Presenter
Dr Paul Shelley, Global Vice President, Innovation, Molycop
Topics covered
- The future of comminution in mining and mineral processing
- Advances in size reduction technologies
- Energy efficiency improvements in comminution
- Predictive maintenance strategies
- The role of digital tools and automation
- Data-driven optimisation in mineral processing
- Sustainability and environmental impact considerations
- Alternative benchmarking methods for grinding media performance
- Introduction to the Ball Mill Abrasion Test (BMAT) as a complementary tool to the Marked Ball Wear Test (MBWT)
Synopsis
In this comprehensive video presentation recorded at the Comminution 2025 conference, Dr Paul Shelley, Global Vice President, Innovation, proposes a new framework for benchmarking grinding media – the Ball Mill Abrasion Test (BMAT). The BMAT is a laboratory-scale wear test that simulates the real-world wear conditions experienced by grinding media in industrial mills.In this presentation, Dr Shelley explains that it is a more predictive and reliable method for assessing ball wear compared to the traditional Marked Ball Wear Test (MBWT). Unlike MBWT, which presents practical limitations in field execution, the BMAT provides a controlled, repeatable environment that uses actual ore and replicates diverse grinding scenarios. It also has the potential to drive more informed decisions about media selection and performance management.
With the ability to retrieve 100% of samples, eliminate the need for drilling or tagging, and support for rapid and cost-effective comparisons, BMAT offers a practical solution for R&D teams and metallurgists seeking to enhance accuracy and speed in media evaluation.
View his presentation ‘Exploring an Alternative to the Marked Ball Wear Test for Evaluating the Abrasion Performance of Grinding Balls’ to discover how the latest thinking is pushing the frontier of mill optimisation and grinding media performance.
Presenter
Dr Paul Shelley, Global VP Innovation, Molycop
Dr Paul Shelley is a globally recognised mining industry leader whose work is linked with harnessing digital transformation to meet the future needs of Molycop’s customers. As Global VP, Innovation, Dr Shelley is accountable for driving Molycop’s efforts in establishing a pipeline of products and services that will create superior customer value and a sustained competitive advantage for Molycop.