Tag Archives: MillSlicer

Molycop to expand leaching, milling and flotation capabilities with Process IQ

Molycop has announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Process IQ (PIQ), a mining technology provider of proprietary data analytics and visualisation, instrumentation and advanced process control solutions.

The agreement represents an exciting and important step in Molycop’s digital transformation, as the acquisition of Process IQ complements Molycop’s MillSlicer technology platform and expands its product and service capabilities across leaching, milling (comminution) and flotation, it said. Some of the solutions PIQ provides include mill vibration technology, cyanide measurement and advanced process control solutions for processing plants.

Process IQ also provides circuit optimisation consultancy through “Orway IQ”, a joint venture between Orway Mineral Consultants (OMC) and Process IQ. OMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lycopodium.

Process IQ was established in 2011 by Pieter Strobos and Daniel van der Spuy and is headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.

On signing the agreement, Strobos and van der Spuy said: “Together, a combined Process IQ and Molycop will be able to better serve the global mining industry. We can now provide leading digital technology solutions alongside process optimisation expertise for our customers to help them realise sustainable productivity enhancements and operational efficiency.”

Molycop added: “Process IQ has established a reputation as a trusted technology partner of metallurgists and mineral processing engineers. Process IQ specialises in using technology to its full potential for its mineral processing customers. By combining specialised instrumentation with advanced process control, data analytics and visualisation, Process IQ builds solutions that deliver step-change improvements for its customers. Process IQ has established a strong market presence and reputation for delivering a differentiated technology offering focused on improving customer throughput, recovery and efficiency.”

Molycop Digital President, Darren O’Connell, said the acquisition was the next step for the digital business, enhancing the company’s position in mineral processing.

“We value the breadth of talent and capability the Process IQ team brings to Molycop, and we are excited to move to the next phase of growth for Molycop’s digital business,” he said.

The sale is anticipated to be finalised by the end of November.

Molycop enhances digital mineral processing position with Digital Control Lab buy

Molycop has announced the completion of the acquisition of the assets of Digital Control Lab (DCL), a provider of mill monitoring solutions based in Florida, USA.

DCL has an established market position in the cement and mining mill monitoring domain, combined with strong brand recognition, innovative engineering capabilities and a reputation for delivering a differentiated technology offering, according to Molycop.

The business offers the MillSlicer, TriSlicer and MillScan monitoring systems for SAG and cement mills. These systems are installed on customer grinding mills and provide real-time insight into the inner workings of these critical assets. These solutions have proven to reduce liner damage, eliminate obstruction spills, increase material throughput all while producing a better targeted output, Molycop says.

Jim Anderson, CEO of Molycop, says: “We are very excited to be aligning our efforts with the DCL team. This aquisition will enhance our position at the forefront of providers of digital solutions for the global mining and industrial markets. This is an exciting and important step in Molycop’s digital transformation adding industry-leading mill scanning technology and products to our current digital offering.

“Our vision is to leverage DCL’s market reputation, product offering, domain expertise and intellectual property in mill monitoring solutions, to build upon Molycop’s current technical service and digital technology portfolio, to create the premier platform for mineral processing circuit monitoring and optimisation.”

Dr Karl Gugel, DCL CEO and Founder, says: “We are very pleased to be joining a company that has been at the forefront of providing solutions to the mining industry for over a century. I am passionate about the future opportunities this transaction provides and look forward to a great partnership with Molycop.”

DRA Global helps Asanko gold mine surpass 5 Mt/y capacity

DRA Global recently implemented an Advanced Milling Control System, using the MillSlicer instrument, on the Asanko gold mine in Ghana.

Asanko is a large scale, multi-pit asset located on the Asankrangwa belt in Ghana. Built in 2015 by DRA Global, ahead of schedule and within budget, first gold was poured in January 2016 and commercial production commenced in April 2016. The mine is now owned 50:50 by Asanko Gold Mining and Gold Fields.

DRA said: “Operations at Asanko prioritise efficiencies, with minimal downtime. Unplanned or forced mill stoppages and breakdowns can often lead to costly setbacks for overall mine operations.

The DRA Global technical processing specialists collaborated closely with the Asanko owner’s team to develop a control system solution that is able to produce real time reporting and enable the mill operators to better optimise the milling process.”

Val Coetzee, DRA’s Senior Vice President Process, said: “This MillSlicer Control instrument provides accurate signals via a number of strategically positioned vibration sensors that are used by DRA’s comminution and control specialists to develop bespoke control systems, specific to an operation. The programme allows for accurate mill charge toe-angle measurement and real time polar plot determination, which is used in the customised control system.”

The milling control system, which was commissioned by DRA in August 2018, uses propriety “rule-based algorithms” assisting the mine’s operation with superior control, maximising energy efficiency and ensuring continual optimal mill performance despite any changes in mine fragmentation or ore type variances, according to DRA.

Coetzee said: “DRA is able to provide remote operational support, data analysis and reporting to assist clients in reducing liner damage, media consumption and ensure that mill operators efficiently maximise throughput at all times.

“This MillSlicer hardware and the DRA Advanced Control System, in conjunction with a number of other initiatives relating to open circuit modifications, use of cameras and feed blending, have successfully contributed to the performance excellence of the Asanko processing plant in recent months.”

Russell Bradford, SVP Metallurgy at Asanko, said: “The MillSlicer hardware has enabled the Asanko team to optimise the mill’s performance by ensuring we always have the right blend of ore at the right tonnages in the mill. Since this technology was implemented, the Asanko processing plant has consistently delivered above its 5 Mt/y design rate.”

The Asanko mine is a 50:50 joint venture between Asanko Gold Mining and Gold Fields managed and operated by Aasnko. In 2018, the mine is targeting 200,000-220,000 oz of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,050-$1,150/oz.