Mining Magazine > Panorama > FLSmidth acquires Essa

FLSmidth has acquired Essa Australia, a leading international provider of automated mineral sampling and sample preparation systems. The acquisition has made FLSmidth the only company in the African market to provide a full industrial sampling solution to the minerals sector— from sampling to sample preparation and analysis, including particle sizing, laboratory applications and metallurgical testing equipment.
Ernest Bophela, technology specialist – automation at FLSmidth commented: “We now have a much stronger knowledge base to support our mining customers, particularly those in the iron ore, manganese and coal industries.
“With immediate access to Essa’s offering here in South Africa, we can provide a total, dedicated sampling solution that embraces local equipment supply, technical support and servicing.”
In turn, FLSmidth will provide Essa with the technological and project management expertise and financial security to expand further into the project automation market for mineral sampling and analysis systems.
Peter Sandager, GM global business development for Automation at FLSmidth, added: “Acquiring Essa was a natural development for FLSmidth, as we had begun to make a series of acquisitions in the mineral sector in the 2000’s. It was logical for the automation division to look at bringing the value-add that we bring to cement, in process and quality control, to the mineral industry.
“Sample size was a challenge for us and so we had to decide whether to begin the manufacture of a whole new range of machinery, or whether to team up with an established player in this sector. We knew that Essa had a good name and good products, so it was considered a perfect match. The acquisition gives us the product range and the immediate market access.”