Bateman has installed an Ultrasep thickener at the Graspan coal mine near Middelburg in South Africa. The new unit is only the second application of an Ultrasep to coal processing, and follows Bateman's installation of an Ultrasep at Slater Coal in Newcastle. According to Bateman, the processing of different coal types at Graspan results in an inconsistent feed to the Ultrasep. As a consequence, Bateman is assisting plant personnel to develop the optimum reagent mix and dosage rate for the varying feed conditions.

Bateman's manager of processing technologies, Craig Gilbert, says: "Graspan is very satisfied with the performance and process adaptability of the Ultrasep, as well as its low flocculant consumption, which is a direct result of the unique dilution and mixing system that facilitates the particle flocculation in the Ultrasep . . . it has no moving parts and its internal configuration with the Triod design ensures optimised underflow density and overflow clarity - the unit installed at the colliery is achieving an underflow density in the region of 1.24-1.28 t/m² and clear overflows."