LKAB Minerals holds first High Friction Surfacing Seminar
Our customers, local authorities and partners of LKAB Minerals attended the event, which was invitation only. The day consisted of a morning of presentations followed by afternoon tours of LKAB Minerals Flixborough processing sites. The objective of the day was to strengthen our position as a sustainable supplier of calcined bauxite. In addition, we wanted to showcase our other services from material blending and processing, to testing services.
Introduction to LKAB Minerals
The seminar began with an introduction to the company by Darren Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, LKAB Minerals Group & Managing Director for UK & Ireland. After this LKAB Minerals Sustainable Procurement gave an overview of strategy & policies and the evaluation, risk assessment and improvements ongoing with suppliers by Gary Mansfield, Supply Chain Director, UK.
Indepth look into Calcined Bauxite
Melvyn Bradley, Technical Director for UK & Ireland then commenced the technical presentations with an in-depth look into Calcined Bauxite and its properties. This was followed by an overview of the material alternatives available for High Friction Surfacing applications.
‘The benefits of calcined bauxite in High Friction Surfacing are well-known. However, there are many alternatives that the industry could consider. One of these includes the use of recycled materials as a cost effective substitute. In a climate where the supply of calcined bauxite can be limited, it is worth reviewing the potential alternatives, their benefits and possible applications.’
After the break guest speaker Howard Robinson, Chief Executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association, presented the background behind high friction surfacing and the benefits of applying this material at junctions and intersections.
Toll processing services
A presentation by Tony Hutton (Technical Services Manager) followed. He introduced LKAB Minerals Toll Processing Services, a range of blending and processing facilities on site at Flixborough; followed by an overview of the material testing services on offer in the UK. This ranges from chemical analysis and grading to sample preparation and colour determination.
Operations Director, Paul Boustead then gave an introduction to Operational Excellence, Safety First, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), 5S and Focussed Improvement (FI) and the work ongoing at their UK sites.
A tour of Flixborough site
Following the final presentation, we gave delegates a site induction ahead of the Flixborough site tours. We provided the delegates with an opportunity to view the toll processing and testing facilities on offer. Lastly we showed them our storage facilities we have on offer to customers.
Darren Wilson commented: ‘As an industry, many of our customers were not aware of the services and knowledge we have to offer. This seminar provided an opportunity for LKAB Minerals to strengthen our position as a sustainable minerals supplier. Meanwhile we could showcase our expertise in minerals processing and technical support.’
Feedback from customers has been positive. LKAB Minerals plan to develop their technical events further, with additional seminars planned in other business sectors. To learn more about this or future events or to discuss their service offering available to the HFS sector, email minerals.uk@lkab.com.
