Eriez Leaders Examine What Drives Technology Adoption in Mining

For mining companies evaluating new technologies, the path from promising concept to operating reality is rarely straightforward. During a recent episode of the Mining Now podcast recorded at SME MINEXCHANGE in Salt Lake City, Eriez President and CEO Jaisen Kohmuench and Todd Burchett, Head of Mining and Minerals, discussed the validation, collaboration and demonstrated results needed to move innovation forward.

As mining operations pursue higher recovery, greater energy efficiency and increased throughput, decision-makers are taking a rigorous approach to measuring potential solutions. Burchett described the extensive testing and verification that often precedes implementation.

“They want to see it verified, verified, verified and verified,” Burchett said.

That scrutiny reflects the complexity of mining operations, where changes to one part of a process can influence performance across the entire flowsheet. According to Kohmuench, mining companies are increasingly seeking partners that can contribute broader process knowledge and help address systemic operational challenges, not simply supply individual equipment.

“They’re less concerned about the specific product we’re providing,” Kohmuench said. “They’re more concerned about the insight we can provide on the overarching flowsheet.”
The discussion also highlighted the importance of collaboration among operators, engineering firms, researchers and technology providers. By bringing these perspectives together, the industry can help advance solutions from development and testing to practical, scalable implementation.

Kohmuench and Burchett further addressed technologies that can support mining’s wider efficiency and sustainability objectives. They cited HydroFloat® Coarse Particle Flotation as one example, noting its potential to reduce grinding requirements. Quantifiable gains in energy use and recovery can be instrumental in demonstrating value and building confidence among operators considering a change to established processes.

The conversation underscored a central point: Innovation delivers meaningful value only when it can withstand painstaking evaluation and perform in the realities of a working mine.

To access the full podcast, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62qw25JqkzU.