Crusader Systems is a high-tech South African company providing modeling technology that creates added value for the process and financial services industries. Since its establishment in 1997, the company has grown to a multi-disciplinary team of thirty engineers, computer scientists and financial experts.

A partnership has been formed between Crusader Systems and the Finnish company Outokumpu Mintec, subsidiary of the international metals and technology group Outokumpu, the world's largest supplier of flotation technology, including real-time assay instruments and process control. The FrothMaster™ technology is being distributed via the most extensive international network in the flotation industry.

FrothMaster™ is a powerful instrument designed to improve the economics of mining operations. In the flotation process of mineral extraction, mined ore is crushed and milled and then passed through flotation machines. The valuable minerals in the ore rise to the surface as a froth, which is skimmed off the surface of the slurry. Although the process has been used for the last 100 years, the problem has been that the efficiency of the process, and hence the recovery rate and grade of mineral concentrate, has depended on the subjective judgment of the operator.

Frothmaster™ eliminates operator subjectivity and prevents valuable material from being lost by providing information that was not previously available to allow for smoother plant operation. Problems in the plant are identified and corrected early.

This truly robust instrument was designed to withstand the harsh mining environment. It is of a plug-and-play unit incorporating a video camera and a powerful computer. It is cost-effective, easy to install, and is compatible with any flotation plant's information and control infrastructure. It is suitable for all kinds of mining and minerals processing operations: gold, platinum, copper, zinc, molybdenum, nickel, iron, lead, coal, talc, carbonates and phosphates.

With the higher recoveries of valuable minerals which the instrument allows, low-grade or marginal mines can continue in operation, which means job savings and increased profitability in the mining industry. For example, it has been proved that that FrothMaster™ could benefit a gold mine by a 2,5% greater gold recovery, which translates into additional annual earnings of R14,6 million for the mine.

Frothmaster™, which is covered by patent rights in 101 countries, has a proven international track record, and is running successfully in mines in South Africa, Australia and Finland.

For further information please contact Seppo Ronkainen at:

Outokumpu Mintec,
PO Box 84,
Espoo 02201
Finland
tel: +358 9 4212238
fax: +358 9 4213555
e-mail: seppo.ronkainen@outokumpu.co