Comminution '14 is only 4 weeks away

Comminution '14 starts 4 weeks today and the current delegate list is now available. The fine international technical and social programme (see 16th December posting) is preceded on the Sunday by a JKMRC workshop (full details on MEI Online). The JKMRC is reinvigorating research in stirred milling technology through an industrial collaborative project on ‘Global Best Practice in Stirred Milling Technology’ - including the development of a ‘Fine Grinding Work Index’ and developing generic ‘Media Wear’ testing techniques. The draft proposal has attracted the interest of potential sponsors, including equipment suppliers, grinding media suppliers and mining companies.

The view from the Vineyard Hotel Conference Centre

The project kick off workshop takes place on Sunday 6th April, and the JKMRC is inviting potential sponsors to participate. The aim is to clearly present the current status of knowledge in stirred milling followed by actively engaging potential sponsors in collaboratively refining the project scope prior to formally starting – a direct benefit to all parties. The Workshop will finish in time for Comminution ‘14 registration and welcome drinks starting at 4:30pm.

Register now for the conference.

Good news for Falmouth conference delegates

At last the winter storms seem to have abated, and engineers have been working feverishly to repair the broken line at Dawlish in Devon, on the main rail line from London to Penzance.

The good news for those attending the MEI Conferences in June is that the line is expected to re-open on April 4th, so all should be back to normal by June.

Registration is open, and programmes are published for Biohydromet '14 and SRCR '14 which run back to back in Falmouth.

In praise of SMEs

Last month's Society of Mining Engineers (SME) meeting in Salt Lake City, was a huge event, with around 6700 delegates and 800 exhibit booths. Many of the exhibitors and sponsors also participate in MEI Conferences, notably the big boys such as FLSmidth, Outotec and Metso.

But among the major companies exhibiting their wares were many Small and Medium Enterprises, and it is these SMEs that I sing the praises of in this posting.

Two of these small companies, Starkey & Associates, and RSG Inc. are regular exhibitors at the SME events, as well as MEI's Comminution conferences, Starkey & Associates also being sponsors of Comminution '14 and Comminution '12.

John and Donna Starkey at SME 2014

With Chris Martin in Salt Lake City

With 5 full time employees and a rotating co-op student position, Starkey & Associates (S&A) is a small business by conventional definition but with a worldwide reach of a big business through its working relationships with a consortium of 10 ore testing laboratories that are positioned around the globe to provide their suite of laboratory test services to clients in the mining and mineral processing industry.  S&A was founded in 2000 by John Starkey and is now a recognized global leader in ore hardness measurement, grinding circuit design and optimization, and general process engineering design and consulting services.  S&A is now introducing new testing methods that will provide more rapid, cost effective and accurate testing of SAG and ball mill hardness for geo-metallurgical testing programs than have previously been available. In addition, S&A is expanding its design and consulting expertise into fine grinding applications beyond traditional ball milling through the provision of access to testing facilities using other fine grinding technologies.

Starkey & Associates' Veroljub Mihalovic, John Starkey,Nancy Lepore,
Kingsley Larbi, Jenna Hedderson and Michel Brissette

Chris Martin, a 1980 graduate of UMIST, UK, formed RSG Inc. in 1991, having identified a need for more efficient classification in the kaolin and marble industries specifically for vertical roller mills. He worked on mechanical designs and applied for a USA patent during 1991 and early 1992. The first order was taken in early 1992 for one MCS-500 High Efficiency Air classifier to be retrofitted on a vertical roller mill, at this time the company having no office, no plant, no employees. The first installation was an enormous success and during the period 1992 to 1995 the company sold a further 12 systems (still without office or employees) and in 1994 the USA Patent was granted. In 1995 the  office and pilot plant was built in Sylacauga Alabama and the first employee joined. In 1999 RSG invented, designed and built the first ever mill for dry ultrafine grinding of calcium carbonate, and today the company has 12 employees and a 3000m2 pilot plant and test facility.

Chris Martin (4th left) and staff with large machine ready for shipment to Canada

It is interesting to see how a huge event such as SME compares to a relatively small but focused event such as an MEI Conference in the eyes of such small companies. Chris Martin explains "SME offers exposure to over 6000 attendees, Comminution '14 around 200; naturally the cost to the small exhibitor cannot be based upon a head count alone. Ultimately participation at a show or conference must yield results to the small manufacturer, this is not an abstract branding exercise. Comminution '14 offers a high concentration of potential clients as well as contact with former colleagues and friends within the industry. The coffee breaks, lunches and social functions are an extremely important part of the event. The client contact is normally in terms of hours rather than a few minutes as on a booth at SME. At the end of the event you have had chance to meet with every attendee. SME offers a broader audience, although not an out and out trade show experience it offers a less intimate feel to marketing. The exhibitor may not necessarily make contact with all of the leads he would like to. Both events serve the small manufacturer effectively if part of a long term marketing plan".

As a partner in a very small business it is great to see SMEs such as S&A and RSG thriving in a world of companies of ever increasing size.

Networking in Africa

While I was meeting new people in Utah next week, Amanda was making new friends in Limpopo in South Africa:

 

Memories of Gavin Wonnacott

While in Utah last week I heard the very sad news of the untimely death of Dr. Gavin Wonnacott, who passed away suddenly at his home in Devon eight days ago.

Gavin was one of the brightest of all the students to pass through Camborne School of Mines and graduated top of his year in 1985 with a first class honours degree in Mineral Processing Technology.  I then supervised his research work, for which he was awarded his PhD.

After leaving CSM we lost touch, as he moved away from mineral processing and latterly he was training to be a secondary science teacher, while retaining his leadership role at Poltimore House, seeking to create enterprise from heritage.

Apart from his abilities as a researcher, I remember Gavin for his interest in cricket. While not a sportsman himself he enrolled on an accredited umpiring course, and naturally passed it with distinction. During his post-graduate years at CSM he regularly umpired the CSM league matches on Saturday afternoons.

Our thoughts at this time are very much with Gavin's wife, Lisa, and the family.

I am sure that many of you will have your own memories of Gavin, and I invite you to share them here.  Below are a few of my own photos of Gavin.


Gavin (left) with CSM mineral processors at the annual Christmas party
at my home, in 1985

Gavin, far right on back row, with CSM Cricket Team, late 1980s

The last time that I saw Gavin (1st left)
CSM Annual Dinner 2010

 

Jan Miller on the road to a full recovery

As you will all know, Prof. Jan Miller, of the University of Utah, was seriously injured in an horrific car accident in Tibet early in the year.

Progress to a full recovery has been long and hard, but it was good to see that he was able to make an appearance at this week's SME in Salt Lake City, to attend some of the Fuerstenau Symposium.

Unfortunately I missed seeing him, as I was preparing for my journey back to UK, but this photo of Jan, with Prof. Jan Laskowski and Prof. Jan Cilliers, has been kindly supplied by Dr. Xuming Wang, who was also seriously injured in the crash.

It is good to see Jan looking so well after his ordeal.