News

2005 Archive

Index	Source
Imhoflot G-Cell Kaolin Flotation Plant at Dorfner, Germany	Maelgwyn Minerals Website - August 2005
Michael Fletcher joins MMS	Maelgwyn Minerals Website - April 2005
MMS Relocates to Cardiff, Wales	Maelgwyn Minerals Website - April 2005
MMS Expands into Africa	Maelgwyn Minerals Website - February 2005

Imhoflot G-Cell Kaolin Flotation Plant at Dorfner, Germany
(General Information Release August 2005)

3 Stage G-Cell plant operational at Dorfner, Germany

Maelgwyn Mineral Services (MMS) have successfully installed and commissioned the first fully commercial application of its new centrifugal floatation technology. The patented Imhoflot G-Cell pneumatic flotation technology utilises centrifugal forces to separate the froth from tailings. MMS have been developing the technology over the last four years.

Gebr. Dorfner GmbH & Co, Hirschau, Germany has successfully installed a 3 stage Imhoflot G-Cell flotation plant for kaolin recovery. Dorfner’s multistage hydrocyclone plant produced a middlings stream that previously did not fulfil industrial standard kaolin grades and was either used as quarry filler or sold to the cement industry. Dorfner chose the MMS flotation technology because of its low capital cost and the fact that it could produce the required grade of kaolin without the need of a cleaner flotation step. Testwork had determined that this was not possible with conventional tank flotation.

MMS were involved in consultations with Dorfner and significant laboratory test work was completed by both MMS and Dorfner to optimise the flotation reagent suite. To demonstrate the capability of Imhoflot G-Cells to handle the relatively high flow rates (due to the need to float at low solids densities) and their ability to obtain the desired grade and recovery without the need for a cleaning stage, a 1.7m diameter prototype G-Cell was pilot tested onsite using the entire middlings stream. This pilot testing proved the applicability of the G-Cells and determined the need for 3 G-Cells in series to obtain the desired recovery.

A 3 stage 1.8m diameter Imhoflot G-Cell plant was ordered by Dorfner in March 2005 and was installed and commissioned successfully in July 2005. The plant is capable of processing material at over 100m³/hr. The plant is able to produce a high grade Kaolin product at above 13.5% loss on ignition kaolin grade at a recovery of above 85%. Mass yields vary depending on the feed grade, but approximately 70% yield was achieved.

MMS presented a paper which included details of the Dorfner operations at the Randol Innovations in Metallurgy conference held in Perth, Australia, August 2005.

Kaolin flotation in an Imhoflot G-Cell at Dorfner	Froth washing used to increase concentrate grade

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Michael Fletcher joins MMS
(General Information Release April 2005)

Michael is a Chemical Engineer who joins us from South Africa where he worked for MINTEK in Randburg. During his work at MINTEK, Michael worked in the Minerals Processing Division and focussed on the flotation of Platinum bearing ores (in particular the UG2 Reef). Michael was involved in many flotation projects, from small scale laboratory work to multi-million Rand feasibility studies on the MINTEK pilot plant facility. Michael was instrumental in the purchasing and commissioning of the two G08 Imhoflot cells currently owned by MINTEK.

During his studies at the University of Cape Town, Michael was awarded the Prestige Prize from the SAIMM (South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy) for the top final year student of 2002.

Michael will be based at our head office in Cardiff where he will fulfil the role of Technical Sales Manager and will be involved in the designing and commissioning of MMS equipment around the world.

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MMS Relocates to Cardiff, Wales
(General Information Release April 2005)

MMS's new Head Office, The Maltings

Effective from 1st April 2005 MMS has relocated its corporate headquarters from North Wales to South Wales. The company has taken up offices in The Maltings, a Grade II listed building in the Bay area of Cardiff. This historic building is one of the landmarks of Cardiff.

New contact details for Maelgwyn Mineral Services are:

The Maltings
East Tyndall Street
Cardiff Bay, CF24 5EA, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 29 2047 3700
Fax: +44 (0) 29 2047 3701

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MMS Expands into Africa
(General Information Release February 2005)

MMS is pleased to announce the expansion of its subsidiary operation based in South Africa. Greenhills Mining & Industrial Services (Pty) Ltd (GMIS) was previously a 100% owned subsidiary of MMS. A group of private investors active in the South African mining industry have now taken equity in GMIS in return for providing substantial funding arrangements. As part of the expansion GMIS has been joined by Brian Tinniswood and Adrian Singh. Both were formerly consultants to GMIS in South Africa. Brian and Adrian also become shareholders of GMIS and are appointed Directors of the company (See website for resume of their details). MMS still maintains a majority shareholding in GMIS

GMIS head office in Maraisburg, South Africa

GMIS has the exclusive licence to the MMS proprietary technology for Sub-Sahara Africa. The company has relocated to new premises in Maraisburg, Johannesburg from which it will be setting up a fully equipped metallurgical laboratory. The aim of the laboratory will be to undertake metallurgical testwork for clients of both GMIS and MMS world-wide. In addition the metallurgical facilities will be used for in-house Research & Development. Apart from offering MMS’s proprietary technology for Southern Africa, GMIS will be working in conjunction with MMS to develop further novel equipment and processes for the minerals extraction industry.

GMIS Contact Details:

PO Box 617
Ridge Terrace
2168
South Africa
Tel +27 (0) 11 474 0705
Fax +27 (0) 11 474 5580

Email gmis@gmis.co.za