Mining technology firm Scanalyse has won the Mineral Processing – Ancillary and Analysis category of the Mining Magazine Awards 2010 for its MillMapper software.

MillMapper uses a 3D laser scanner to obtain fast and accurate data on the wear rate of the internal liners of grinding mills, which break up rocks into smaller debris.

The device provides accurate measurements of the thickness, weight and condition of the internal liners.

It allows mill operators to reduce costs by cutting mill downtime and ensuring the maximum life is obtained from a set of liners without risking safety or damage from breakages.

MillMapper is offered as a service to customers. Trained local agents attend site during a shutdown and capture the raw data, which is uploaded over the internet to Scanalyse’s headquarters in Perth, Western Australia, and processed by technicians.

The processed data is then examined by experienced metallurgists and an analyst report provided to operators that identifies any areas of immediate concern.

This analyst report, along with the 3D model and the MillMapper report  is delivered to the client within days of the scan.