About Pilanesberg Platinum Mine
Pilanesberg Platinum Mine (PPM) is a platinum mining company based in South Africa owned by Sedibelo Resources. PPM operates a well-structured organization that produces high-quality precious metals and has a strong focus on innovation to improve its processes. PPM has always been committed to sustainable mining practices. It is dedicated to mining responsibly as part of its commitment to preserving our planet for future generations.
The Challenge
Pilanesberg Platinum Mine always looks for ways to mine more efficiently and sustainably. PPM’s existing screens needed to be replaced annually due to wear and tear, and the moisture content of ores was higher than they would have liked. Increasing material retention while reducing downtime due to maintenance were their two primary goals with this project. They needed new screening equipment to help them achieve their long-term goals, so they started looking for options in the market.
The Approach
Because it had used vibratory mining equipment in the past, Pilanesberg Platinum Mine was familiar with General Kinematics (GK) and its Two-Mass technology. It contacted a GK representative and told them its goals: reduced energy consumption, increased material retention, reduced moisture content, and reduced dynamic loads.
Considering their goals, the GK representative recommended the STM-SCREEN™ Two-Mass Vibratory Screen. PPM agreed this equipment would be a good fit for their facility due to its high retention time and ability to be custom-designed to integrate seamlessly into their old machinery’s footprint.
The Solution
PPM ordered the STM-SCREEN™ from General Kinematics with a special hybrid 1.5 deck design. It was designed, built, and installed to fit their old equipment’s footprint, which was 3.6m wide x 6.1m tall. The installation went smoothly, with no changes to existing structures and chutes required, and the machine was up and running shortly after. The Two-Mass technology allows it to sustain a consistent, responsive stroke even under surge conditions, whereas their previous models could not. It offers greater material retention, allowing them to work the material longer, and decreasing the ore’s moisture content.
All these factors made the STM-SCREEN™ the perfect upgrade for PPM’s ore screening processes.
Results
The STM-SCREEN™ was installed on PPM’s site and immediately got to work. Since they started operating the machine, PPM reported the following improvements:
- Increased product retention time by 40% compared to other models
- Increased screening capacity by 40%
- Eliminated excess moisture content in the UG2 product
- Reduced power consumption by 75%
Pilanesberg Platinum Mine reported they were highly satisfied with the results of GK’s Two-Mass STM-SCREEN™, which increased their efficiency while also assisting them in achieving more sustainable operations. The mine reported the STM-SCREEN™ was quieter than previous screens, reducing noise pollution and eliminating vibrations in office buildings. Additionally, the durable design saved PPM time and resources thanks to reduced maintenance and saving the annual swap efforts.
“The General Kinematics STM-SCREEN™ has delivered on its promise. Screening efficiencies are up, downtime is reduced, energy consumption has been improved, and dynamic loading on the steel DMS structure has significantly been reduced. I see the application of this alternative screening technology as a true game-changer in the South African mining industry.”
-Barry Davis, General Manager: Surface Operations, Pilanesberg Platinum Mine
A Screening Game Changer
The Two-Mass STM-SCREEN™ has been a revolutionary force in the mining industry for years. Two-Mass refers to a style of vibratory equipment where one mass (the exciter, i.e., ’drive’) is used to mobilize a second mass (the trough, i.e., ’screen body’). The engineering principles behind Two-Mass technology are inherently more suited for the rigors of heavy-duty screening applications. The Two-Mass drive system responds to rapid increases in material loading by sustaining stroke. Since the STM-SCREEN™ does not dampen, screening efficiency and production continue to be maintained even during surge conditions.
STM-SCREEN™ retains material up to three times longer than a typical brute force screen, which allows for an optimized material separation as fines have more time to drop out. Equally as important is the ability of the STM-SCREEN™ to process at a higher bed depth without sacrificing throughput. The material spreads out evenly at the feed end, even at higher bed depths. The increased retention time of the evenly spread material allows for increased screening efficiency at the required capacities.
Due to accelerated wear, common practice in the mining industry was to frequently replace screens, causing unnecessary downtime and using more raw materials to create replacement screens. The STM-SCREEN™ is proven to outlast screen life expectancy by two to five times the current rate, requiring far fewer raw materials to sustain the operation of mining processing plants.
It is also proven to reduce power consumption between 50 and 75% compared to the average brute force screen. Additional increases in capacity are documented from 20 to 40%, further reducing the energy per ton required for processing material.
This increase in efficiency within an existing footprint creates twofold benefits. An increase in processing power can debottleneck and improve productivity without altering any surrounding equipment. Two, increased efficiency can positively impact downstream equipment service life, allowing for a more ’balanced’ plant operation.
