Introduction
When it became apparent to the dredging operations at a Western Australian mineral sand mine that almost one kilometre of slurry pipelines where at critical risk of causing significant downtime, they looked to a local company to resolve problem. Tronox operates as a vertically integrated producer of titanium dioxide and inorganic chemicals. Its products add brightness and durability to paints, plastics, papers, and other everyday products.
The Challenge
The original steel flotation cells, known as “coffin floats,” were prone to corrosion and deterioration. Some also doubled as access walkways, creating unsafe conditions for on-site personnel.
The slurry, weighing up to three times more than water, placed significant load on the steel floats. Loss of buoyancy led to pipe sag, posing a major safety hazard and threatening catastrophic pipeline failure.
Without an upgrade, the sinking flotation system would have resulted in system failure, leading to unplanned shutdowns, expensive replacements, and major disruptions to ongoing mining operations.
The Solution
By replacing corroding steel “coffin floats” with polyethylene pipe floats, Coerco eliminated structural hazards, improved buoyancy, and reduced the risk of pipeline sag and failure.
The new system separated and supported each individual pipeline, preventing exterior wear and significantly increasing the longevity of the slurry transfer system.
With a reliable flotation solution in place, the mine avoided costly shutdowns and replacements, ensuring uninterrupted operations and improved overall efficiency.
WHY CHOOSE US
As a family-owned business, we're passionate about improving lives, supporting charitable causes, and actively participating in community events while creating local jobs.
We provide exceptional customer care with prompt, efficient, tailored solutions, actively listening to your feedback and offering genuine support from first contact through post-delivery.
Our 30+ years of in-house engineering expertise and 150+ skilled team deliver innovative solutions using the widest product range and strategic industry partnerships.
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