Tag Archives: wet processing

Cedric Minería selects CDE EvoWash wet processing tech for Buin sand, gravel ops

Energy minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chilean mining and aggregates company, Cedric Minería, has announced a major overhaul of its aggregates business following a significant investment in advanced wet processing technology from CDE, the Belfast-based company says.

The family business, which expanded into aggregates production in 2003, has revealed plans for a new wet processing solution at its Buin operation.

Established in 1981, Cedric Minería specialised in the production of calcium carbonate and sulphur products before diversifying its interests and launching its silica operation, Mina Nancy, near the city of Calama in Antofagasta Region.

It soon secured listing as a strategic supplier of silica to state-owned copper mining company Codelco for its copper smelting plant in Chuquicamata, northern Chile.

Following the success of its silica business, Cedric Minería soon after commissioned its first aggregates processing plant in Buin which supplies the local market with a range of washed sand and gravel products for pre-cast concrete, asphalt, pipe bedding and more.

This summer, CDE will commission the EvoWash™ sand wash plant and an AquaCycle™ water management system at the company’s Buin site, replacing their existing washing screws.

Using CDE cyclone technology, the new plant will enable Cedric Minería to produce two grades of high quality, in-spec fine sands: 0-5 mm and 0-8 mm.

A compact, modular sand washing system, CDE’s EvoWash screens and separates the smaller sand and gravel fractions through an integrated high-frequency dewatering screen, sump and hydrocyclones which provide control of silt cut points and eliminates the loss of quality fines with significant commercial value.

An alternative to water extraction and the costly process of pumping water to the plant, CDE’s AquaCycle significantly reduces costly water consumption by ensuring up to 90% of process water is recycled for immediate recirculation, the company says. It helps to accelerate return on investment by maximising production efficiency, minimising the loss of valuable fines and reducing water and energy costs. A single, compact and user-friendly unit, it can be applied to high and low tonnages across many market sectors.

Cedric Minería owner, Cedric Fernández, says the investment in CDE technology is a significant step forward for the company.

“We’re making a huge technological leap forward with this new plant. Cedric Minería branched into the aggregates business almost two decades ago and throughout that time we have operated a traditional system,” Fernández said. “The existing plant has served us well, but we need a modern solution that is future-ready. Our latest investment in CDE wet processing technology represents the beginning of a new chapter for our company.”

Fernández says the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the construction industry but anticipates strong future demand for sand and aggregates to support the country’s public works investments.

CDE Business Development Executive, Gustavo Brasil, says older technology is very much under the spotlight for materials processors as they work to remedy inefficiencies.

“Recognising the limitations of the existing setup, the team at Cedric Minería are setting out on an ambitious transformation project to replace a traditional processing plant with a much more advanced and efficient technological solution,” he said.

The CDE solution engineered for Cedric Minería will revolutionise its current process, he added.

“CDE’s Evowash solution will enable Cedric Minería to produce superior fine sands with less moisture content while the AquaCycle water management system will deliver massive efficiency gains by recycling process water and driving down operational costs,” he said.

SOMEVAM to add second CDE wet processing plant in Tunisia

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Water management, , , , , , ,

SOMEVAM, a subsidiary of the Tunisian Sebri Group, has announced plans for a significant investment in the development of its second CDE wet processing solution for the production of high-specification silica sand products.

Sebri Group will work with its wet processing partner, CDE, to design and engineer the new plant, which will be located at SOMEVAM’s quarry in Oueslatia.

The company has operated sand quarries in Oueslatia, Tunisia, to serve the national construction market for the past two decades. Here, SOMEVAM was producing a range of sand and aggregate materials for the construction sector.

Its management team identified an opportunity to further diversify the business by expanding into the glass sands market to strengthen its commercial proposition in the region, and, in 2019, commissioned its first CDE solution at the site. This silica sand wash plant has the capacity to treat up to 200 t/h of sand, producing 100 t/h of silica glass sand for the glass industry, as well as a range of secondary products including fine silica sand for silica flour production, foundry sand, concrete sand and road base.

Investment in a second silica sand wash plant comes as SOMEVAM records significant interest in its future production output, CDE said. The plant will produce silica sand, which has applications in paints, coatings and inks, adhesives and sealants, pharmaceuticals, lighting and more, as well as silica for flat glass applications such as windows, mirrors and flat glazing.

CDE’s Senior Project Manager, Bassem Idriss, said: “We’re very pleased to once again partner with Sebri Group on this exciting project announcement that will significantly expand SOMEVAM’s silica sand processing and production capacity. Its previous investment in CDE technology exemplifies our commitment to engineering excellence and is one of the most advanced plants of its kind.

“Sebri Group recognises that superior product to meet the demands of the market requires an equally superior processing solution and, as such, this investment will complement the existing CDE solution in Oueslatia to further strengthen its position and capitalise on growth opportunities in the glass sands market.”

Habib Sebri, Owner and Chairman of Sebri Group, said: “Following a hugely successful venture into the glass sand industry with our first CDE plant, we sought an additional plant to meet the growing demand for our products. We are excited to partner with CDE once again on this new project to maintain the quality and consistency of our offering, and we thank all of those partners who helped secure funding and provided their expertise and resources to help make this ambitious project a reality.”

CDE said it and Sebri Group look forward to expanding on this announcement and sharing more detail about the development of the new SOMEVAM silica sand wet processing solution in the Oueslatia region over the coming months.

With authorisation from the Central Bank of Tunisia, funding for this investment was secured with the support of UK Export Finance, AF Capital, Apple Bank, and supported by British Embassy Tunis, according to CDE.

CDE wet processing solution allows SOVEVAM to access new markets

Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Industrial minerals, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Water management, , , , , , , , , , , ,

CDE has helped SOMEVAM, a subsidiary of the Sebri group, diversify into a new market by providing a tailor-made wet processing solution that eliminated contaminants and increased the quality of its end products.

SOMEVAM has operated sand quarries in Oueslatia, Tunisia, serving the national construction market since 2001.

Following testing of material, SOMEVAM saw the opportunity to diversify into the glass industry in North Africa and Europe, and produce a range of supplementary products, including industrial sand and silica flour. The company also wanted to produce a 30-150 micron fraction that would make its offer unique in the region.

SOMEVAM sought an effective wet processing solution that would eliminate contaminants and offer variable cut points to increase the quality and commercial value of the end products, CDE said.

Each day, SOMEVAM extracts 3,000 t of sand. To handle such quantities efficiently while also adhering to stringent quality standards requires the most advanced, durable and sustainable processing equipment, the company added.

“Together, the Tunisian company and CDE have developed a tailor-made wet processing solution to support SOMEVAM to achieve its commercial growth aspirations,” CDE said.

The design process, underpinned by CDE’s co-creation approach, allowed CDE engineers to work directly with the SOMEVAM team to develop a modular wet processing installation suited to the feed material (including a silica content of 99%) and the company’s production targets.

Habib Sebri, CEO of SOMEVAM, explained: “Before we got into glass sand, we operated the Oueslatia site for the production of building materials. However, it was clear that the material on site presented an interesting commercial opportunity in the field of silica for flat glass applications such as windows, mirrors and flat glazing.”

Sebri says it was important to invest in the right sand treatment equipment to guarantee the success of the project.

“After exhaustive research of the various options at our disposal, we chose a modular wet processing solution from CDE. The expertise of the company’s engineers and sales team, its investment in innovation and new technologies, and the quality of the materials used during the manufacturing process were the key determining factors in our decision.”

The CDE solution

To guarantee precise control of sand cut points, SOMEVAM opted for a complete turnkey CDE solution. The CDE plant has the capacity to treat up to 200 t/h of sand, producing 100 t/h of silica glass sand for the glass industry, as well as a range of secondary products including fine silica sand for silica flour production, foundry sand, concrete sand and road base.

The installation features a combination of CDE equipment operating in synergy: an M4500 primary wash plant to classify materials, five high frequency Infinity Screens™, four attrition cells, spiral separators, CDE’s Counter Flow Classification Unit (CFCU), a nano-cyclone, magnet, four EvoWash™ sand washing units and an AquaCycle™ water management solution.

Combined, the system processes fine and coarse materials and eliminates contaminants to produce high-specification glass sand, according to CDE.

Cutting-edge technology

“Since its launch in 2014, CDE’s M4500 has quickly become popular and is installed in plants around the world,” CDE said. “This high-tech plant is compact, powerful, easy to use and economical.”

CDE’s cyclone technology uses centrifugal force for classifying materials rather than gravity, which retains every grain of viable sand in the system, according to the company. The design of the cyclone also makes it possible to establish multiple variable parameters to obtain unrivalled cut-point precision, CDE says.

Attrition, spirals and magnetic separation processes are used to remove contaminates from the product and maximise the silica content.

Bassem Idriss, Project Manager for the Europe and MENA region at CDE, explained: “The M4500 demonstrates the effectiveness of CDE’s cyclone technology and the flexibility of our process and engineering teams, who have designed the process to produce very high quality glass sand to meet SOMEVAM’s requirements.

“The hydrocyclones were built according to the specific needs of the client, based on analysis of the feed material carried out by CDE during the pre-project phase.

“The process water, loaded with undesirable fines, is removed at the level of the overflow of the cyclones while the treated sand enters the dewatering and stockpiling phase. With cutting points of incomparable precision, the products are treated according to the required standards and without risk of mixing.”

Efficient water management

To produce a clean sand product requires a good supply of clean water, with the new installation incorporating CDE’s water management system, the AquaCycle thickener with a capacity of 1,500 cu.m/h. Waste water from the plant is processed by the AquaCycle thickener which recovers up to 90% of the process water to be recirculated back into the washing plant, minimising the size and maintenance requirements of the settling ponds, which is particularly advantageous where the site is situated in Tunisia, CDE says.

Idriss continued: “In Tunisia, a hot and dry country, it is important to consider the difficulties of accessing fresh water. It is essential not to waste a drop of water. CDE’s AquaCycle allows SOMEVAM to recycle process water in a closed circuit for immediate reuse in the system.

“The wastewater, after passing through the deaeration chamber and after having been in contact with the flocculant injection, passes to the centre of the AquaCycle so that the flocculation process operates and acts on the sedimentation of the fines. The integrated flocculation unit allows precise dosing of premixed flocculant for effective decantation. A single motor drives the AquaCycle rake arms for optimal sludge treatment before disposal.”

The result

The CDE installation for SOMEVAM transforms the feed material into five high specification products with exceptional commercial value, according to CDE.

It produces glass sand (150-650 microns) and related products, including oversized (3 mm) ready to be used in water filtration systems, coarse sand (650 microns-3 mm) ready to be ground to make flour silica, ultrafine (30-150 microns) for ceramics or other industries, and iron-rich sand that can be used in sports fields. With a typical moisture content of 12%, the materials are market-ready straight from the belts, CDE says.

Sebri commented: “Our CDE solution has made a huge impact on the glass sand industry in Tunisia and in the North African market. It represents the most advanced technology available on the North African market and has enabled us to become ultra-competitive in an industry with extremely high-quality standards.

“Our glass sand is sold for the production of white glass, and the other fractions are sold for various industrial applications. Our quick return on investment was thanks to the power and efficiency of our CDE solution.”

CDE underlines aftersales focus with North America HQ investment

Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Industrial minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , , , ,

Following the official opening of its North America headquarters in September 2018, wet processing equipment manufacturer, CDE, is continuing to invest significantly in its flagship CustomCare service.

An investment of over $6 million was made in CDE’s North America headquarters in Cleburne, Texas, it said, bolstering the company’s aftersales support offering.

North America remains the company’s highest potential growth region and demand for its cutting-edge solutions is continuing to rise, the company reported.

“Now, with greater foothold in the North American market to build closer, direct ties with its growing customer base, CDE is expanding its CustomCare offering to maximise the efficiency and uptime of its customers’ plants,” it said.

To minimise plant downtime, CDE’s investment in its North America headquarters included the development of fully stocked and managed stores to house high-wearing consumable plant components.

The company’s pre-emptive approach sees thousands of replacement parts, valued at almost $4 million, readily available for immediate dispatch, it said.

“Responsive on-the-ground support and locally sourced parts means CDE is better equipped to strengthen its direct relationships with customers and supply or fit replacement high-wear parts to ensure a plant is running at optimum efficiency to boost return on investment,” the company said. “And who better to service, support or provide parts than the people who know the plants best.”

Sean O’Leary, CustomCare Manager, CDE North America, said: “Our unrivalled aftersales support is designed to ensure our customers get the maximum performance from their CDE equipment. A vital component of this is having a direct relationship with the customer and committing resources to their markets.

“Durability and reliability are key attributes of CDE technology, and our Customer for Life model outlines our commitment to taking preventative measures to enhance productivity, maximise uptime and profitability. For our customers, this is indispensable. They are reassured by our proactive approach which is achieved through regular preventative maintenance inspection site visits, detailing recommended parts lists, outlining time required to fully fit replacement parts and stocking common wearables locally for rapid dispatch.”

As CDE expands its presence in the Americas it is also adapting its product set with enhancements to respond to the requirements of materials processors in the marketplace. At CONEXPO-CON/AGG, in Las Vegas, in March 2020, it will launch the latest in its range of Combo™ all-in-one wet processing solutions.

The patented Combo™ – the world’s first all-in-one wet processing plant, CDE claims – was unveiled in Europe at Bauma, in April 2019. It was the first fully integrated, modular, patented turnkey materials wet processing and water management solution.

The latest model in the Combo™ range will have several soon-to-be-revealed enhanced features that have been specifically designed to enable operators in the Americas to capitalise on new opportunities, the company said.

It added: “In recognising the ever-changing requirements of materials processors, CDE offers price per tonne finance options for its fully customised and turnkey wet processing solutions.

“Adapted to support the business aims and objectives of operators in the North and Latin American markets, these hassle-free finance options enable business owners to modernise their operations with next-generation wet processing equipment including CDE’s pioneering patented Combo.”