The first international Polycom^® users forum took place from 10-12 November 2010 in Perth, Australia. The event gave the 45 experts present the opportunity to exchange their comprehensive experience about the use of high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs). Key mining companies were represented, including Freeport, Newmont, Vale, Newcrest and Anglo American, and numerous users presented their practical experience with Polycom applications.The participants also visited Australia’s largest gold mine, Newmont’s Boddington mine, as well as the Polysius Service Centre in Perth, which was opened in 2009. Here, they learnt more about the new Polysius Service Concept, which has the aim of promoting an even closer partnership between users and Polysius. “Thanks to our wide range of service products, we are in a position to further increase the availability of the Polycom and other plant components of the mining industry” explained Andreas Echelmeyer, Head of Polysius Service Minerals.

“The intention of the event is to create a platform where practical experiences from engineering, installation, operation, optimisation and maintenance of Polycom^–based processing plants will be shared in order to enhance current and future operations. Further, a personal network of HPGR experts will be established for the benefit of all participants”, said Stephan Kirsch, Managing Director of Polysius Australia.

The Polycom is a high-pressure grinding roll that can be very successfully used for the comminution of a broad range of ores and rock. Machines with throughputs of up to and above 3,000 t/h are in use for both the gentle breaking of hard rock containing gold or diamonds and for the production of fine material. The feed size can range from approximately 100 microns to over 65 mm. In modern dressing plants, HPGRs are used both in the third crushing stage and for the fine grinding. They can handle feed material with a moisture content of up to 10%. In comparison to conventional systems, both the power consumption and the costs for wear parts are significantly lower.