JKTech, the technology transfer company, has sold its Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA) intellectual property and associated business to technology company FEI. A number of JKTech personnel in the MLA team have transferred to FEI to continue in their roles of developing and supporting automated mineralogy solutions. JKTech will use the proceeds from the sale to support ongoing Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) research activities and to allow JKTech to accelerate the development of other technology transfer projects.

JKTech and FEI have worked together for more than 10 years enhancing the global rollout of the MLA technology to become a market leader. Collaboration will continue for the benefit of all parties, including MLA’s international customer base. MLA inventor Dr Ying Gu will join the JKMRC and will continue to be a leader of mineralogy research and of new solutions in the area of ore characterisation.

JKTech, through its association with the JKMRC and the other Centres of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland, continues to provide techniques to the minerals processing industry for ore characterisation as well as enhancing process design and optimising plant performance. These include simulation software packages for blasting (JKSimBlast), comminution (JKSimMet), flotation (JKSimFloat) and mass balancing (JKMultiBal) as well as training and professional development courses. The JKTech consulting team continues to provide specialist comminution, flotation and process mineralogy services directed towards process improvement as well as cost and energy reduction.

This transaction does not impact JKTech’s other business activities or JKTech’s shareholding in its joint venture company ALS Mineralogy which provides a commercial mineralogy service using the MLA technology. It is also consistent with JKTech’s function as a technology transfer company for The University of Queensland.