“AEL and Lake, both part of the AECI group, are working together on a number of cutting edge technologies and the Homogeniser is just one of them, which demonstrates our innovative joint capability of marrying engineering with science, underpinned by our drive towards enhancing quality and safety in the explosives environment,"” says Larry Wilson, Group Technical Manager:  Explosives at AEL.

The new and more sophisticated Homogeniser is an evolution from the original Y-Design unit that had a single stage refinement, where emulsions were pumped in one side and out the other using a plunger/spring design. This initial design evolved to the H1000 unit, which proved difficult to operate and expensive to manufacture. The new generation three stage refinement Homogeniser, technology and internal design of which are patented to Lake, uses a high quality off-the-shelf global valve which is extremely cost effective.

This unit has been produced at a third of the cost of its predecessor.  It comes in two or three inch sizes depending on the customer's requirements with a flow rate of production of 220kg per minute and 330 kilograms per minute respectively.  The new Homogeniser keeps the plant pressure down to below 10 bars, which is critical as emulsions perform adversely under high pressures.

"The new Homogeniser will produce a superior emulsion that performs better with enhanced sensitisation and superior emulsifier performance. This is just one of our range of emulsifier technology systems” says Clive Dawkins, Business Manager at Lake International.

Wilson adds, “After spending a decade studying the science of emulsions in collaboration with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), we are comfortable to say we have a world leading understanding of how emulsions explosives work and the Homogeniser will continue to evolve in our quest towards refining our products.”

The Homogeniser is currently undergoing its final evaluation at AEL's Central Bulk Plant in Modderfontein, South Africa and will be rolled out globally to AEL operations in South Africa, Central African regions and select international markets.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF AEL MINING SERVICES LIMITED AND LAKE INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES

For more information, please contact Vuyiswa Vivi Majova
Group Marketing & Communications Manager,  Tel : +27 11 606 0550

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Website: www.lake.co.za

EDITORIAL CONTACTS
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