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Multotec has officially opened its consolidated research and development and test work facility in Spartan, just outside Johannesburg, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to innovation and efficiency in the global mineral processing industry. The new facility not only streamlines process flow across divisions but also offers an enhanced customer experience through its newly launched showroom.
This facility serves as a central hub for Multotec’s technology division, where comprehensive test work is conducted on materials supplied by clients. These tests support the ongoing development and refinement of the company’s extensive equipment range. The services are accessible not only to existing clients but also to the broader mineral processing market, including tertiary institutions and non-customers seeking performance insights and process optimisation.
According to Faan Bornman, Technology Manager – Process Equipment, the facility’s capabilities include test work on spirals, hydrocyclones, tailings, and effluent streams. It also offers sedimentation and filtration test work using both laboratory and pilot-scale centrifuges. Complementing these are its screening media test capabilities, described by Chris Oldewage, Technology Manager – Screening Media. These include tests on rubbers, polyurethanes, various aperture profiles and thicknesses, and wedge wire screen equipment. The facility houses a variety of plant-scale equipment including a vibrating screen, sieve bend, static drain screens, trommel screen, and a pump cell for interstage screening.
Bornman emphasises that the value of these services lies in their ability to reduce project risks and form a sound foundation for designing and optimising mineral processing facilities. With the use of production-size equipment, the team is able to simulate real-world conditions, validating throughput rates, improving product recovery, and enhancing overall process efficiency. This is particularly beneficial for brownfield projects, where Multotec can compare its test results directly with a client’s operational data to forecast outcomes and fine-tune existing processes.
Recent expansions at the Spartan facility have elevated the customer experience significantly. The showroom now displays Multotec’s full range of equipment in both plant-size and scale models, with a particular focus on the company’s latest spiral range. Bornman encourages customers to visit the facility to see firsthand how the equipment operates and to gain a deeper understanding of its benefits. Oldewage notes that this hands-on experience often inspires curiosity and a desire to engage more deeply with the technology, creating a more memorable and effective interaction.
The facility’s advanced test work capabilities cater to a wide range of commodities, including chrome, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, mineral sands, platinum, lithium, and chemical salts. Recently, Multotec also supported environmentally focused test work for a company specialising in electronic waste recovery, demonstrating the versatility and evolving applications of its services.
Multotec’s investment in education is also evident in the way the facility supports student development. The company offers holiday work experience, with preference given to bursary recipients, and provides opportunities for Master’s students to gain hands-on exposure to the equipment. This synergy with tertiary education not only benefits the students but also allows Multotec to identify and nurture future industry talent.
At its core, the Spartan facility represents more than just cutting-edge technology and equipment. It embodies Multotec’s vision of serving the mineral processing industry through innovation, collaboration, and a relentless focus on process optimisation and customer satisfaction.
