Deadline: 1 August 2025
South32 is seeking proposals to eliminate and/or safely manage the cryolite bath crust that may form in the molten aluminium transfer ladles during the transfer from Reduction cells to the Casthouse furnaces.
Aims
- This open innovation challenge aims to identify better ways to:
- Eliminate cryolite fluid (electrolyte bath) from entering the ladle when tapping the molten aluminium at the Reduction potroom cells.
- Prevent, monitor, detect or manage the formation of electrolyte crust during the transportation of molten aluminium within a ladle.
- Enable safer and more efficient transfers of molten aluminium from the potroom to the Casthouse and into the furnace.
The Opportunity
- Hillside Aluminium and South32 via their innovation program, Innovate32, have funding and an established pathway to support selected innovators from this challenge through studies, tests, engineering, field trials, and commercial agreements, where applicable and agreed.
- Crust Busters provides a platform for innovators to gain exposure to South32 and Hillside Aluminium.
- Selected innovators from this challenge will be invited to meet with members of the South32 and Hillside teams to discuss their proposals in more detail and may be invited to proceed to commercial engagement.
- It is worth mentioning that this challenge is not unique to Hillside – it is common in many smelting operations across the mining industry. There could be significant market potential for viable solutions beyond Hillside.
Who should engage?
- They actively welcome engagement from both within and beyond the metals and mining sector, encouraging novel ideas and cross-industry technologies that can bring fresh thinking to this complex challenge!
For more information, visit Unearthed.
