotec has a focus on improving the
efficiency of fine coal dense medium
separation (DMS) and is looking at high
density DMS as a pre-concentration
stage, using a special magnetic separa-
tor to carry out the densification. The
company is also looking at combina-
tions of water-based gravity concentra-
tors such as spirals, teeter bed separa-
tors and water-only cyclones.
And, to address the need for accurate
measurements in the coal sector in line
with an international trend towards
online analysers, Multotec has invested
in new online analysis technology in
collaboration with the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Or-
ganisation (CSIRO), in Australia, to pro-
vide accurate analyses of coal elements.
“This technology can measure the
level of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
directly in the raw particles of coal
which is not possible with the tradi-
tional prompt-gamma neutron activa-
tion analysis,” he says.
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