Transvaal Rubber Company (Truco) has been awarded a contract to supply UV stabilised linear low-density polyethylene (LLDP) floats to the value of R1.6 million to the Moma mineral sands project in Mozambique. The floats comprise two sections bound together by stainless steel strapping. They can be fitted easily on site, replaced and reused. As they are manufactured from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDP), they are UV-resistant and resilient.

Mining at Moma is by dredging in an artificial mining pond, with concentration of the heavy minerals in a floating wet concentrator plant (WCP) to produce a heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) which is pumped to a minerals separation plant (MSP) for further processing. The MSP separates and upgrades the HMC into the final products, ilmenite, rutile and zircon.

According to Ashley Rabie, Projects Manager, Truco, the contract came about as a result of close co-operation between the company’s projects division and engineers involved in the project. “Truco has been involved with the project since the pre-feasibility stage in 2004. We worked closely with engineers analysing the project specifications and requirements and advising on which products were best suited. Truco also offers an extensive after-sales service which enables us to work with the engineers to find solutions to any problems they may be having or advise on additional requirements.”

Rabie notes that the combination of Truco’s quality products and expertise in the industry ensures that the client receives the best solution. “An example of this would be the installation in Richards Bay where we also supplied our patented hose floats to support a dewatering hose system in a dredging application.”

These particular floats were developed in response to customer demand. Similar floats were being imported but lead times and exchange rate fluctuations were unfavourable. Truco has a reference site in Namibia where two similar float lines were supplied to a diamond mine.