THE ARANZU SOLUTION:

Aranzu developed a complete packaged supply solution focused on reliability, constructability, and successful installation in a challenging operational environment.

Leveraging extensive mining and mineral processing experience, Aranzu reviewed and refined the detailed design package to ensure compatibility between engineering intent and real-world fabrication capabilities. Where gaps existed between design and manufacturability, Aranzu provided practical engineering input and field-proven solutions to ensure the final deliverables remained robust, functional, and fit for purpose.

The Project Scope Included

• Global sourcing and procurement of specialised equipment and components
• Coordination of multiple local and international suppliers
• Fabrication management and quality verification
• Packaging design suitable for extreme transport conditions into Central Africa
• Site verification inspections prior to manufacturing commencement
• Interface checks against existing infrastructure
• Spare parts and operational spillage allowances
• Supply of underground-suitable installation tooling
• Consolidation into a single coordinated shipment
• Planned on-site supervision during installation

Aranzu understands that mine sites are dynamic environments where conditions can change rapidly between design completion and construction execution. To mitigate this risk, Aranzu conducted site and fabrication verification activities to confirm that all interfacing infrastructure remained aligned with the design intent prior to manufacturing.

Aranzu also incorporated appropriate third-party quality verification processes throughout the project. This included non-destructive testing (NDT) of all load-bearing structures and critical fabricated components, performed in accordance with applicable ASME standards and project quality requirements. By integrating independent verification into the supply process, Aranzu provided additional assurance that all structural and mechanical components met the required safety, quality, and operational standards prior to shipment and installation.

This proactive approach significantly reduced installation risk and ensured the supplied package remained compatible with actual site conditions.

The packaging and logistics strategy formed a critical part of the project. With equipment required to travel over long distances on unforgiving roads into remote Central African operations, packaging integrity and load planning were treated as key engineering deliverables rather than an afterthought.

Every item was packaged, protected, and consolidated with the realities of remote mining logistics in mind.

THE BENEFITS:

Reduced Project Risk
Aranzu’s practical mining and fabrication experience ensured that engineering designs translated successfully into manufacturable, installable solutions.

Single-Source Coordination
The client benefited from a single point of responsibility across sourcing, fabrication, verification, packaging, and shipment coordination.

Improved Installation Confidence
Through site verification, fabrication oversight, and interface management, Aranzu provided certainty that supplied components would fit correctly during installation.

Remote Logistics Expertise
The entire package was prepared specifically for transport into challenging Central African mining environments, reducing the risk of damage, delays, and missing components.

Operational Continuity
Adequate spare parts, operational allowances, and installation considerations were incorporated to support rapid commissioning and minimise plant downtime.

Plant upgrades will always present challenges — particularly in remote mining operations where downtime, logistics, and installation risks carry significant operational consequences.

Aranzu has developed its approach through years of hands-on experience across mining and mineral processing projects throughout Africa. We understand where projects typically fail, where compromises can safely be made, and where they cannot.

By combining engineering understanding, fabrication knowledge, operational experience, and practical supply chain coordination, Aranzu delivers packaged solutions that bring confidence to complex upgrade projects.
Your mine. Our time. Problems solved.

THE CHALLENGE:

• High moisture content in ore leading to poor flow and blockages
• Inefficient dewatering causing slurry build-up in feed systems
• Frequent wear and failure of conventional gate valves
• Difficult access for maintenance, increasing downtime
• Harsh operating conditions accelerating equipment degradation
• Safety risks during cleaning and manual intervention

THE ARANZU SOLUTION:

Aranzu has developed a purpose-built solution specifically for these harsh mining conditions, the Horizontal Dewatering Slide Gate, installed beneath the ROM SAG mill feed hopper conveyor. This advanced slide gate is engineered to improve dewatering efficiency, reduce maintenance, and increase system reliability.

WHAT THE ARANZU SOLUTUON OFFERS:

• Efficient Dewatering: Integrated sump design allows effective drainage of excess water before material transfer.
• Improved Flow Control: Robust slide gate ensures consistent material discharge.
• Self-Cleaning Capability: Internal spray bar system reduces build-up and blockages.
• Enhanced Maintenance Access: Top-mounted inspection hatches simplify servicing.

WHY IS ARANZU UNIQUELY PLACED:

• Expertise in mining-specific materials handling solutions
• Use of Aranzu proprietary wear-resistant materials for extended lifespan
• Focus on modular, maintainable designs tailored for African mining conditions
• Proven understanding of ROM handling challenges in gold mining environments

THE BENEFITS:

The implementation of the Aranzu Horizontal Dewatering Slide Gate delivers measurable operational improvements such as:

• Reduced Downtime: Fully welded construction minimises failure points.
• Extended Equipment Life: Wear-resistant materials outperform conventional steel designs.
• Improved Throughput: Efficient dewatering reduces blockages and ensures consistent feed.
• Lower Maintenance Costs: Easy access and self-cleaning features reduce manual intervention.
• Enhanced Safety: Less need for manual cleaning in hazardous areas.

WHY ARANZU IS THE PERFECT PARTNER IN AFRICA:

• Deep understanding of African mining environments and challenges
• Proven track record in delivering robust, high-performance equipment
• Commitment to innovation and continuous product improvement
• Focus on reducing total cost of ownership for clients
• Strong engineering support and on-the-ground expertise

THE PROBLEM:
Compacted Slimes That Pumps Can’t Move.

Mine water circuits rely on steady reclaim and predictable flow. But sedimentation ponds, storage dams, and process-water basins all suffer from the same issue:

• Solids settle and compact forming dense, immobile layers
  These materials often resist suction, even with high-capacity pumps.
• Pumps choke, cavitate, or run dry
  When solids aren’t mobilised, reclaim efficiency collapses.
• Buildup reduces dam capacity and system performance
  Meaning more frequent dam interventions and higher associated costs.
• Traditional dredging is expensive, disruptive, and risky

Mechanical equipment, divers, or manual clearing poses additional safety challenges.

Operations need a way to continuously mobilise solids, not only when the dam becomes a problem.

THE ARANZU SOLUTION:
Jet-Pump Fluidizer Technology

The Aranzu Fluidizer is a venturi-based jet pump that uses pressurised motive water to break up compacted solids at the dam floor and pull them into slurry suction lines.
It turns settled mud back into pumpable slurry — automatically and continuously.

By injecting high-velocity water through a precision-engineered nozzle, the unit creates intense local turbulence. This:

• breaks up compacted layers,
• lifts solids from the dam floor, and
• keeps them suspended long enough for pumps to transfer them out of the system.

The system can be installed as:

• a single point for focused agitation, or
• a multi-point array for broad coverage in large dams — all linked to an isolation manifold for easy control.

Whether fixed in place or moved as needed, the Aranzu Fluidizer integrates seamlessly with existing pump systems.

WHY IT WORKS SO WELL:

1. Jet-Induced Suction = Reliable Solids Mobilisation
   The venturi effect creates a powerful suction zone that continuously pulls mobilised solids towards the pump inlet.
2. Turbulence Breaks Down Even Hard-Compacted Slimes
   The spray-bar or nozzle assembly generates enough agitation to disrupt settled layers — solving the core problem pumps alone cannot.
3. Modular, Scalable Design
   Units can be deployed wherever solids accumulate, including irregular dam layouts or underground basins.
4. Built to Withstand Harsh Mining Conditions
   All hoses, fittings, and wetted surfaces are made from abrasion- and corrosion-resistant materials chosen for each site’s chemistry and slurry profile.
5. Works With Existing Infrastructure
   The system integrates easily with current reclaim pipelines, pump configurations, and water circuits.

THE BENEFITS:
Cleaner Dams, Fewer Shutdowns, Lower Costs

Aranzu’s fluidization technology delivers measurable operational advantages:

• Continuous or on-demand de-sludging
  No more waiting until the dam becomes a crisis.
• Reduced downtime and lower maintenance costs
  Keeping solids mobilised protects pumps, valves, and screens from overloading or blockage.
• Improved dam capacity and reclaim efficiency
  More of your water becomes usable again without costly dredging campaigns.
• Safer, simpler operations
  No need for divers, heavy mechanical dredgers, or invasive excavation.
• Tailored to your site’s slurry conditions
  Every Aranzu Fluidizer system is engineered for the dam geometry, water chemistry, density, and duty cycle.
• Future-ready integration
  Compatible with manual or automated controls, manifolds, and smart monitoring if required.

CONCLUSION:
A Modern Way to Manage an Old Mining Problem

Compacted slimes will always settle in process-water dams, but with the Aranzu Fluidizer, they no longer have to disrupt operations, reduce capacity, or force costly interventions.

By turning settled solids back into pumpable slurry through controlled jet-induced mixing, Aranzu delivers a high-efficiency, low-maintenance, and scalable solution that keeps dams clean and reclaim lines running smoothly.

CASE STUDY: Knife gate valve seal rings

THE PROBLEM:
One of our mining clients was facing a recurring and costly issue with their knife gate valves operating in a highly abrasive slurry environment. The standard seal rings within these valves were wearing out prematurely due to the coarse nature of the slurry. This rapid wear not only led to frequent seal replacements but also caused damage to the valve body itself—forcing the client to replace entire valve assemblies on a regular basis. The downtime, replacement costs, and operational disruptions were becoming unsustainable.

THE ARANZU PROCESS:
At Aranzu, we believe that even proven technologies can be reimagined to better serve demanding applications. After a detailed review of the operating conditions and valve design, our team evaluated the root causes of the failures and explored opportunities to improve the lifespan and protection of critical valve components.

Rather than suggesting a complete redesign, we focused on upgrading a key element—the seal ring—using advanced materials and better sealing technology to address the heart of the problem.

THE ARANZU SOLUTION:
We developed a custom seal ring solution designed to retrofit directly into the client's existing knife gate valves—eliminating the need for expensive valve replacements. These new seal rings are manufactured from Aranzu’s proprietary cast wear-resistant alloy, specifically engineered to endure aggressive slurry conditions.

To further enhance performance, we integrated a cast polyurethane face seal into the ring. This embedded sealing surface ensures a tight closure while shielding the polyurethane from direct wear, significantly extending its service life.
The result? A longer-lasting seal ring that:

• Protects the valve body from abrasive damage
• Reduces overall valve replacement frequency
• Minimises downtime and maintenance costs
• Offers a drop-in solution compatible with a wide range of knife gate valves

Even the best industrial components can benefit from targeted innovation. Aranzu’s upgraded seal ring design proves that with the right material, science and engineering approach, persistent problems can become long-term solutions.

If you're operating in harsh slurry environments and facing similar issues, our team is ready to help.

CASE STUDY: Cast liners

The aranzu Casted Liners are suited to all high impact, high abrasion environments, where the existing liner is not achieving the required service life.

These liners came about as a result of the previous product which was in use, not meeting the requirement. Aranzu worked with the client to solve the issue and developed a solution. Below we unpack how this came about.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE PREVIOUS PRODUCT:
The mine was previously using liners cast entirely from polyurethane (PU). While PU is known for its flexibility and resistance to certain types of wear, it struggled under the harsh conditions in the process plant, particularly withstanding the impact and abrasion from large stones. As a result, the liners wore out quickly, necessitating frequent maintenance and replacement, leading to costly downtime and increased operational expenses.

THE IMPACT THE PREVIOUS PRODUCT HAD ON THE PROCESS PLANT:
The rapid degradation of the original PU liners significantly affected the process plant's efficiency. With frequent liner failures, the plant experienced more unplanned maintenance stoppages, reducing throughput and productivity. Moreover, the increased need for replacements led to higher material and labour costs, putting a strain on the mine’s overall operational budget.

HOW ARANZU'S CASTED LINERS HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE:
Aranzu designed new Casted Liners that would offer a major improvement over the original product. Our innovative approach combined the flexibility and cushioning properties of PU with the toughness of our specially formulated steel. By embedding steel strips into the PU liner, we were able to enhance its ability to absorb the impact from larger stones while significantly improving its resistance to abrasion. The steel components take on the brunt of the mechanical wear, while the PU continues to provide cushioning, creating a durable and high-performance liner solution.

IMPROVEMENTS OUR CLIENTS HAVE SEEN:
Clients have reported a dramatic improvement in liner longevity since implementing aranzu’s Casted Liner solution. On average, the lifespan of the liner has increased by at least four times compared to the original PU-only liners. This has translated into less frequent maintenance, reduced downtime, and substantial cost savings over the operational life of the process plant. The improved wear resistance also means that the plant can operate more consistently at higher efficiency levels, further optimising overall performance.