JKTech Pty has set up an Australian joint venture with MIPAC to develop a SAG mill load and power draw stabilisation control system. JKTech is JKMRC's commercial arm and additional funding will be provided by the Queensland Government.

JKTech senior consultant Dr Andrew Schroder says this new system is based on the dynamic comminution circuit simulator, JKDynaGrind, which is based on JKMRC's modelling and simulation work. The project is intended to adapt JKDynaGrind for SAG mill control and stabilisation, which will be marketed to the minerals industry as Mill Auto-Pilot.

"The system is expected to change the way SAG mills are controlled and managed by using powerful predictive models in the decision making process," Dr Schroder said. "Controlling the load in a SAG mill circuit is one of the most demanding tasks in plant operation."