The Times Australia
The Times Technology News

.

Why The Filter Press Is So Important To The Tailing Sector



Mining is still an essential part of daily life. Despite efforts to move away from fossil fuels, Australia still has a large collection of coal mines. In fact, four Australian coal mines are included in the ten largest coal mines on the planet!

The short version is Australia is heavily reliant on coal. Of course, that’s not the only type of mining. Another very popular type in Australia is quarries, that is excavating stone from the earth.

In all these types of industries, waste is produced. The waste is normally referred to as sludge, a mixture of water from the earth and from the mining process, and hard particles dislodged during the operation.

Historically, this sludge has been removed from the site as waste. It’s generally referred to as tailings: these are disposed of in ponds or even dropped into oceans and rivers.

However, the tailing sector is being overhauled: it’s becoming increasingly important to extract as much of the water as possible from the sludge before it’s disposed of.

Extracting The Water

Sludge or slurry is a heavy mixture. The simplest way to separate the two components is to use hydraulic force. This can use plates to create chambers which trap the sludge. The force is adjustable, allowing it to work in conjunction with a pump pushing the sludge into the chamber. With careful calibration water is allowed out of the chamber, leaving behind dry lumps of clay which can simply fall out of the machine.

That machine is a filter press and they come in a wide array of sizes, ensuring they can handle any type of job.

The Importance Of A Filter Press To The Tailing Sector

The filter press has become a common sight in mining and similar operations. There are several reasons why it is so important.

Environmental Impact

Sludge and similar waste contain a high percentage of water. This water is trapped within the particles, depleting the amount of water available.

Although the planet is roughly 71% water, the majority of this is in the oceans. Less than one percent of the planet’s water is available for human consumption.

Between climate change and an increasing number of people on the planet, there is an increasing risk of water shortages, as illustrated by droughts in recent years.

A filter press in the tailing sector can extract all the water from the sludge and allow it to be used for human and plant needs.

In short, reclaiming water is good for the environment.

But that’s not the only reason why a filter press is important to the tailing industry. Sludge is heavy: extracting the water makes it significantly lighter which reduces the cost of transporting it and, therefore, lowers the use of fossil fuels involved in transportation.

Improved Efficiency

Extracting water from sludge using a filter press makes a mining operation more efficient. It can be done straight away, simplifying the process and reducing the amount of labor needed to complete the operation.

The machine can be incorporated into the daily processes, improving efficiency and reducing the financial impact on the business. As mentioned, there is a reduced cost to remove the tails because they are lighter and have less volume. It’s possible to half the amount of tails being removed.

Reduces The Need For Land

Dewatered tailings can be disposed of on a much smaller piece of land than the sludge. This reduces costs for the business and lowers the environmental harm done by relocating products. Alongside this, if the slurry isn’t dumped into the rivers there is less risk of build-up reducing natural water flow.

As build-up prevents the flow of water it increases the likelihood of localized flooding or even of dams bursting.

Some quarries are even, managing to store the dry material within the quarry, reducing transportation costs and effectively keeping the natural material where it came from. This is good for the natural balance in nature.

Summing Up

Removing the water with a filter press and reusing it, along with storing the dry compound in an appropriate place isn’t just good for business, it’s better for the environment.

Best of all, because this is all done via the use of a machine, it can be done anywhere. A machine can be easily moved on the back of a low-loader and taken where it’s needed to be, making it a cost-efficient option for many parts of the tailing sector.

All it needs is the initial investment.



Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...