Tag Archives: Helga van Lochem

TOMRA Mining to present complete diamond recovery solution at Mining Indaba 2023

Diamond mining, Mineral processing, Mining events, Mining services, , , , , , ,

TOMRA Mining is to use the backdrop of the upcoming Mining Indaba 2023 event in Cape Town, South Africa, to highlight its complete sensor-based ore sorting diamond recovery solution.

Kai Bartram, Global Sales Director, Corné de Jager, Global Segment Manager Diamonds, and Helga van Lochem, Area Sales Manager, will be available from February 6-9 at the event to discuss the benefits of TOMRA’s portfolio of sorting solutions for the diamonds, metals and industrial minerals industry, as well as the advantages of its advanced digital products and services, like the TOMRA INSIGHT cloud-based platform, the company said.

Today, TOMRA Mining has more than 200 machines in operation across the world.

Bartram said: “Our sorting technologies effectively address key issues that mining companies face, such as decreasing average ore grades and rising energy costs. Not only do we offer a complete solution, unique in the market, for diamond recovery, but we have proven that our sensor-based ore sorting technologies are extremely effective in a wide variety of applications such as chrome, manganese, gold, lead and zinc. There is a big untapped potential for our technologies in mining and so far we have only scratched the surface. Our excellent results show that we are on the right track and we have ambitious objectives of growth for TOMRA Mining.”

Its latest innovation in diamond recovery, the COM XRT 300 /FR sorter, is a new-generation machine that represents an industry first in diamond sorting, according to the company.

Kai Bartram (Tomra Mining photo by Pepe Lange 2022)

It uses the company’s proprietary ultra-high-resolution sensor, advanced new image processing and high-precision ejector valve system to produce an ultra-high diamond-by-weight concentrate with an exceptionally low yield. The sorter offers 100% diamond detection within the specified size fraction and >99% guaranteed diamond recovery with appropriate feed material preparation, according to the company. It is also a dry process that doesn’t require water or chemical reagents.

“Our Final Recovery sorter has the potential to revolutionise diamond flowsheets,” de Jager said. “This user-friendly, compact and easy-to-operate sorter offers higher efficiency and better grade, with fewer sorting stages and a smaller footprint. It reduces complexity and operational costs.”

The TOMRA COM XRT 300 /FR completes TOMRA’s complete partnered diamond recovery solution, which covers the entire process, from Bulk Concentration to Final Recovery and Sort House applications.

“We are now able to offer our customers a full XRT solution to sort +2-100 mm particles: our bulk concentration sorters for +4-100 mm particles and the COM XRT 300 /FR in its Final Recovery, Sort House or small-capacity exploration applications for +2-32 mm particles,” de Jager added.

TOMRA strengthens southern Africa ore sorting ties with new regional HQ

Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Industrial minerals, Mineral processing, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

TOMRA says it has opened new regional headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, to strengthen its commitment to customers in southern Africa.

The initiative is designed to enhance customer care through even better technical support, service and training, and to ensure prompt availability of spare parts, it said. The move will also improve operational efficiencies by bringing together under one roof all three TOMRA business divisions: Mining, Recycling, and Food.

TOMRA’s new facilities are housed in a two-story, 1,800 sq.m building which accommodates offices, a warehouse, spare parts area, two training rooms, and three meeting rooms connected to TOMRA’s global network of more than 4,000 employees. There is also the space here to demonstrate TOMRA’s sensor-based sorting technologies.

The building’s location on the edge of the Longmeadow Business Estate, Edenvale, to the northeast of Johannesburg, is conveniently close to major road networks and the city’s airport.

The most senior executive at the new headquarters is Albert du Preez, Senior Vice-President and Head of TOMRA Mining. Du Preez said: “This investment affirms TOMRA’s wholehearted and long-term commitment to southern Africa. This is a growing market, and one we take very seriously. The 26-strong team operating out of our new headquarters will support customers in South Africa and all other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

With the mineral industry such a valuable source of export earnings, it is hugely important to national economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, TOMRA said. The African continent can produce up to 500 t/y of gold and accounts for a large share of the world’s diamonds, according to the company.

In April last year, a 1,758 ct diamond, one of the largest in recorded history, was recovered in Botswana through TOMRA X-Ray Transmission (XRT) sorting technology. South Africa is also a crucial global supplier of chrome ore and ferrochrome, exporting 8.5 Mt of ferrochrome annually, mostly to China, and TOMRA’s sorting solutions are ideal for the production of these minerals, it said.

Speaking from TOMRA’s new South African headquarters, Helga van Lochem, Sales Manager of TOMRA Sorting Mining, said: “Opening new premises confirms TOMRA’s belief in southern Africa as a big player in the global market, and our commitment to supporting mining businesses here in the long term. Investment in sorting solutions pays back handsomely and now our new training facility in Johannesburg can empower customers to get the most from our profit-enhancing technologies.”

TOMRA says it manufactures sensor-based sorting solutions for almost every mineral application: diamonds, industrial minerals, ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal, slag metals, and coal and other fuels.