With a relentless focus on research and development Tega Industries has introduced world-beating technologies to the market that has placed it as a dominant player in the global mill liner and wear solutions market.

Much of this success comes from its close customer engagement and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking in mineral processing. This was evident at its industry conclave that was held in Pretoria recently and attracted over 170 attendees from mines across the world where a number of speakers provided a clear picture of where the industry is heading and how smarter milling can deliver measurable gains.

Tega Industries Africa CEO, Vishal Gautam, opened the event with a look at the financial case for adopting better methods and equipment. He argued that milling operations have long been obsessed with availability and tonnage but seldom translate those metrics into business value. “We are not here to just supply liners we are here to help you unlock hidden potential in your plant.”

He made the case for adopting an Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) framework where underutilised assets and inefficiencies are exposed not just at the equipment level but across the value chain. For mines operating on tight margins, small percentage improvements in mill performance translate directly into millions of Rands saved or earned. The call to action was clear that treating mill optimisation as a strategic business lever rather than a maintenance exercise makes more sense.

Continuing on the topic Professor Aubrey Mainza, deputy director of the Centre for Mineral Research, warned that many plant managers continue to run their mills blind. While technology such as variable speed drives and modern discharge designs are available they are often misunderstood or misapplied.

He emphasised that volumetric filling – the correct balance of ore, media and water – dictates performance. Too much or too little filling changes the internal dynamics altering the number of particles to grinding media contacts and undermining throughput.

Training in measured adjustments is far more valuable than control systems that only protect the mill. Efficiency is not about buying more equipment but about disciplined control of filling, discharge, speed and media coupled with training operators to think in small, precise corrections.

Sumeet Pahi rounded off the session by highlighting how Tega is translating these insights into product innovation. “Discharge systems are too often neglected despite being central to circuit stability. Poor grate design, blockages or inadequate media can create “washing machine” effects where slurry circulates without exiting the mill, wasting energy and hammering liners.”

As a result Tega’s research and development teams have developed optimised discharge designs and wear monitoring tools that not only extend liner life but stabilise grind conditions. Sumeet explained that innovation in liner metallurgy, lifter profile and grate configuration must be paired with customer-specific testing to truly deliver results. “Every plant is different and every ore body is different. The answer is not a catalogue product but a collaborative design process.”

The conclave included talks and case studies from a number of specialists and mine operators including Sandile Nkwanyana of Mintek, Flavio Silva de Moura of Lundin Mining Brazil, Jennifer Giron, ex-senior metallurgist at FQML now working at Tega, as well Process Manager, Mr. Steven Zulu and Vamumusa Manyathi who is the Business Development Manager of Tega. The combined expertise painted a clear picture that showed that the era of treating mill liners as consumables is over. Tega’s approach of marrying business metrics with technical fundamentals and engineering is able to help mines to unlock hidden efficiencies and improve profitability.