It is easy to show why tramp metal detection in mining is more important than ever. The Australian mining industry has been adversely affected in recent years as demand for raw materials in China, our major exporting destination, has fallen away. Individual operations across the mining industry have faced added fiscal pressures, making it vital to protect assets and keep expenses down wherever possible.

One of the biggest costs incurred by mining companies and processing plants is the maintaining and servicing of its machinery. A study by researchers at the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the University of Wollongong found that 30 to 50 per cent of an operation’s total annual operating expenditure is related to looking after and repairing extractive equipment.

Why tramp metal detection in mining is important

The benefits of tramp metal detection

Many companies have realised that this is an area where savings can be made. By detecting tramp metal in mining material before it is processed, damage to equipment such as ore crushers, rollers and shredders can be prevented. This is a process that can make a significant improvement in business profitability.

Tramp metal detection involves weeding out small, foreign metal objects in mining materials before being processed. These detectors can be used at mining sites to identify scraps, parts of broken machinery and other uncrushable objects residing in the earth. The type of system needed will vary depending on the site and the type of material being examined.

What is tramp metal and what are the different types

As part of being the Australian industry leader in bulk measurement instrumentation service, we have a comprehensive range of equipment that protects mining machinery that improves workplace safety and reduces operational costs.

Tramp metal is an industry term used to classify unwanted metallic objects contained in bulk materials that have been mined and find their way onto conveyors. Examples of tramp metal include:

• Bar scrap
• Bore crowns
• Bucket teeth
• Chains and hooks
• Manganese steel mantles
• Work tools

Installing a reliable and cost-effective tramp metal detector will prevent the unwanted objects from entering the crushing process circuit and causing costly production delays and unnecessary safety risks.

Tramp metal detection protects your equipment and your workers

These systems provides an reliable and economical method of protecting expensive mining and cement processing equipment such as:

• Bulk weighing equipment
• Belt conveyors
• Monitoring and sampling equipment
• Shredders and brushers

Tramp metal from mining processing equipment such as crushers can result in high-energy ejections. These are a major safety risk to the workers and can lead to serious injury or death. Tramp metal detection systems will greatly improve the safety around mining processing plants.

A few years ago, the Department of Mines in Western Australia reported a case where an employee was nearly impaled by a flying piece of steel flung by a jaw crusher. The projectile narrowly missed the operator but seriously damaged the crusher’s control cabin. A subsequent investigation revealed the metal piece was a ripper boot from a large bulldozer. A high quality tramp metal detection system will therefore not only protect your equipment, but your workers as well.

Installing the right detection tramp metal detectors

When it comes to tramp metal detection, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Rather, a range of technologies are available that can be customised to suit the unique requirements of a specific operation.

SRO Technology has developed various solutions that can be used to identify foreign objects prior to entering processing equipment. Our team will visit a site to understand its work flows, and then design and install customised tramp metal detectors that meet its needs.

There is no one-size-fits-all detection system

The services we provide enable us to install customised detection technology that can work with any type of mining conveyor system. There is no need to change your existing processes – we will design and implement a product that seamlessly integrates with your operations.

Following the design and installation, we continue to offer support to our customers – including instrumentation repairs in the unlikely event one of our detectors experiences any problems.

We provide customised tramp metal detectors for mining

Contact us if you are looking for a tramp metal detection solution

With more than 25 years of experience in this field, we have applied our expertise in many mining and raw commodities sectors throughout Australia, Oceania and Asia for materials such as:

• Coal
• Copper
• Gold
• Iron ore

However, our tramp metal detection solutions have been installed in other industries including:

• Food
• Rubber
• Plastic
• Sugar cane

We have even designed and installed solutions for timber production facilities and recycling plants.

This variety of industrial experience is a testament to our ability to provide accurate, reliable and robust tramp metal detection as required. To find out more about our tramp metal detection systems, please contact the SRO Technology team today. Feel free to call on 02 9525 3077 or contact us. You can even send us a message via our FaceBook page if you like.