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BY THE NUMBERS
Impala
Platinum,
a milestone
project
Hatch developed an efficient
electric furnace for Impala
Platinum. Power needs were
slashed by 25 percent, and
electrode consumption was
reduced by 35 percent.
Impala Platinum had a clear
objective when it asked Hatch
to expand its smelter and that
was to increase production
while cutting costs per unit of
production.
Hatch designed a single smelting
furnace designed to operate at
40MW, equal to the combined
power of Impala’s
previous four furnaces.
The single furnace
throughput is now more
than the total of the other
four furnaces.
When the new furnace
was commissioned, it
achieved “astonishing
performance indices,” says
Bert Wasmund, Executive
Director, Hatch.
The new furnace uses
25 percent less power per tonne
of feed, and has 35 percent
lower electrode consumption.
Impala used Hatch’s proprietary
refractory cooling and highvoltage
technologies.
Hatch’s specialized team of
furnace technologists designed
all components of the new
furnace including the innovative
35 % fewer electrodes
25 % power savings
three-dimensional (3D) structural
binding arrangement as well
as mechanical and electrical
systems for the 40-tonne
automated Soderberg electrodes
that deliver power to the furnace.
The Impala furnace No 5 in
South Africa was designed in
1991 by Nils Voermann, Hatch’s
Global Managing Director,
Technologies. He also led the
team that commissioned the
furnace. Nils was the winner
of the 2011 Professional
Engineers of Ontario Engineering
Excellence Medal.
Meet the Specialists
Technologies
Original ideas from Hatch often lead to research
and development, technology audits, intellectual
properties and tax concessions that provide clients
with continuing income from improved and exclusive
processes and equipment.
Nils Voermann,
Global Managing Director
Technologies
Benchmark: We can show you where you are…and where you should be.
Hatch Advantage July 2011 | 17