Fully Automated Sampling Laboratory for Kumba Iron Ore in South Africa

IMP has successfully completed the commissioning of the Automated Sampling Laboratory for Kumba Iron Ore (KIO). The facility is located at the Saldahna Bulk Terminal near Saldahna in the Western Cape, South Africa. The facility which is a twin robotic system, has been installed to analyze samples of iron ore taken from the two product loading conveyors as iron ore is discharged onto vessels berthed at the port.

Sample aliquots are taken at fixed incremental intervals by a primary sample cutter which, after a weighing and splitting process, delivers a fixed sample mass to the robot laboratory.

The robot laboratory has the capability of processing the individual primary samples through various stages of accumulation, splitting, crushing, pulverizing etc to enable a chemical analysis of the loaded product to be achieved. At the same time the required determination of both moisture content and particle size distribution is conducted on the accumulated primary samples. The entire process from sampling to analysis, including fusion and chemical analysis, loss of ignition, particle size determination and determination of moisture content is fully automated

The design of the laboratory incorporates a complete mass balance (audit trail) system which assists in the adherence of the facility to the various ISO standards.

The sampling facility is located above the two parallel product loading belts and adjacent to the primary sampling building. Sample aliquots are delivered by twin conveyors to the Automated Sampling Laboratory thus enabling the laboratory to sample each product belt independently if differing products are being loaded, or together if dual loading of the same product is being undertaken. All waste product from the sample laboratory is returned to the product belts via discharge chutes.

The facility is fully air conditioned and is fully compliant with regards to dust extraction.

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