Atoll now wholly owned
Bateman Engineering N.V. has acquired the 60 % shareholding that
it did not previously own in the Atoll group of companies which specialises
in the treatment of ferroalloy slag dumps to recover valuable products.
Incorporated in 1999 by Bateman Engineering and Mintek, Atoll provides
specialist metal recovery services to metallurgical processors and
mining enterprises, predominantly in South Africa. Plans are in place
however to further extend these services internationally.
With its principal activity being the recovery of metal alloys, mostly
FeMn, FeNiCr, FeCr and SiMn, from slag dumps and other waste streams,
the company operates through two different business models. In the
first model, a toll treatment service offers the processing of slag
dumps (or other waste streams) for a fixed fee per ton, with all recovered
metal handed over to the client. In the second model, Atoll undertakes
processing operations for its own account. A joint venture is established
between the owner of the slag dump and Atoll, typically on a 50 /
50 basis, with Atoll providing know-how, financing and operational
expertise.
All of Atoll's units are being consolidated under Bateman Toll Treatment
B.V., a direct subsidiary of Bateman Engineering N.V., and Atoll's
management team will remain with the company.
Dr Sivi Gounden, CEO of Bateman Engineering, commented: "This
is another positive and cost effective step in our drive to grow the
business both organically and by means of good strategic acquisitions.
The acquisition provides Bateman Engineering with a platform to expand
in the lucrative and higher margin market of metal recovery, leveraging
on our existing strong relationships in the mining sector."
Since its formation, Atoll has built 11 major metal-from-slag recovery
plants in Southern Africa capable of processing between 120 and 200
t/h of slag. It has also constructed a 100 t/h plant for Sweden and
a 60 t/h plant for France, and has supplied 10 t/h to 35 t/h mobile
jigging plants to clients throughout the world.
hese plants utilise APIC pneumatic jigging technology, the rights
to which have been acquired from FCB of France. As this technology
has been further developed and enhanced over the years, its applications
have increased from recovering metal from coarse slag fractions, to
fines recovery as well. Recently, a new device, the APIC classifier,
has been developed for ultrafines and has been installed at Middelburg
Ferrochrome and Transalloys Silicomanganese.
It replaces spiral separators, giving better recoveries and grades,
and is easier to operate.
The build, own, operate (BOO) services, provided through Apic Toll
Treatment (Pty) Ltd, have also been well received by the mining industry.
Today Atoll operates a 150 t/h plant at Transalloys, a 100 t/h plant
at Vargön Alloys in Sweden, a 60 t/h plant at Comilog, France,
a 200 t/h plant at Middelburg Ferrochrome, a 150 t/h plant at Hernic
Ferrochrome, and an 80 t/h plant at SA Ferrochrome. It also has joint
venture toll treatment operations at three other sites in South Africa,
one in Brazil, one in the USA, and one in Russia.
These plants enjoy high recoveries combined with a cost effective
operation, producing saleable coarse metal at >95 % recovery, saleable
fines at > 95 % recovery and ultrafines at >70 % recovery.
For further information please contact Dr Peter Scott, CEO, Atoll,
on +27-11-381-5330 or e-mail peters@atoll.co.za.
