On 17 July 2018, students and research staff of the Institute of Mineral Processing Machines (IAM) visited the galvanizing plant Paul Bachmann GmbH in Freiberg as part of the lecture “Maintenance”. Founded in 1885, the company specializes in batch galvanizing and cooperates with regional, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as major national steel construction firms. Mr. Ihle, the plant manager, provided fascinating insights into a traditional technology that, for more than 30 years, reliably protects against corrosion, even in a warm, humid climate.

Here you can find a detailed report about the field trip of the IAM (in German).

On 25 April 2018, the final meeting concerning the EU project OptimOre took place in Manresa. In this research project, over a 39 month period, the extraction of tantalum and tungsten from tailings of various European deposits was investigated and made predictable, using newly developed calculation models. The different work packages were focused on the preparation processes of grinding, gravity separation, flotation, and magnetic separation. Continue reading “Research project OptimOre: Final meeting in Manresa”

On Friday, 06 July 2018, the time had finally come, and the cable sheave of shaft no. 388 of the former mining company Wismut in Königstein was handed over to the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. The official handover of the cable sheave, which had previously been restored in the laboratories of the Institute of Mineral Processing Machines (IAM), was carried out by Dr. Ing. Stefan Mann, managing director of the present Wismut GmbH, Chemnitz. It was inaugurated in the presence of the rector of the TU Freiberg, Prof. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, at the corner of Leipziger Straße / Lampadiusstraße, to the left of the Erich Rammler building. Continue reading “Cable sheave Wismut officially handed over to TU Freiberg”

Despite intensive tests throughout this past week, our cone crusher just didn’t want to turn over this morning. Today, at 11 am, of all times, as as many students as for a long time wanted to start with their internship at the Institute of Mineral Processing Machines (IAM). In the end, however, Stephan Lange, research assistant at our institute, managed to locate the error, and the internship could be successfully completed in fantastic weather conditions, without any further stumbling blocks.