Supporting customers in achieving optimal plant performance is today more vital than ever, in the face of inflationary cost increases and volatile commodity markets.

These concerns are behind FLS’s service focus at Electra Mining Africa this year, where the company is driving sustainable productivity through its solid and growing support and maintenance infrastructure. According to Alistair McKay, Vice President Mining: Europe, Arabia and Africa at FLS, this includes engaging visitors at the event on the value of the company’s innovative digital solutions.

“In addition to our market leading solutions for mining plants, we will be sharing our extensive foundation of expertise, technical services, spares and consumables to support customers,” says McKay. “The show gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how these resources can lower operating costs and drive profitability.”

Key to FLS’s success in doing this is its understanding of exactly how its solutions are performing in customers’ processing facilities. As the original equipment manufacturer, he argues, the company is best placed to partner with mines to optimise performance and to maintain equipment health at the highest level.

“There is a global shortage of skills to conduct this important work, making it essential that we continue to both replenish and enhance the necessary levels of expertise for our ever-advancing equipment,” he explains. “This is why we invest so heavily in our training facilities and trainers – to upskill not only our own people but those of our customers.”

He highlights that there is “nothing worse” than for customers to invest in high quality, high production equipment, which then underperforms due to insufficient knowledge. The company is also leveraging digital solutions in this endeavour.

“While there is a plethora of digital solutions in the market, we have focused our energies on creating solutions that meets strategic priorities,” says McKay. “This means being able to monitor and analyse the health of the asset, while leveraging this data to optimise the performance of that asset.”

Visitors at the exhibition can also see how FLS’s digital solutions integrate with its control centre, from which it can provide customers with 24/7 support.

In terms of new offerings at the FLS stand, visitors will be witness to the launch of the new NexGen Polyurethane formula for the company’s wear products and can discuss application opportunities with the company’s experts. The NexGen Polyurethane is relevant to screening media and mill trommels – particularly at the front-end of the concentrator where impact and abrasion is high.

“We will also be talking to visitors about our local production facilities that allow products like these to be readily available to our mining customers,” he says.

FLS’s leading slurry pumps will also be showcased for their performance and energy efficiency. McKay concludes that this year’s Electra Mining Africa will be the first since the company’s acquisition of Thyssenkrupp’s mining business.

“We can therefore show visitors our fully integrated FLS portfolio which has leveraged the best-in-class offerings of both companies,” he says. “This range of products and technologies continues to support optimised and sustainable operations at lower costs.”

FLSmidth