Around the world, copper prices have surged as economies rebound from the global pandemic. One copper miner in north-west Queensland is set to take full advantage of the increased demand for this precious commodity.
Copper Resources Australia (CRA) has undertaken a major redesign of the crushing plant at its Rocklands copper mine 20 kilometres west of Cloncurry.
According to CRA concentrator manager Chris Davidson, the underperforming plant required a significant upgrade in the form of increased crushing power.
“The previous set up was a three-stage crushing circuit delivering a product size outside the parameters of the primary ball mill,” Davidson said. “So we needed a crusher that would optimise the mill’s throughput.”
Astec’s Kodiak 350+ Cone Crusher was the answer.
“We expanded the operation to a four-stage circuit,” Davidson said, “and introduced the K350+. Now we’re achieving a final product size of P80 10mm which is the optimal feed size for the mill. And that improved efficiency has resulted in greater overall production capacity.”
According to Shaun Quinn, Astec Australia Senior Account Manager – Materials Solutions, the compact size of the Kodiak 350+ belies its production capabilities.
“Kodiak crushers are the heaviest in their class, applying greater pounds per horsepower into the crushing function,” Quinn told Australian Mining.
“This is a 350-horsepower machine with the same amount of clamping force as the 400-horsepower machine, but in the compact footprint of the smaller K300.
“The Kodiak 350+ is an ideal replacement for older cone crushers in brownfield operations, and the control system can be operated either as a standalone system or integrated into programmable logic controllers in new applications.”
Astec has installed more than 60 Kodiak cone crushers throughout Australia in applications ranging from hard rock crushing to recycling.
At CRA’s Rocklands copper mine, the Kodiak 350+ is proving its worth.
“Not only has it delivered the heavy-duty crushing power we were looking for,” Chris Davidson said, “the K350+ has been a very cost-effective addition to our operation.
“If you consider the competitive up-front cost, and the additional benefits of significantly increased output and enhanced reliability, we’re more than happy with our investment in the Kodiak 350+.”
Mineral Processing Solutions (MPS) distributes Astec’s Kodiak cone crushers Australia wide to the mining sector and to all sectors in Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia. Managing Director of MPS, Shane Czerkasow, says reliability is one key factor that sets Astec equipment apart from its competitors.
“The Kodiak 350+ cone crusher is fit-for-purpose. It’s been designed and built for use in the rugged Australian mining environment,” Czerkasow said. “That’s the Kodiak’s competitive advantage.
“In the case of the 350+, decades of experience and innovative design have combined to produce a highly-reliable, low-maintenance, operator-friendly crushing unit.”
The Kodiak incorporates a unique roller bearing design that Astec says increases energy efficiency and reduces operating costs by up to 50 percent. In addition, the crusher is equipped with the Kodiak control system (KCS) which allows for continuous monitoring and on-the-fly adjustments.
But according to CRA’s Chris Davidson, performance and reliability is only part of the picture.
“We’ve found Astec to be very easy to deal with. They’re professional and responsive and their aftermarket support has been excellent. Overall it’s been a very good experience for us, and with the Astec Kodiak 350+, the results speak for themselves.”
More information: https://www.astecaustralia.com.au/
This feature was originally published in the May edition of Australian Mining.