TAKRAF’s Zero-Harm Approach Makes Operations More Efficient

Q: What are the differentiators of TAKRAF’s Zero Harm approach versus other companies offering the same solutions for water recovery? 

A: TAKRAF has a large R&D department in its business units around the world and it leverages its knowledge from these projects by trying to identify all possible improvements at mines that have been operating for a long time. We take advantage of our experience as a 250-year-old company. TAKRAF focuses strongly on new technologies and aims to embody the Zero Harm approach. It is aware of its impact as a company. TAKRAF tries to minimize this through effective and efficient solutions by embarking on important projects leading to the development of a sustainability report to showcase our ESG-related issues and our commitment to them. 

Regarding ESG, TAKRAF has reached milestones like providing continuous mining systems as an effective alternative to trucks, providing water solutions to reduce water consumption and adopting dry stack tailings for sustainable and safe practices. Moreover, we try to work with mines early on in their development to spread the advantages of the Zero Harm approach. 

This also supports predictive maintenance and better asset management. We set out to build highly robust systems, to understand every mine and its logistical problems, all to reduce energy consumption and emissions.  

Q: What are some of the technological challenges the company has overcome? 

A: The Chuquicamata belt, the most powerful gearless conveyor we have installed at the world’s largest open-pit copper mine in Chile, was a big challenge. Nevertheless, we were able to solve this puzzle. The project may have happened elsewhere but TAKRAF is capable of tackling issues anywhere and then coming up with solutions to implement them in any other country. Every project is tailored to the client’s needs and we take our past projects as a reference to see what works best for the future.

Q: What are TAKRAF’s plans to bring such projects to Mexico? 

A: TAKRAF would be eager to embark on a similar project in Mexico, as the technology would be available. We are working on an interesting underground conveyor project in Mexico with different capacities that could also become a reference point due to its complexity. This is one of the company’s advantages, and part of what it brings to the table: a sizable portfolio and a long history working in the mining sector and catering to the needs of each project.

Q: What has been the response and adoption of the TAKRAF X-TREME Class Sizer and DELKOR Filter Presses in the Mexican mining market?

A: TAKRAF X-TREME Class Sizers have been highly successful, in part because of the wide range of applications they offer. For example, in Canada, the solution is used as a semi-mobile crushing station. This means that the crushing station is made of steel and can be detached from its installation to be moved to wherever it is needed. TAKRAF is used to working with companies that deal with exceptionally large volumes, too.

TAKRAF carried out R&D to enable the easy replacement of spare parts and for quick-release systems to swap elements quickly and safely in case replacements are required. By doing so, companies lower the risk of operational breakdowns, increase the availability of key equipment and prolong the useful lifetime of the solutions they use.

TAKRAF also provides filter presses and horizontal belt filters (HBFs). The company can take samples from the mine and take them back to the laboratories. We then come back and recommend the best option tailored to the operation. 

Q: How has the development of Takraf’s BQR flotation cells evolved? 

A: A couple of years ago, we launched a new technology called MAXGen, into which our BQR flotation cell is incorporated. This cell makes it possible to achieve best-in-class metallurgical performance, combined with greater ease of maintenance and lower cost of ownership. 

The MAXGen mechanism focuses on the generation of a bubble swarm with an optimum size distribution, which facilitates the flotation of fine and coarse particles equally while efficiently keeping the solids in suspension. This maximizes the probability of bubble-particle interaction. It can make a bubble at the precise size the clients need to maximize efficiency.

TAKRAF Group, through its established and well-known brands, TAKRAF and DELKOR, provides innovative technological solutions to the mining and associated industries, focused on material handling, liquid/solid separation and beneficiation requirements.