January / February 2013 www. .com 18 Congratulations on the opening of the new laboratory – do you want to tell us a bit about the lab and how it came about? DEM Solutions specialises in engineering applications of discrete element method (DEM) simulation, and had identified that our EDEM BulkSim solution could help in addressing some of the challenges related to bulk materials handling in the Chinese power and mining industries. Scottish Enterprise has been involved in helping to introduce us to different parties in China. We actually had some links already through Bulk Materials Engineering Australia (BMEA), such as Professor Peter Wypych, whose very first graduate student, Dr Renhu Pan, happens to be a key official at Fujian Longking, a leading Chinese environmental protection company. We were looking for more partners, so it was a bit of serendipity to get introduced to Dr Yang at Shandong University. What services and facilities will the laboratory offer? The co-operation between Shandong University and DEM Solutions is intended to bring the benefits of advanced simulation technology in DEM to the Chinese industries that really need it, specifically for bulk materials handling. They’re interested in technology solutions that provide energy savings and equipment reliability, but they’re also very concerned about protecting the environment. I think that’s why the Qingdao government was very supportive of this venture; they are looking to get the very best technology from around the world and deploy it in China. It’s not just about the technology though; a really important part is also training the students – the future engineers who will go on to bring their skills in DEM simulation-based design to the industry. Mining, and coal mining especially, is so important to the economy of Shandong province, and it’s also an important hub too as they ship coal out to the rest of China from there. Bulk materials handling is a key component of many industrial processes in that region, and the university has really excelled in developing technology in this area so they were a natural choice in that respect. The focus is on training the students and the researchers, and involving them in developing or advancing the application of DEM Solutions’ engineering simulation software platform, EDEM, for the design of conveyor transfer points for more efficient coal handling with reduced dust generation. We will use feedback from the students and researchers in our product develop- ment process to improve EDEM software and in the development of engineering techniques to deploy EDEM appropriately to solve real-world engineering problems. After the opening of the laboratory, I gave a seminar at the university that was open to the whole university rather than just those in the mining and engineering areas. Over 100 students attended that seminar – there was that much interest in the new technology. What I found really interesting was that even though we struggled a bit with translation, afterwards there were 10 or 15 students from all sorts of departments around the university that came up to me with really good inquisitive questions. How will these capabilities enhance DEM’s current capacity for bulk handling system design? The laboratory will expand that reach, not only with the researchers but also to the students. It will help us to improve and expand the application in the mining area. For example, the research that happens in Dr Qianming Yang’s group, which is leading in the mining area, can give us INTERVIEW Eastern opportunities Ailbhe Goodbody spoke to Richard LaRoche, VP of engineering at DEM Solutions (above), about the opening of the EDEM Joint Laboratory at the Shandong University of Science and Technology in China in November 2012 Q Q Q Two views of the EDEM Joint Lab; top: Dr David Curry (mining project lead at DEM Solutions) and Shandong University students; right: Richard LaRoche, Dr Curry and students
Transcript
January / February 2013 www. .com
18
Congratulations on the opening of the new laboratory – do you want to tell us a bit about the lab and how it came about?
DEM Solutions specialises in engineering applications of discrete element method (DEM) simulation, and had identified that our EDEM BulkSim solution could help in addressing some of the challenges related to bulk materials handling in the Chinese power and mining industries. Scottish Enterprise has been involved in helping to introduce us to different parties in China.
We actually had some links already through Bulk Materials Engineering Australia (BMEA), such as Professor Peter Wypych, whose very first graduate
student, Dr Renhu Pan, happens to be a key official at Fujian Longking, a leading Chinese environmental protection company. We were looking for more partners, so it was a bit of serendipity to get introduced to Dr Yang at Shandong University.
What services and facilities will the laboratory offer?
The co-operation between Shandong University and DEM Solutions is intended to bring the benefits of advanced simulation technology in DEM to the Chinese industries that really need it, specifically for bulk materials handling.
They’re interested in technology solutions that provide energy savings and
equipment reliability, but they’re also very concerned about protecting the environment. I think that’s why the Qingdao government was very supportive of this venture; they are looking to get the very best technology from around the world and deploy it in China.
It’s not just about the technology though; a really important part is also training the students – the future engineers who will go on to bring their skills in DEM simulation-based design to the industry.
Mining, and coal mining especially, is so important to the economy of Shandong province, and it’s also an important hub too as they ship coal out to the rest of China from there. Bulk materials handling is a key component of many industrial processes in that region, and the university has really excelled in developing technology in this area so they were a natural choice in that respect.
The focus is on training the students and the researchers, and involving them in developing or advancing the application of DEM Solutions’ engineering simulation software platform, EDEM, for the design of conveyor transfer points for more efficient coal handling with reduced dust generation.
We will use feedback from the students and researchers in our product develop-ment process to improve EDEM software and in the development of engineering techniques to deploy EDEM appropriately to solve real-world engineering problems.
After the opening of the laboratory, I gave a seminar at the university that was open to the whole university rather than just those in the mining and engineering areas. Over 100 students attended that seminar – there was that much interest in the new technology. What I found really interesting was that even though we struggled a bit with translation, afterwards there were 10 or 15 students from all sorts of departments around the university that came up to me with really good inquisitive questions.
How will these capabilities enhance DEM’s current capacity for bulk handling system design?
The laboratory will expand that reach, not only with the researchers but also to the students. It will help us to improve and expand the application in the mining area. For example, the research that happens in Dr Qianming Yang’s group, which is leading in the mining area, can give us
INTERVIEW
Eastern opportunities
Ailbhe Goodbody spoke to Richard
LaRoche, VP of engineering at DEM Solutions
(above), about the opening of the
EDEM Joint Laboratory at the
Shandong University of Science and
Technology in China in
November 2012
Q
Q Q
Two views of the EDEM Joint Lab;
top: Dr David Curry (mining
project lead at DEM Solutions) and Shandong
University students; right:
Richard LaRoche, Dr Curry and
students
18,20-22MM1301.indd 18 17/01/2013 17:34
20 INTERVIEW
more insight and understanding into cleaner coal mining operations, which China wants to, and does, excel at. The lab also gives access to EDEM software to students across all other departments so that they can also learn about the benefits of DEM in other applications.
We have around 200 research groups worldwide using our software, and a lot of these are academic users. I think that Shandong University is probably the largest, as we’re not only talking about the research groups in the mining and power industries , but a broader focus of integrating it into the general education for first-degree students.
All of that helps us not only to develop better engineering techniques, but also to make a better product by having so many engineers using it.
Young people are really used to technology, which pushes us to enhance our software and extend its application. I think that these days, if you get that many young people using your technology, then they act as a driver for its deployment when they go out into industry and push for continual improvement with new ideas.
That sort of interaction is what we’re really excited about. We have interaction with researchers around the world, who
are focused on the mining, mineral processing and metals industries, but that other dimension of training a broader base of engineering students from all fields is also quite exciting for us, as mining is not the only industry that benefits from EDEM simulation software.
The lab is situated within Shandong University; what benefits will this bring from a research-and-development point of view?
Shandong University is a strategic location as the province is especially known for coal mining, and the university has a reputation for high-quality science and technology education. The number of students at the university is over 45,000, and it is on par with the largest universi-ties in the US.
The lab was established in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise and the Qingdao Economic & Information Technology Committee. How did these organisations come to be involved and what will they bring to the table?
Scottish Enterprise has been helping us make links in China for several years. For any new region, cultural understanding is important, especially in places such as China. In some ways they operate differently from Western countries, but in any region it is important to get linked in with the right people, with the influencers.
The Qingdao government was also
The opening ceremony for the EDEM Joint Lab
at Shandong University, with
Richard LaRoche (front left) and Dr Liu Xinmin,
vice-president of the university
(front right) Q
Q
“China is expanding more than
anywhere in the world regarding
power plants, and
it needs the very best
technology to do this
efficiently”
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18,20-22MM1301.indd 20 17/01/2013 17:35
INTERVIEW
instrumental in facilitating the joint laboratory. Neither of them has a commercial stake in this, but I think the Qingdao government is really committed to bringing in the most advanced technology to solve bulk materials handling problems at the scale that China has to deal with for its energy needs. For example, with a coal power plant, they
have to move so much coal and not only worry about the issues of reliability and efficiency, but also environmental issues such as dealing with problems of dust creation, exposing the population to pollution and worker safety are also of prime importance. I think the Qingdao government is looking at ways, in general, that it can grow responsibly by adopting the best technology solutions available.
We all know that China is expanding more than anywhere in the world with regards to power plants, and it needs the very best technology to do this efficiently and responsibly. That’s one of the reasons why expanding into DEM simulation-based design is a very natural thing for them. One of our partner companies, Fujian Longking, has a strong track record of bringing in new technology and building equipment.
I think the Qingdao government saw that we have the right team, with Shandong University endorsing the venture and us having the right partner-ships with BMEA and Fujian Longking. I believe the Qingdao government sees this as a great opportunity and has been instrumental in making it happen. They put a spotlight on it, as they saw not only the opportunity to develop technical advances in the industry but also to
develop valuable skills using DEM simulation software in the new engineers that will develop and advance that industry.
One of the things I really wanted to emphasise in my opening talk with the Chinese government officials was that this co-operation is a mutually beneficial venture. We didn’t want it to appear that Westerners are coming in and telling China how to do things. It’s not just about bringing them the best technology, but also us relying on them to help us develop the technology and identify new applications, and it all begins with us training the engineers to use the technology. This is a great opportunity for both parties to learn and benefit from each other and that’s why I think the partnership is on an equal footing.
China is obviously a key growth market for the mining industry. Do you think that the new laboratory will help you to tap into the Chinese market a bit better?
Yes, and that’s a resounding yes. I think because of the region’s history, and the influence that Shandong University has both in research and training, it is really an
21
Q
“We think that DEM is ready to be a prime technology that addresses an area where engineers haven’t had high-technology tools until now”
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Transmin’s Low Profile Feeder™ (LPF) is an original hybrid feeder delivering the advantages of both belt and apron feeders. It holds the unique ability to change direction using a bend transition within a single feeder; improving space utilisation, flexibility of plant layout and reducing capital expenditure.
Flocculant Preparation
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A Revolution in Feeder TechnologyBelt widths > 1.2m 4.0m
Change of Direction
Direct Receival
Low Profile FeederTM
Industry Standard Components
Lowest ProfileLow
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dvan
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January / February 2013 www. .com
22 INTERVIEW
endorsement of EDEM software and our technology solutions. It is just the sort of catalyst we needed to bring together the many research groups in China already using EDEM and the leading commercial players in China’s mining industry.
Mining is a key industry for us and we believe that DEM is a key enabling technology for delivering the technical and engineering advances needed for more efficient and environmentally friendly mining and coal power operations.
The EDEM Joint Lab will be the premier training facility in DEM technology for engineering students, researchers and industry professionals, and provides us with the platform for further validating the benefits of our EDEM software and technology solutions to the region’s indus-try. We’ll be working hard to strengthen our relationships and build new ones, which we anticipate will result in greater commercial traction and market share of the mining industry in China.
Shandong University wants to promote this as a technology solution to the rest of China. We’re really quite humbled by having that level of support and validation of our technology, and my task here is to make sure that we take full benefit of the opportunity that we’ve been given. We have the right technology at the right time with the right team, which doesn’t happen often.
That’s one of the reasons I feel very fortunate to be working for DEM Solutions. I worked in the area of fluid dynamics earlier in my career, and engineering technology like DEM, with such huge potential and being success-fully deployed by a wide range of industries, only really comes to the forefront every decade or so.
Our EDEM software provides advanced simulation-based solutions to many engineering problems faced by the
mining, manufacturing and process industries.
Shandong University and our partners also recognise the need for improvements
and the potential benefits of DEM and are taking a proactive stance to
invest in and address it. We are all very committed to this venture and to making sure it exceeds all our expectations.
If this laboratory is successful, do you think DEM Solutions will look to open further facilities in China or in other parts of
Asia?
Yes, I think we will because
China is so large and influential. There will probably be other universities that want to do something similar, especially as they can see how the EDEM Joint Lab is doing, but maybe focusing on a different industry from Shandong, which is primarily focusing on the power and mining industries.
Bulk materials handling and processing issues really cut across all major manufacturing industries, so that’s one expansion possibility just in China alone.
China has great influence in the Asia Pacific region, and mining is such an important industry in other countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. We already have great involvement in Australia, where our EDEM BulkSim solution received a Highly Commended award at the Australian Bulk Handling Awards in November.
That EDEM has been adopted by leading mining, EPCM and academic institutions in both China and Australia does have a great influence in neighbour-ing regions. We’re looking at the potential growth of this technology throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
How have your customers reacted to the announcement – has there been a lot of interest in the lab so far?
Actually, the media coverage has been a little overwhelming, but in a good way, and we’ve seen great uptake on our website. I haven’t had a chance to see all of the customer feedback, but I’ve found that people are picking up that there’s been good media coverage, and what we’ve had so far is quite positive. It helps our client base to know that they’ve made the right decision to invest in
EDEM software and solutions when they did.
I joined DEM Solutions around five and a half years ago, when some in the mining industry saw the potential of our technology and became early adopters of EDEM simulation. I think that accolades such as the Australian Bulk Handling Award and publicity received around our expansion into the Chinese mining industry help our clients to know that they made the right choice with EDEM.
I expect that it also signals to others that EDEM has moved beyond early adoption and R&D and is now being used as a valuable engineering tool.
What are your top aims for the lab over 2013-14? Are there any plans in the pipeline to expand its capabilities?
Along with DEM Solutions’ alliance director, Senthil Arumugam, and senior mining project leader Dr David Curry, I spent the week after the launch ceremony training the core researchers of Dr Yang’s group. We’ll be going back periodically to get the core research going, not only in the mining area but also expanding it out to the rest of the university.
A parallel effort will be the commercial outreach to the Chinese power and mining industries, with a lot of workshops and getting the word out about our technology.
There has been a lot of hard work by individuals, from all of our partners, to find the right connections, and it all came together quite quickly, once we identified the right contacts, with Shandong University at the centre. We were all very motivated, so it fell together in a matter of months, as everybody put in the commitment of time and effort.
All that effort paid off, and a year from now it will be interesting to see how well we’ve all done with this opportunity. There will be a lot of hard work required and it’ll be a challenge for all of us. We are looking forward to it though: China is the second largest economy in the world and growing fast, and I think that’s what drives the need to adopt the very best technology from around the world. Not that the rest of the world isn’t also very interested in getting the benefit of new technologies, but I think that in China it is more urgent because of its depend-ency on coal for energy and the need for more efficient and environmentally friendly methods of mining and processing it.
many research groups in China
delivering the technical and engineering advances needed for more efficient and environmentally friendly mining and coal power
The EDEM Joint Lab will be the premier training
also recognise the need for improvements and the potential benefits of DEM and
are taking a proactive stance to invest in and address it. We are all very committed to this venture and to making sure it exceeds all our expectations.
If this laboratory is successful, do you think DEM Solutions will look to open further facilities in China or in other parts of
Asia?
An example of DEM: a conveyor
transfer point rendered by
EDEM BulkSimSource: Hatch.
Q
Q
Richard LaRoche and Dr David Curry of DEM Solutions with
