Diemme Filtration’s GHT5000F Domino, the largest filter press in the world, is finally in operation. IM can reveal that the unit is running at the Toquepala copper mine in Peru, which is operated by Southern Copper Corporation (SCC), a majority owned subsidiary of Grupo Mexico.
The unit first arrived in Peru in the summer of 2022 followed by assembly, which Diemme says was done very quickly and efficiently, given that this was the first time for this record model. In tandem with this, SCC completed its works including the conveyor which delivers the tailings to the filter press.
Andrea Pezzi, Diemme Filtration Director Marketing and Communication told IM: “We were then able to start the unit with the first couple of cycles in the second half of December 2022. This was a big step – we were able to get the first filter cake produced. As of today the Diemme team is at the site, optimising the cycle and checking the instruments to bring it operation to a steady level before production begins to ramp up when we can fully test its capacity and performance.”
The main aim of SCC in installing the Domino is a gradual transition to dry stacked tailings at Toquepala. The first Domino is a pilot unit with the testing continuing over a period of about 12 months. The Domino with a filter plate size of 5 m x 5 m is capable of handling over 8,000 t/d. If the machine and the technology perform as expected, producing the targeted moisture levels at scale, SCC plans to install a much larger bank of up to 9 or 10 of these presses for a total capacity of over 80,000 t/d. The testing period will also allow SCC to get familiar with the machine operation and regular maintenance.
With a maximum total filtration volume of 71 m3, and a max total filtration area of 2,850 m2, the GHT5000F Domino remains the largest filter press available in the market. On large throughput projects, Diemme says the GHT5000F Domino will significantly improve the capital cost of a tailings filtration plant compared with installing many smaller filter presses for the same duty.
The record unit’s attributes include the innovative AIDA 4.0 service that integrates IIoT into the customer’s filter press. The Domino also has an integrated work platform for easy maintenance. It incorporates a new rinsing system with six points of washing for a homogeneous rinse of the filter media after each cycle; and an automatic high-pressure cloth washing system with double wash-bar to simultaneously clean the cloths of two chambers and halve the downtime to perform HP cloth washing.
Parts of the frame are factory pre-assembled modules to reduce assembly time at the site while quick-connect cable connections between modules minimise wiring and ensure quick assembly at the site. Cloth replacement is done from either side of the filter, with simultaneous multi-cloth replacement capability.
The Toquepala unit is also indicative of growth being experienced by Diemme across Latin America, not just in Chilean and Peruvian copper projects but also iron ore and bauxite in Brazil, where it now has a major new service and spare parts facility in Belo Horizonte. Similar facilities are being set up in other countries in Latin America as well as North America and Australia. The Domino machine itself in Peru is already creating a lot of interest from other mine operators in the region, to see something of this scale actually installed and working.
Pezzi added: “There is one more Domino already being manufactured in our Lugo facility – this is for a copper mining customer in Chile and planned to be delivered in Q3 2023. The plan is similar to that in Peru, where it is a trial unit to let the customer test its use for dry stack tailings then scale up to multiple units should it prove successful. In addition, our AIDA IIoT system for remote control, management and optimisation is already installed on the Toquepala unit and will also be used on the Chile unit. We want to be close to our clients physically with our new offices and locations, but also remotely to help them optimise their machines and troubleshoot any problems. We are monitoring the Peru unit 24/7 and have an AIDA team in Lugo including process experts and analysts looking at the data and giving the client feedback.”
Construction gets underway at Diemme Filtration’s new filter press production facility in Lugo
At the same time as introducing this new model to the market, Diemme has embarked on an ambitious project to expand its home production facilities in Lugo, Italy in order to cope with the constant growth in demand for its innovative technologies. The planning of the new factory, which in terms of size, technology and environmental standards represents the state of the art in the industry, lasted about a year and construction work began in January 2023. This important development will allow Diemme to multiply its current production capacity and meet its future commitments, which include the realisation of numerous challenging filtration projects already in the pipeline. The plant is set to be completed by late Q2/early Q3 2023.
It will be equipped with the latest cranes, painting shop and other facilities to allow it to produce the latest and largest models in the Diemme line up including the Domino with high efficiency. It effectively doubles Diemme’s filter press production capacity. Pezzi pointed out that will also be energy efficient having an extensive array of solar panels; while the painting shop will be equipped with the latest fans and emissions filtration systems.
A video of the new Domino filter press installed in Peru can be viewed by registering and/or logging in here
