Metcon Laboratories was formed in 1991, to provide commercial mineral processing testing facilities and consulting services to the Mining and related industries. Originally located at the University of New South Wales in the Centre for Minerals Engineering, the Company moved from the University in 1996 to larger and better equipped laboratories and offices in Brookvale, Sydney. In 1997 Metcon acquired the metallurgical assets of Enviromet Operations, expanding its equipment base. The nucleus of the staff who operate Metcon Laboratories was originally employees of Warman International R & D Division, then Fox Anamet and Enviromet. These staff, along with their reputation and experience, has allowed Metcon to remain the dominant metallurgical testing laboratory on the east coast of Australia for many years.

 In May 2001 Metcon Laboratories were brought out by Ammtec Ltd of Perth, who offer similar services to Metcon. The meger has resulted in the creation of a unique Australia wide testing, research and consulting organisation. More details can be obtained by visiting the Ammtec website at http://www.ammtec.com.au. 

The company currently has a staff of eight qualified and experienced metallurgists and technicians with a combined total of approximately 100 years of experience in mineral processing. Analytical work, other than some basic assays, is contracted to commercial laboratories, meaning that the company’s main focus is on process design and optimization testwork.

Metcon Laboratories provide a comprehensive testing service for:

·      the development of metallurgical processes for new projects or future ores

·      ongoing development of processes for existing operations - such as reagent optimisation or  plant upgrades and optimisation

·      on site consulting or test programs

·      testing and development of new equipment and processes

 Over the years the company has had a policy of putting most of its advertising and promotional effort into retaining a growing and loyal client base on the basis that each job carried out should be done so in such a way that it in itself attracts repeat business.

 The experience obtained over the years has been very broad, ranging form mainly beach sands and tin in the days of Warman International when it was owned by Peko Wallsend. This then developed into an intense period of involvement in the development of the uranium industry, through to gold, copper and base metals leaching and flotation. Gold ores have been the backbone of the company since the early eighties and the introduction of the carbon in pulp process. In later years there has been a growing concentration in copper heap leaching and in base metal flotation with involvement in the development of many of Australia’s major deposits.

 Concurrently with the activity of many Australia mining companies overseas the focus of much of the testwork in more recent times has been on ore samples brought back into the country by those companies from places such as the Pacific region including Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Zealand, extending into Asia with Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Kazakhstan and Malaysia. We have also carried out testwork on ore from Sardinia, Africa, South America and North America.

 This testwork has often involved process development and has often necessitated secrecy agreements, particularly in relation to new technologies. Recent initiatives at Metcon Laboratories have been:

• The development of an ultra fine cyclone classification system at 6µm to provide a ‘C6’ cut for the Cyclosizer discharge fraction.
• Negotiation of an agreement with the University of New South Wales to develop a patented resin based system for treating high cyanide consuming ores that contain levels of cyanide soluble copper that can prove prohibitive for conventional treatment.
• An agreement with Intec Ltd for the installation and operation of an Intec refractory gold ore pilot plant at Metcon’s Brookvale facility.

 More details on these developments can be found in the “Company News”.

 The company is committed to participating in and assisting the Australian Mining Industry.