Reactions to Comminution '25

Comminution '25 finished a week ago in Cape Town. It is always good to receive feedback from delegates and there is no better platform for receiving views and photographs than LinkedIn. So, many thanks to all those who shared their thoughts and pictures, which are shown below. A full set of MEI photos is also available for download.

Nayara Tarin, Russell Mineral Equipment, Australia

After two incredible weeks in South Africa, it’s time to head home!

As a Brazilian, I felt an instant connection with the people; the warmth, the energy, and the vibrant culture made me feel right at home. I had my very first mine site visit, finally met my amazing colleagues from the South African office in person, and gained valuable insights from our brilliant sales team.

It was also a joy to see so many fellow Brazilians at the comminution conference, and to witness how this global event truly embraces and celebrates African culture.

Thank you to everyone who made this journey so special. I’m deeply grateful for the experience and I hope to see you all again very soon!

Navara (centre) at the RME dinner at Cape Point Vineyards

Joe and Travis Felix, CiDRA, South Africa

Great Experience at Comminution '25! Attending Comminution ‘25 was insightful, with cutting-edge discussions on mineral processing, grinding efficiency and sustainability. It was great connecting with industry leaders and exploring new innovations.

Thanks to the organizers for hosting such a great event, as always, and everyone who shared their expertise! 

Let’s keep the conversation going.

Joe Felix (right) in the CiDRA booth

Jean Makola, Steinert, Germany

I had the incredible opportunity to attend the MEI Conference Comminution 25 in Cape Town this week, where industry leaders and innovators gathered to discuss the future of comminution. The conversation centered around the urgent need to adopt advanced technologies that can significantly reduce energy consumption, enhance metal recovery, improve grade, and increase throughput while addressing debottlenecking challenges.

One of the most striking facts shared during the conference was that grinding mills consume approximately 2% of the world’s total energy supply, with studies showing that around 90% of this energy is wasted as heat, friction, and noise. This statistic highlights the critical need for innovation in mining processes. The potential to apply innovative technologies not only promises to lower energy consumption but also offers a pathway to more sustainable operations, whilst maximizing shareholders' profits. You can have it all! 

The conference made it clear that collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential. The integration of ore sorting, HPGR, coarse flotation, among other technologies in grinding circuit will optimize operations leading to groundbreaking improvements in efficiency. 

By embracing these technologies, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and ensure a more sustainable future for the mining industry.

Jean Makola (right) with Steinert colleagues

ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, Australia

Researcher PhD Carolina Carvajal Gutierrez and other COEMinerals members have been sharing how Australian research and newly invented technologies are improving mineral processing at the 14th International Comminution Symposium in South Africa.

Carolina commented: "The conference has been fantastic. Lots of insights and great discussions. Attending COEMinerals members are grateful for the opportunity and support from the Centre!"

COEMinerals is helping to reduce ultrafine particles, maximise mineral recovery while minimising waste, water, energy and emissions:

Carolina's session focused on micromechanics of minerals by nanoindentation.

Dr Richmond K. Asamoah's research contributed to multiple poster presentations, including: selective comminution for upgrading nickel and cobalt in nickel laterite ores

Mark Drechsler introduced new GRolls technology, being co-developed by COEMinerals and GRolls, which could one-day replace the energy-intensive crushing and grinding methods used today

Carolina (The University of Queensland) is pictured alongside Dr Richmond K. Asamoah (University of South Australia), PhD Mark Drechsler (UniSA) and Flávio Pereira André (UQ)

Thanks for a great event MEI Conferences, Barry Wills, Prof Aubrey Mainza and event sponsors, partners and advocates

Abraham Kabinga, Barrick Gold, Zambia

Today marks the successful conclusion of the Comminution '25 Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, an incredibly informative and well-balanced event that brought together industry professionals to discuss innovations, challenges, and advancements in the field. The diverse range of presentations provided valuable insights, fostering meaningful discussions and collaboration. 

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Barrick Lumwana Process Team for the opportunity to attend this exceptional conference. Additionally, a special thank you to the MEI Team, Barry, Amanda, Jon, and all the sponsors whose dedication and hard work made this event possible. Your efforts in organizing such impactful conferences play a vital role in advancing our industry. 

It was a privilege to be part of this gathering, and I look forward to applying the knowledge gained while continuing to engage with this dynamic community.

Kings Beads Ltd, China

Thrilled to attend the long-anticipated MEI's Comminution '25 Conference in Cape Town. Without any doubt, it is again an international top-ranking gathering of around 230 peers from both academic and industrial backgrounds. 

Our Technical Service Manager Johan Steyn presented a paper titled Does Specific Gravity of Media Have Much Effect on Process Efficiency?. which sparked re-thinking on how much energy is efficiently transferred from ceramic beads to the IsaMill and if there is room for further enhancing milling efficiency. 

Kings Beads bounced ideas with knowledgeable professionals on ceramic media and ultrafine grinding, and on how to positively contribute to greener mining practice through collaborative efforts in lowering the carbon footprint. 

The last technical session on the 3rd afternoon, co-hosted by our Technical Director Alex Wang and Prof. Aubrey Mainza from University of Cape Town, centred around modelling, simulation, and practical practice improvement for ultrafine grinding applications, which will undoubtedly take the industry further down the road towards a more innovative, and energy efficient future for the mining industry. 

Kings Beads is excited to be proactively working side by side with the academic and industrial experts for greener and sustainable mining practices. We will look forward to seeing you again at Comminution '27 in Cape Town, South Africa. 

The King's Beads booth

Darius G Wonyen, ArcelorMittal, Canada

This week at Comminution '25 in Cape Town, I had the incredible opportunity to share a few comminution perspectives on the oxide and transitions ore of the Nimba Western Range, in Liberia. The topic was on optimizing semi-autogenous grinding mills for oxide and transition ores, using comminution testing and DEM modeling. It was an honor to connect with world-class scientists, industry leaders, fellow processing engineers, and equipment developers. What interested me most was the unique balance between academic research and industry development during the technical sections. With the ambitious goal of a 15 Mtpa concentrator project in Liberia, integrating advanced comminution techniques is critical for maximizing the productivity of crushing and grinding circuits. The insights gained from Comminution '25 are directly applicable to ArcelorMittal Liberia's operations, fostering innovation and improvements in efficiency. I gained a lot of meaningful experiences, insight and connections directly applicable to our 15 Mtpa concentrator project in Liberia.

For the first time, I met Barry Wills, the author of Wills' Mineral Processing Technology, which has been a cornerstone in our field and an inspiration throughout my journey in mineral processing. I also had the pleasure of interacting with Professor Aubrey Mainza , a prolific researcher in Comminution at the University of Cape Town, whose insights into mineral processing are truly invaluable.

Moreover, I engaged with John Russell, the founder of Russell Mineral Equipment, further expanding my network and understanding of industry innovations. I walked away with new skills and meaningful connections that will be instrumental for our 15 mtpa concentrator project in Liberia.

A heartfelt thank you to MEI Conferences for organizing such impactful events and to ArcelorMittal Liberia and ArcelorMittal for their unwavering support. I am excited about the opportunity to apply what I've learned and contribute to advancements in our field! 

Eyüp Altuncu, FKK Mining, Türkiye

What an incredible experience attending my first MEI Conference, Comminution '25 in Cape Town! It was an honor to represent FKK Mining at such a prestigious event, where we had a successful presentation and an amazing time connecting with industry professionals.

A heartfelt thank you to Prof. Dr. Ersin Yener Yazıcı and Prof. Dr. Oktay Celep for joining me at this event. Your presence made this experience even more valuable. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Cherylyn Russell and John Russell for their warm hospitality and their highly professional team for their invitation.

A special thanks to Barry Wills, Jon Wills and Amanda Wills for organizing such a fantastic conference. Your dedication to the industry is truly inspiring.

Lastly, a big thank you to all the visitors who stopped by our booth! It was a pleasure meeting you and discussing exciting opportunities in comminution and mining. Looking forward to the next one! 

Eyüp in the Vineyard gardens

Andres Kuusmaa, Sibelco, Estonia

My first time at the MEI Conference, focused on comminution, and in South Africa has been a great experience. I’ve met many new people, made valuable connections and learned a lot from many great presentations. This event has given me fresh ideas and perspectives, making it both interesting and rewarding to be here.

Mark Drechsler, University of South Australia, Australia

Just completed two presentations on our GRolls crushing technology at Comminution '25. Also chaired a session this morning including a great presentation by Harshita Gupta from BHP on the Comminution Challenge of which GRolls was one of 12 in the cohort.

Great feedback from the industry on our technology and areas/risks to investigate further during our scaleup plans. My second talk set out to challenge myself in my PhD but also the industry, the feedback I got suggested I succeeded in generating interest and thoughtful discussion. Many thanks to Sedgman Pty Limited and Ryan Bracey for helping us identify our strengths and develop a theoretical flowsheet using GRolls for early gangue rejection strategies that challenges conventional SABC flowsheets. And thanks to Grant Ballantyne for the constructive comments to make sure the difficult "comparing apples with apples" criteria we all use are consistent across the industry.

A very worthwhile conference to attend, well done Barry Wills, Amanda Wills and Jon Wills. Thank you ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals (COEMinerals) for supporting my PhD and attendance at the conference.

Happiness Nesvinga, Nesch Mintech Tanzania Limited, Tanzania

We are thrilled to represent Nesch Mintech Laboratory at the International Comminution Symposium for MEI in Cape Town, South Africa. This globally renowned event brings together pioneers, innovators, and thought leaders in the field of mineral processing and comminution.

Being part of this prestigious conference is not just an honor but also a testament to our commitment to advancing cutting-edge solutions in the industry. We are excited to engage in insightful discussions, explore groundbreaking technologies, and collaborate with the best minds in the field.

I had the incredible privilege of meeting and taking a picture with Barry Wills at the conference! It was truly inspiring to engage with one of the great minds in our field, sharing insights and discussing the future of mining and mineral technology. At Nesch Mintech Tanzania limited Laboratory, we are constantly striving to innovate and lead in this space, and moments like these remind us of the power of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Here's to pushing boundaries together

Ekin Güngör, Maelgwyn Mineral Services Ltd, UK

This week, I had the privilege of attending Communition ’25 organized by MEI Conferences with our Managing Director Michael Battersby, our GM Steve Flatman and my colleague Max Gerke, Pr Eng. I was able to forget the sadness of being away from our loved ones during the holiday, as I had the opportunity to follow the innovations in the grinding world closely and meet new people from the industry. 

I also had the opportunity to learn a lot from the workshop events I attended. I would also like to thank CEEC International for encouraging us to think about the continuity of innovation and more energy efficient mining of the future with their informative and entertaining event.

Ekin with Steve Flatman

Bjorn Dierx, Weir Minerals, USA

Thanks MEI Conferences for the hospitality and for the opportunity to present in the stunning Cape Town.

Huyser Industries, South Africa

MEI Conferences and all involved pulled off yet another world class Comminution '25 event. It has always been astonishing to try and fathom the body of work conducted by academics and professionals in this immensely important industrial field.

Congrats and respect to everyone in attendance !

Best wishes to all colleagues, presenters, organisers and venue Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town.

Onwards, forwards! Special thanks to @globalmettech & @RSGinc. for letting us hang out.

Stone Three, South Africa

Our Head of Business Development, Carl Rohwer, proudly represented Stone Three at Comminution ’25.

Carl shared, "It was a pleasure reconnecting with familiar faces and building new relationships with suppliers, clients, and researchers at the recent MEi Comminution Conference in Cape Town".

Let’s keep the conversation going and continue transforming how we approach automation in comminution circuits.

Carl Rohwer (left) at the Grintec Magotteuax booth

Harshita Gupta, BHP, Australia

What an awesome experience being in South Africa for the first time, for the MEI Conferences! I look forward to the many connections and continuing the conversation. Thank you to all of those I interacted with during my short visit!

Harshita Gupta (front right)

Daniel Cordeiro Silva, UFMG, Brazil

Closing my participation in Comminution '25, in addition to presenting my research, the congress provided valuable insights into the latest innovations in the field, facilitated the establishment of some leads, and opened doors to potential academic partnerships. The exchange of experiences with other professionals reinforced the importance of integrating technology and traditional processes for the sustainable advancement of mining.

Daniel Cordeiro Silva (2nd right)

Molycop, USA

And that’s a wrap on Comminution 2025 in Cape Town!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by Stand #21, attended our sessions, or connected with us throughout the event. It’s been an incredible few days of innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking conversations.

From diving into machine learning applications in milling to exploring next-gen methods for evaluating grinding media performance, our team has been proud to contribute to the future of mineral processing.

We’re especially grateful for the opportunity to engage with so many brilliant minds across the industry- your insights and enthusiasm continue to inspire our work.

Let’s keep the momentum going. If you didn’t get a chance to connect during the event, feel free to reach out- we’re always keen to collaborate and explore new ways to drive efficiency and value in comminution.Molycop - Progress Together.

Nathan Flaman, I-ROX, UK

 Last week I was in Cape Town to provide an update on I-ROX’s latest technical achievements at Comminution '25 - a wonderful event organised by MEI Conferences. I’m really proud of the incredible progress our team in Toulouse has made over the past year - and it was fantastic to share this with so many of the world’s leading comminution experts.

It was also great to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. It was my first time in Cape Town - and hiking Table Mountain and visiting the wineries were great opportunities to strengthen relationships. Thank you to all or the organizers, sponsors and attendees for a wonderful week.

Nathan Flaman