- Home
- Articles & News
- The history behind Multotec’s test plants
The history behind Multotec’s test plants
Never underestimate small beginnings! With regards to Multotec Test Plants, it is from small and humble beginnings that paved the way to Multotec becoming one of the world’s leading test plant suppliers.
It was in May 2002 when Multotec Processing Equipment became the proud owner of a then brand new portable Spiral Pilot Plant. Comprising four stages of spirals with desliming and dewatering cyclones, as well as concentrate and tailings stackers, the plant had a capacity of 10 tons per hour.
Multotec’s spirals, distributors, launders, samplers, cyclones and ceramic wear linings were included in the plant make-up – a testament to Multotec’s product quality. To facilitate mobility, it was essential the pilot plant be loaded on to the back of a truck while ensuring all load restrictions and other safety criteria were met.
The solution was to load the plant on to a single low bed truck, facilitating complete mobility. However, it was necessary the plant be laid horizontally. Upon off-loading, it needed to be placed vertically allowing for final, minimal assembly completion. This stage comprised fitting the loose out-riggers, pumps, booms and pipes to the main structure. For this project, design, steel work, piping and erection were sub-contracted by GM Processing
Execution of Multotec’s first portable Spiral Testing Plant project was achieved in only eight weeks by Multotec’s Projects division, on behalf of the Company’s Gravity Concentration division. Since then, in the past 13 years, Multotec has sold a complement of 35 pilot plants, although they are now much smaller, more refined and containerised.
Never underestimate small beginnings…