High-Efficiency Milling
High-Efficiency Pin Mill
Fine, consistent grinding for CIL feed preparation — at a fraction of a ball mill's power and weight.
Overview
Fine, consistent grinding — engineered for CIL feed.
The SA Autec Pin Mill is purpose-designed to produce the fine particle size that efficient gold recovery demands in our containerised CIL plants. It is engineered to achieve at least 75% passing 75 microns at a design throughput of around 7 tonnes per hour — powered by only a 55 kW motor. That makes it markedly more energy-efficient, and significantly lighter, than a conventional ball mill of similar capacity, cutting power, transport, installation and structural costs.
Full Specification
Inside the SA Autec Pin Mill.
The complete technical description — design, construction, efficiency and maintenance.
Read Full Description
Purpose-Designed for CIL Feed Preparation
Effective CIL processing depends on reducing the ore to a sufficiently fine and consistent particle size. The SA Autec Pin Mill has been developed specifically for this duty, ensuring gold-bearing material is finely ground and properly prepared before entering the leaching circuit.
The mill uses 4 mm to 6 mm ceramic balls as grinding media, working together with specially designed internal pins to deliver efficient particle-size reduction. The combination of impact, agitation and grinding action produces a fine and consistent product while maintaining a high processing rate.
Durable Ceramic-Lined Construction
The internal sides of the mill are lined with high-quality ceramic material, providing excellent resistance to abrasion and protecting the mill structure from continuous wear.
The grinding pins are manufactured from a specially selected cast alloy developed for high-impact and abrasive operating conditions. This combination of ceramic lining and durable alloy pins provides extended component life, dependable performance and reduced maintenance.
Low Grinding-Media Consumption
One of the pin mill's most significant operational advantages is its exceptionally low consumption of grinding media per tonne of material processed.
Compared with conventional ball mills, considerably less grinding media is required to maintain the desired product size. This reduces operating costs, minimises media handling and lowers the frequency at which grinding media must be replenished.
Grinding media can be added directly through an open chute, allowing a single operator to safely and conveniently maintain the required media level without complicated handling equipment.
Energy-Efficient Performance
Traditional ball mills can require substantial power to rotate a large, heavy mill body together with a significant volume of steel grinding media. The SA Autec Pin Mill achieves the required grinding performance through a much lighter and more efficient mechanical design.
At a rated throughput of approximately 7 tonnes per hour, the mill requires only a 55 kW drive motor. The resulting reduction in electrical demand is particularly valuable for remote operations where power is supplied by generators, solar-hybrid systems or limited electrical infrastructure.
Lower power consumption can result in:
- Reduced generator capacity requirements
- Lower diesel or electricity costs
- Reduced operating expenses per tonne
- Easier integration into modular processing plants
- Lower overall project infrastructure requirements
Simple Operation and Maintenance
The pin mill has been designed with practical mine-site operation in mind. Routine inspection, servicing and component replacement can be completed without the extensive lifting, dismantling and prolonged shutdowns commonly associated with larger conventional mills.
The drum can be removed easily, providing direct access to the internal wear components. Individual pins can then be inspected and replaced as required, allowing maintenance teams to complete repairs efficiently and return the mill to operation with minimal downtime.
Grinding media can also be added by one operator through the open feed chute, simplifying daily operation and reducing the labour required for maintenance.
Compact and Easy to Install
The comparatively low weight and compact footprint of the pin mill make it ideal for modular and containerised gold-processing applications. It is easier to transport, position and install than a conventional ball mill with a comparable throughput.
Reduced equipment weight also lowers the demand placed on support structures and foundations, helping to shorten installation timelines and reduce civil construction costs.
Key Features
- Approximately 7 tonnes per hour design throughput
- At least 75% passing 75 microns and better, subject to ore characteristics
- Energy-efficient 55 kW drive motor
- Ceramic-lined internal surfaces for improved wear resistance
- Specially cast alloy grinding pins for strength and endurance
- Uses 5 mm to 6 mm ceramic grinding media
- Exceptionally low grinding-media consumption per tonne processed
- Significantly lighter than a comparable conventional ball mill
- Compact footprint suitable for modular installations
- Easy drum removal for inspection and maintenance
- Simple pin replacement
- Grinding media can be added through an open chute by one operator
- Reduced power, transport, installation and structural requirements
High throughput. Fine product sizing. Low power. Simple maintenance.
The SA Autec Pin Mill offers a practical alternative to conventional ball-milling technology for medium-scale and modular gold-processing operations. By combining fine, consistent grinding, low energy demand, durable wear-resistant components and simplified maintenance, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for preparing ore for CIL processing.
Wear Parts & Spares
Replacement parts for the Pin Mill.
Genuine Autec wear parts and spares, supplied individually. Request a quote on any item below.
- Pin mill pinsRequest a quote
- Pin mill drum & bottom lidRequest a quote
- Pin mill main shaftRequest a quote