Screening machines are becoming larger and heavier because the ongoing trend in the mining industry globally is to increase tonnage output while maintaining efficiency, said original-equipment supplier and manufacturer of custom-designed vibrating equipment Kwatani CEO Kim Schoepflin at Electra Mining Africa held in Johannesburg last month.

“Over the past 42 years, Kwatani has built some of the strongest, most robust, biggest and heaviest vibrating screens for mining across the African continent and beyond.”

The company exhibited a replica of one of its largest customised screens, known as ‘the Beast’, which can operate 24/7 in the corrosive African coal environment. The screen, one of Kwatani’s widest screens manufactured to date, has a width of up to 4.3 m and is 8.5 m long.

“The screen’s cross members and side plates beneath the screen deck are rubber-lined to protect the screen against water and corrosive materials, increasing the life cycle of the machine. The screen is driven by two large gearboxes that deliver a centrifugal force of more than 460 kN each to provide the vibration necessary for efficient screening,” Schoepflin explained.

Kwatani chose South African national rugby team player Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira as its brand ambassador for these larger screen machines.

Kwatani also showcased one of its comprehensive screen ranges, which has been manufactured in-house and to the international standards of the Hygiene Standard Institute, for use in the food and beverage industries.

“In an industrial setting, this fine screening can separate up to 100 t/h of feed material. The stainless steel screen can sort five fractions at a time and it is extremely versatile.”

Schoepflin said that, as Kwatani is also ISO 9001:2015 accredited, its range of comprehensive, fit-for-purpose fine screening machines can be used in many applications, but is mostly suitable for high-temperature applications in liquid and solid separation.

She explained that the screen mesh is very fine, as small as 38 µm and separation is by screening, “which is something remarkable”. The screen uses a gyratory reciprocating motion resulting in high efficiency and capacity, separating wet or dry, fine or coarse materials across multiple decks.

Schoepflin highlighted that the fine screening has a gentle sifting mechanism; it can also be used in the mining industry for diamond sorting.

Schoepflin also introduced experienced mining executive John Wallington, who has been appointed at Kwatani as an executive director.

“We are humble to have him on board, he is energetic and enthusiastic, and we are looking forward to working with him in preparing for the next stage of growth in the next chapter of Kwatani,” she said.