
MDS trommels from ELB Equipment
Crushing and screening giant, ELB Equipment, has completed the minerals processing equipment cycle with the addition of a complete range of high efficiency trommels from MDS. These track, static and recycling trommels, as well as apron feeders, are quick and can handle a wide range of media including blasted rock and riprap, as well as varying substrates such as clay, limestone and even recycled concrete rubble. But, most importantly, it is the new trommels’ ability to speed up processing and ability to handle oversize materials that is most exciting for the local market.
ELB Equipment divisional director, Wakefield Harding, says the range of static and tracked trommels are unmatched in the local market introduce a totally new way of doing things while turning up production volumes and profitability on many new and existing plants in southern Africa.
Volumes up
MDS tracked and mobile units especially have the ability to be game-changers bringing the speed and versatility of trommels to sites wherever they are needed. They can separate up to four streams of aggregates quickly and efficiently starting with soil and fines at the feed-end moving through to larger rocks and oversize rock up to 1,5m at the discharge end.
It is this rugged ability of the MDS designed and manufactured trommels that makes them unique as they have the ability to shorten the processing equipment chain onsite – either direct from blasting and loading or from a primary crusher or even recycled materials and composting.
Trommel types
MDS designs and manufactures heavy duty static trommels in the M615 and M820 models. These can process from 500 to 750 tons per hour with 3-4 outputs each. The trommels are built with portability in mind for applications processing overburden, recycling/skip waste, general scalping, all quarried aggregates, demolition waste, riprap/armour rock and blasted rock.
The company manufactures a variety of tracked trommels to improve mobility on site making this an ideal solution for mining contractors, handling material up to 1m in size with outputs from 300 to 750tph.

Applications
Some applications include:
Placer Mining. Trommel screens are commonly used in placer mining operations to separate valuable minerals from the surrounding gravel or alluvial deposits. The rotating drum of the trommel screen allows the fine particles to pass through while larger rocks and debris are separated and discarded.
Gold Mining. Mobile trommel screens are extensively used in gold mining operations. They help in the screening and separation of gold-bearing material from other debris such as rocks, clay, and sand. Trommel screens are particularly effective in capturing fine gold particles.
Coal Mining. Trommel screens are utilised in coal mining to separate coal from waste material. The trommel screen separates the coal based on size, ensuring that the appropriate coal product is processed further while discarding larger rocks and debris.
Quarrying. Mobile trommel screens are used in quarrying operations to separate different sizes of stone and aggregate materials. By utilising different screen sizes and configurations, trommel screens can produce various sizes of screened material for further processing or sale.
Mineral Processing. Trommel screens play a crucial role in mineral processing plants by separating valuable minerals from waste material. They are often used in conjunction with other equipment like crushers and conveyors to efficiently process bulk materials.
Sand and Gravel Operations. Trommel screens are commonly employed in sand and gravel operations to separate and classify different sizes of material. The screens help remove oversize rocks and debris, allowing the sand and gravel to be processed further for various construction and industrial applications.
Recycling. Mobile trommel screens find applications in recycling operations, such as construction and demolition waste processing. They aid in separating and sorting different types of recyclable materials such as wood, plastics, metals, and aggregates.
Countrywide availability
“We believe that the addition of the MDS brand will open up new markets for both the company and for our clients. These are top quality machines from the world’s leading supplier within the portfolio of our long-time supplier, Terex Corporation, which also owns Powerscreen and Terex branded processing equipment which has been distributed by ELB Equipment for decades,” says Wakefield.
“As a result of this trusted combination, and with our footprint throughout southern Africa, we expect the MDS offering to expand quickly across all mining types and into the growing recycling markets. There are also some commonalities between equipment under our umbrella and it simply makes sense to go with a single supplier for all equipment requirements on site.
“This type of approach also supports our ‘Best of breed from a single supplier’ motto which means that customers are able to buy the best types of equipment from specialist manufacturers around the world from a single supplier – ELB Equipment,” concludes Wakefield.