Finishing - September-October 2020

34 CASE STUDY
Precious process
AYorkshire-based pyrometallurgical
engineering firm has been
commissioned by a world leader in
managing, recycling and fabricating platinum
group metals, to deliver a number of
significant upgrades to its manufacturing plant
in London.
Normanton-based Inprotec will manage the
upgrades to Johnson Matthey’s Brimsdown
plant over the next 12 months as part of a sixfigure
contract.
Inprotec will renew key equipment used
throughout the recovery and production
process in order to improve reliability and
process control and ensure the plant is best
placed to meet constantly evolving demands.
As part of the project, Inprotec has worked
with Scunthorpe-based GWF Engineering to
create a Short Rotary Furnace, 3.5 metres in
length, which will be used for the smelting of
precious metals, supplementing the existing
furnaces at the site.
Additionally, Inprotec is also carrying out
major upgrades to the combustion system that
feeds a series of hard-working smelting
furnaces, known as Top Blown Rotary
Converters.
Commenting on the project, Chris Oldroyd,
managing director of Inprotec, said: “We’ve
provided Johnson Matthey with specialist
pyrometallurgical plant used to recover
precious metals for over 20 years now and
we’re delighted to have been commissioned
to support with this latest raft of hi-tech
improvements.
“As with any hard-working industrial plant,
it’s vital that it’s maintained and upgraded on
a regular basis in order to address any issues
of wear and tear and ensure it remains
efficient and reliable.
“Furnaces and the technologies that power
them lie at the heart of any metal retrieval
process and the significant upgrades our team
of specialists is delivering will ensure Johnson
Matthey continues to be a world leader in
managing, recycling and fabricating precious
metals, such as platinum and gold.”
George Dyer, site manager at Johnson
Matthey’s Brimsdown plant, said: “As part of
our commitment to providing our customers
with quality products that meet a diverse
range of needs, we’re continually investing in
our plant to develop and improve its industry
leading capabilities.
“The expertise, attention to detail and
service Inprotec offers is unrivalled and we’re
delighted to be working with them once again
on this latest round of improvements, which
will ensure we’re able to more effectively and
efficiently manage the metal recovery and
production processes.”
Inprotec is a family-run engineering
business which started in 1977 as G.A.
Oldroyd, named after its founder, Garry. In
2010, Garry’s son, Chris, took over the reins
and renamed the business Inprotec as part of
a rebrand, with the company moving to a
bespoke manufacturing facility in Normanton
shortly afterwards. It specialises in the design
and supply of pyrometallurgical process plant
used to recover lead and precious metals and
works with clients all over the world.
Finishing - September/October2020