FLSmidth supplies two types of flotation machines: WEMCO®, a self-aspirated one and the nextSTEP™ which is a forced-air, externally aerated machine. FLSmidth has delivered more than 54,000 flotation cells worldwide. As both machines operate differently and recover different particles (size, liberation, hydrophobicity) and FLSmidth is the only supplier offering both types of machines, one focus area has been to mix-and-match these machines initially in the mixedCIRCUIT and then in the mixedROW.

A combination of machines in the plant having different functions ie rougher, cleaner, etc. is called a mixedCIRCUIT, historically with WEMCO roughers and nextSTEP cleaners. A combination of forced air and self-aspirated machines in the same row is called a mixedROW. FLSmidth has installed and tested a combination of nextSTEP and WEMCO cells in various plants on different continents. This began a few years ago with the mixedCIRCUIT and has continued more recently with mixedROW configurations. FLSmidth has even retrofitted brownfield installations to accomplish mixedROW configurations. Advantages of the mixedROW over a single type of flotation machine will be presented in the future once permission to publish the results has been received but for now an overview is being presented at next week’s SME Annual Conference & Expo 2019 in Denver, Colorado.