Facilities

Flow properties laboratory

Our comprehensive Flow Properties Laboratory at TUNRA Bulk Solids provides all equipment necessary to characterise the flow behaviour of bulk materials including ores, concentrates, tailings, grains and pharmaceutical powders. Tests conducted at TBS Flow Lab include:

• Shear testing to determine a bulk material’s strength
• Wall friction and adhesion testing
• Bulk density and compressibility
• Angle of repose

And several others

TUNRA Bulk Solids Flow Laboratory

In addition to flow properties, TUNRA is also recognised by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as a provider of Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) testing for the safe shipping of bulk cargoes.

Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) testing at TUNRA Bulk Solids Flow Lab

Sample Preparation and Testing Facilities

External to the Flow Lab, the premises of TUNRA Bulk Solids also comprise large experimental facilities with very high head room and overhead cranes allowing the accommodation and operation of small industrial scale test rigs and pilot plants. Activities conducted in the external testing area comprise:

• Sample preparation: from sample receipt to homogenisation with large and small RSD (Rotary Sample Dividers), sieving, crushing, particle size distribution and moisture determination.

TUNRA Bulk Solids Sample Preparation area

• Dust and environmental testing including a 600 mm x 600 mm wind tunnel equipped with DustTrak monitors and three Dust Extinction Moisture (DEM) machines operating in a temperature-controlled chamber.

TUNRA Bulk Solids’ wind tunnel

• Wear testing comprising standardised tests (ASTM G65, AS 1683.21) and TUNRA-designed abrasive and impact wear testing facilities which are the result of extensive research.

TUNRA’s Impact and Abrasive Wear rigs

Belt Conveying Components testing facilities

TUNRA Bulk Solids has comprehensive testing facilities in the field of belt conveyors. State-of-the-art testing rigs designed and built in-house include one of two Indentation Rolling Resistance (IRR) tests recognised in the Conveyor Manufacturer’s Association (CEMA)  manual, as well as testing facilities for idler rollers according to international standards (South African (SANS), German (DIN), ASTM and ISO).

Indentation Rolling Resistance (IRR) rig

TUNRA has also developed facilities to assess the efficiency of belt cleaning devices  (scrapers) and a cut and gouge test to assess wear of belt covers. The results of the latter provide belt manufacturers an insight into the cut and gouge resistance of the rubber compounds used in the manufacture of conveyor belts.

Further to our existing rigs, TUNRA also has a well-equipped workshop that allows us to develop custom-made test rigs and to modify test rigs if necessary to suit our clients’ needs.

Workshop and Prototyping

The comprehensive workshop department at TUNRA Bulk Solids allows the construction and modification of small-scale prototypes to test and optimise the functionality and efficiency of new or existing bulk solids handling equipment.​