SMC Corporation remains ever-committed to the evolving needs of the heavy-duty sector, continuing to invest in research and development (R&D) to elevate its robust range of heavy-duty products, designed to withstand even the harshest of environments.
This has resulted in pneumatic systems capable of meeting stringent resource industry requirements like operation in wet, dusty, corrosive environments, continuous 24–7 operation and withstanding extreme pressures and temperatures.
Matching SMC’s products to its expertise is ultimately what sets the company apart. The heavy-duty sector has had its fair shares of ups and downs, however what remains consistent is SMC’s investment and focus on the sector. Beyond simply spec’ing a product, the SMC team feels confident enough to walk onto site and help come up with the correct, long-term solution, understanding that it’s an ongoing journey.
Another key differentiator is SMC’s investment in its local production capabilities and product availability. It’s about local engineering, local support. The company is able to assemble actuators and control cabinets locally and to spec. SMC works closely with customers to determine what they need and the company does its best to ensure that stock is readily available in case of emergencies or breakdowns.
A sector as important as the mining industry could benefit greatly from pneumatics and automation. The extraction and processing involves very harsh and extreme working conditions; if one industry demands strong, reliable and quality products, it’s mining.
SMC’s mining heroes
One of SMC’s most prominent heavy-duty heroes would have to be its custom-built cabinets. The company has had cases where it has built up to 40 for one project. These are essentially stainless steel boxes used to house a selection of valves and ports for mining applications, and they’re built to spec, on-site.
Other solutions include a wide range of ‘solid solutions’ such as large bore actuators, ISO cylinders and positioners.
Looking to positioners, SMC’s comprehensive range comprises of electro-pneumatic positioners, pneumatic positioners and smart positioners – all available in both lever and rotary types.
Other products for the sector include a pulse valve (valve for dust collection), a main line filter, tubing and fittings, pressure relief valves, pressure switches, two-port valves, five-port valves and more.
SMC’s servo cylinder enables improved mineral recovery rates for local mining operations
One of the world’s largest gold mining companies operating in Australia sought a means to improve air cylinder operation for the dart valves in their flotation cells. They installed new air servo cylinder technology from SMC and achieved numerous benefits. Chief among them was an increase in product recovery.
This air servo cylinder series IN-777 has enabled the reduction and removal of pinch points, resulting in improved accuracy and safety. It has also yielded time saving during calibration and improved positioning, delivering increased froth velocity for the enhanced gold and copper recovery.
The optimised speed capability of the IN-777 means that it responds quickly to changes in process conditions, maintaining a constant froth velocity.
The series is designed for rugged mining applications in mineral processing, and bears IP67 rating (full protection against dust and water).
Looking ahead, SMC continues to innovate with the mining sector in mind, and is heavily focused on ensuring energy savings across all industries.
