Glencore
Enhancing Processes in the Mining Industry
Glencore Technology’s Chief Technology Officer Reinhar Viljoen discusses the importance of collaboration in the mining industry and opens up about the importance of branding and marketing Written by: Robert Spence Produced by: Vince Kielty
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GLENCORE
IsaKidd robotic CSM
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s one of the largest commodity traders and mining companies in the world, Swiss-based Glencore has maintained a rich lineage of innovative technology through its existence in the mining sector. The company has leveraged its experience and knowledge from its own operational sites to develop and market new solutions to meet the mining industry’s evolving demands. 4 August 2015
Their competitive advantage for the last 30 years has been Glencore Technology. Spawned from the merger with Xstrata, Glencore Technology continues to be a dominant player in marketing technologies for the metals and mineral processing industries. Industry experts Glencore Technology specializes in developing and marketing supportive technologies for the
MINING
mineral processing and metals smelting and refining industries. The company has developed proven technologies such as ISASMELT and IsaKidd, which are patented processes widely used in the smelting, electrowinning and copper refining industry today. Additional technologies include IsaMill, a fine and mainstream grinding technology, the Jameson Cell flotation technology and the Albion Process leaching technology. “We’ve initially developed specific copper processing technology,” said Reinhardt Viljoen, Glencore Technology’s Chief Technology Officer. “However, we’re now also involved in the broader design of smelters and refineries and our technology is applicable to other base metals like zinc, lead, nickel, etc. Our technology has also delivered improved processing performance in the precious metal industry, with the gold and platinum industry specifically applying Glencore Technology’s IsaMill and Albion Process Technology.” In terms of supporting technologies for clients, Glencore
Technology has designed and developed the ZipaTank™. According to Viljoen, The ZipaTank is an innovative approach to slurry storage and leaching tanks that incorporates modular components and mechanical joins to provide all the benefits of a traditional welded tank, but with lower costs, reduced installation times and far greater flexibility. “The tank is mechanically bolted. Anyone with a minimal amount of skill and supervision can bolt it together. Its scalability makes it very exciting for clients as it can accommodate most projects and even be reused for other projects.” In addition, Glencore Technology has developed the HyperSparge™, a proven and cost effective system for delivering air, oxygen or other process gases into tanks or vessels for leaching or oxidation processes. “A lot of these technologies started off from issues we experienced in our copper and zinc operations,” said Viljoen. The key ingredient For Glencore Technology, innovation
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Your Partners for Mining
Your Partners fo
r Mining
50 years experie nce with horizontal & ve rtical agitated bead mills
ISAMILL – Largest Agitator Bead Mill in the World The patented ISAMILL is a transformation in grinding technology based on high intensity stirred milling. The ISAMILL was developed for fine grained orebodies that needed a step change in processing efficiency to be economic. significantly reduces the energy requirement and media and capital costs of fine grinding. Just as importantly, the processing advantages of inert grinding greatly improve metallurgical performance compared with conventional steel media.
NETZSCH-Feinmahltechnik GmbH Sedanstraße 70 95100 Selb Germany Tel.: +49 9287 797-0 Fax: +49 9287 797 149
www.netzsch.com/gd
GLENCORE
MINING
starts with collaboration. “Here in Australia, and all across the world, collaboration is a key ingredient to being innovative. We have a very supportive and collaborative group here at Glencore Technology and everyone brings something to the table,” said Viljoen. Collaboration helps Glencore Technology continuously find new ways of identifying and developing technologies to improve processing in the mining industry as well maintaining a wide range of existing applications in the mining industry. Along with working internally with Glencore operations, Glencore Technology partners with other companies to collaborate in building innovative technologies that improve processing.
SUPPLIER PROFILE
Hypersparge
NETZSCH
Employees: 850 (approx. 3300 worldwide – complete NETZSCH group) Established: 1873
The Grinding & Dispersing Business Unit, one of three business units of the global NETZSCH Group, offers a comprehensive program for the many challenges in mechanical process engineering. Here the Business Unit is primarily involved in the areas of wet and dry grinding, mixing, dispersing, de-aeration and classifying. The laboratory- and production-scale machines, as well as complete production lines, are used in almost all areas of industry, such as the forward-looking nanotechnology, the production of ink, minerals or foods. The bundling of processing know-how, our extensive machine program, solutions for customer-specific problems and our global presence are unique and hence the strength of the business unit.
Website: www.netzsch-grinding.com
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Specialists in design, fabrication, welding and installation of Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel & Specialty Alloy Pressure Equipment, including:
www.nrgpiping.com.au
• Shop Pipe Spooling • Pressure Vessels • Pipe Supports and Structures • Field Welding and Mechanical Installation • Stainless Steel; Austenitic, Duplex and Super Duplex • Alloys; Chromoly, Monel, Hastelloy and Titanium • Carbon Steels; Standard, Low and High Temperature
Phone: +61 7 3807 1119 | Fax: +61 7 3807 9722 | Email: sales@nrgpiping.com.au
GLENCORE
MINING
For example Netsch GmbH, Glencore Technology’s partner in the development of the IsaMill Technology. “Once we identify a need, we run a very lean operation. We know what we’re good at and we stick with it. We excel at commercializing technology and identifying needs. We work with the universities as well carrying out our own research and design to take those ideas to the next level in a very functional and commercial way,” said Viljoen. “We take great pride in developing processes that are operationally proven and that
deliver value to our customers sustainably, such as our fine grinding processes that give mining operations the ability to liberate more of their valuable minerals.” According to Viljoen, collaboration doesn’t always create innovation; it has to be driven by the needs of the industry and operations. “We’re heavily driven by our internal Glencore operations to provide them with the expertise we have, and present potential opportunities commercially as we identify them. The mining industry is very conservative. Productivity is a key focus and you need to ensure
SUPPLIER PROFILE NRG Piping Pty Ltd is a forward thinking leading company with an enviable reputation for quality and reliability in the design, fabrication, installation and maintenance from heavy specialty metals. With proven quality management systems that are certified to ISO9001:2008 and industry qualified management and personnel, NRG has over 25 years’ experience offering a range of engineering project services nationally and internationally specialising in Oil and Gas, Mining, Power, Water Treatment & Petrochemical industries. NRG offers project dedicated off site manufacturing facilities in conjunction with onsite installation services where our clients are guaranteed capacity and quality ensuring a safe, efficient, cost effective engineering service to your project delivering profits to your bottom line.
Website: www.nrgpiping.com.au w w w . g l e n c o r e t e c h n o l o g y. c o m . a u
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Skids, Test Rigs and Wear Parts for the Mining Industry Automated Systems and Equipment CNC Machining and Fabrication Controls and Systems Integration Project Management
DESIGN & MANUFACTURING ENGINEERS
Est. 1962
J C Smale is a diversified applied technology company that offers special industrial production, materials handling and processing systems. All J C Smale special industrial plant and equipment is designed, built, installed and commissioned specifically to customer requirements. J C Smale also provides on site services for retrofit, rework and upgrade to customers’ existing plant and equipment.
We specialize in: PU LINED, NI PLATED, RUBBER LINED, HARDOX & STAINLESS STEEL COMPONENTS FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY - WORLDWIDE PRODUCTION PLANT & EQUIPMENT ROBOT SYSTEMS TEST RIGS, MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEMS COMPLETE ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEMS Industries serviced: mining, brick, light rail, and paint.
Proud Supply Chain Partner of Glencore Technology for Over 20 Years
Turnkey Manufacturing Technologies 9-23 Commercial Rd, Notting Hill, Vic 3168, Australia Ph: +61 3 9544 7188 Fax: +61 3 9543 7927 Email: jcs@jcsmale.com No 19 Jalan Bukit 5 Bandar Seri Alam, Malaysia
www.jcsmale.com
GLENCORE
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you’re responding to the needs of the operational guys. “With the introduction of automation technology, advanced process controls and simplicity of operations will become a big factor in coming years. Automation is complicated but new technologies will simplify the process,” said Viljoen. “Equipment design needs to be very simple but robust. To maximize productivity, the need is to be innovative around designing equipment and running it with minimal attention.” In addition, the company continuously strives to find new and
SUPPLIER PROFILE
more efficient ways of doing things, even if it takes them outside the realm of the mining sector. “We’re continuously looking for other applications in the mining industry or even if it applies outside the industry. We are always looking for new ideas in terms of solving issues that come up within those disciplines – grinding, flotation, smelting and refining,” said Viljoen. Branding One of the most underrated aspects of the mining industry is branding. For Glencore Technology
JCSMALE & SONS
Employees: 58 Established: 1962 Industry: Engineering and Design for Heavy Clay, Mining, Automotive, Light Rail, Adhesives, Paint and Plasterboard Services: mechanical, electrical and general engineering services Management: Ken Smale - Managing Director, Ross Smale - Engineer Electrical,ColinSmale-Engineer–Applications,GordonSmale–Manufacturing Manager, Ron Hill – Group Financial Controller Website: www.jcsmale.com
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GLENCORE
Albion Process
it is especially important. “You miss opportunities if you don’t. Being active in the market and letting people know what your capabilities are is extremely important, especially if you want to grow. During the mining boom you could get away with a passive approach. You can’t do that now. Branding yourself is very important and we actively strive to do just that,” said Viljoen. “With the change in the mining industry, and the mergers, there has been a lot of change in our structure. As a result, our presence in the
A world that lasts forever Outokumpu is a global leader in a wide range of high performance stainless steels, with manufacturing plants and sales companies located throughout the world.
P: 61 7 3267 7266 | E: ken.hayes@outokumpu.com
12 August 2015
www.outokumpu.com/australia
MINING
Company Information INDUSTRY
Mining HEADQUARTERS
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia FOUNDED
1984 EMPLOYEES
85
Jameson Cell
market as Glencore Technology has been more of a gradual change. One of my key focuses as Chief Technology Officer is to get our branding well established.” According to Viljoen, forming a presence in the market is an important step in growing as a company as well as delivering on your promise. “We’re motivated by continuous improvements. We maintain long-term relationships with our all our customers to ensure we’re delivering on the promises we’ve made. For us, client feedback is extremely important and these relationships help us to leverage their opinion into making advancements. A key part of our business is making improvements around our customers.”
PRODUCTS/ SERVICES Glencore Technology develops, markets and supports technologies for the global mineral processing and metals smelting and refining industries. These technologies include ISASMELT™ and ISACONVERT™ smelting processes, BBOC™ precious metal refining, IsaMill™ fine-grind and mainstream grinding technology, IsaKidd electrowinning and electrorefining technology, Jameson Cell flotation technology and the Albion Process oxidative leaching technology.
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GLENCORE TECHNOLOGY Level 10, 160 Ann St Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4001 Tel. +61 7 3833 8500 Fax. +61 7 3833 8555 xt@glencoretechnology.com www.glencoretechnology.com/