product news
60
07.13
The trend in minerals sorting worldwide is to-
ward the use of sensor technology, and IMS
Engineering says it is at the cutting-edge of
this trend through its partnership with Stein-
ert Elektromagnetbau GmbH, which special-
ises in separation technology for the recy-
cling, metals and mining industries.
A formal joint venture agreement between
the two companies was recently signed and
IMS MD Paul Bracher says that it is now full
steam ahead. “This is a technology whose
day has come and we look forward to sig-
nificant penetration in the Southern African
market, which is ideally suited to it,” he says.
Cologne-based Steinert, which started in
the scrap and waste recycling business, has
a wide range of sensor-based separation and
sorting solutions including: X-Ray Transmis-
sion (XRT) and XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence)
sorting or XSS
®
(Steinert’s brand name for
Atlas Copco makes RC kit
available for blasthole drill
Atlas Copco continues to expand its blasthole product offer-
ing with the addition of the reverse circulation (RC) kit for the
DM45/50 mid-range blasthole drill. Based on proven systems,
components, and technology, the RC kit is designed – says At-
las Copco – to meet the demands of today’s expanding mining
market by offering the added dimension of in-pit grade control.
A number of components are included with the optional kit,
which can also be retrofitted on drills currently in the field. The
cyclone arm allows for sampling from the ground or platform
level, with a vertical raise and lowering function. A cyclone ro-
tation of 160 degrees provides safe access for cleaning, main-
tenance, and attaching new sample hoses from ground level.
The cyclone is a heavy duty system designed specifically
with flexibility in mind. Some of the features of the cyclone as-
sembly are: a hydraulic upper knife valve and pneumatic lower
knife valve for collecting and isolating the sample; a hydraulic
hinge between the dump box and cone splitter that allows for
easy cleaning; and a fixed cone splitter with primary and du-
plicate sample chutes. All cyclone and sample functions are
easily controlled from the operator’s cab.
A 66 litre dump box, with a steep cone for limiting sample
hang up, is part of the sample collection feature. The primary
and duplicate ports can easily be adjusted from 4 to 15 %.
The Reverse Circulation carousel has four 114 mm rod cups
and offers a 44 m maximum on-board capacity.
The DM45 and DML reverse circulation drills offer hole di-
ameters ranging between 114 mm and 146 mm with maximum
hole depths of 44 m based off on-board capacity.
Atlas Copco, tel (+27 11) 821-9000
IMS now marketing Steinert sorting technology
X-Ray sorting); Optical Colour Sorting; 3-D
Laser Sorting (shape recognition); Induction
Sorting (recognition of particle electromag-
netic properties); and Near Infrared (NIR)
sorting.
Johan van Zyl, Steinert Global Product
Manager for Mining, says that he is confident
that IMS will make a success of the venture.
“They are a thoroughly professional organisa-
tion with vast experience in the comminution
industry in this region,” he says.
He adds that IMS’s acquisition – through
Hazemag, IMS’s largest shareholder – of
Allmineral, which is recognised worldwide as
an expert in the beneficiation of gravel, sand,
coal and ore, combined with IMS’s range of
Steinert sorters, enables IMS to provide a
more cost-efficient, comprehensive water-
less alternative to the traditional wet process-
ing methods.
“Sensor sorting is, in general, much more
cost-effective than traditional sorting meth-
ods,” says van Zyl. “Apart from saving on
water, less energy and labour is required and,
perhaps most importantly, because one can
sort at the point of extraction, only the ore
containing the mineral needs to be transport-
ed thus saving significantly on transportation
costs.
“This makes our technology ideal in tough-
er economic periods and for more marginal
mines where it has been shown to make the
difference between closing down and being
Steinert sensor sorting test plant located at IMS
Engineering’s facilities.
able to continue profitably. It is perfect for
Southern African conditions.”
Bracher says that IMS will initially focus on
the coal mining sector – with XSS
®
T (XRT)
– where there is the biggest opportunity for
the technology right now. “There are many
smaller, newly-incubated coal mines for
which the benefit would be enormous,” he
says. “In general, though, we will offer solu-
tions for both ROM sorting as well as dumps,
which can become profitable with the use of
our technology.”
He adds that the Allmineral/IMS/Steinert
union creates a significant advantage in the
coal sector. “XSS
®
T works best with particles
of 40 mm or bigger and Allmineral’s dry jig
works best with particles of less than 40 mm
enabling us to provide an unbeatable overall
solution,” he says.
Bracher says the XSS
®
machines are not
for coal alone. They increase significantly the
range of possibilities for sorting any ‘mixed’
materials.
Bracher says that the new IMS Test Centre
will provide initial material testing for XSS
®
sorting. “We take a bucket full of waste and
a bucket full of product and check that the
sensor can ‘see’ the difference. If it can, we
know that more extensive testing, which may
entail the installing of a machine on site, can
be undertaken,” he concludes.
Paul Bracher, IMS Engineering,
tel (+27 10) 001-8200
