Lithium industry advances with Australian mine drive solutions and Argentine DLE scale‑up

Bonfiglioli supplied 12 heavy‑duty conveyor drive assemblies, featuring its HDO gear units with 75 kW and 110 kW motors, to a Western Australian lithium mine that is targeting full operations before the end of the year. The “alignment‑free” drive configuration and robust housing are designed for harsh mining conditions, lowering maintenance costs and improving material‑handling efficiency.

Lake Resources is scaling Direct Lithium Extraction at its Kachi project in Argentina. Partnering with California‑based Lilac Solutions, the firm will use the Gen 5 ion‑exchange beads that process brine in hours, produce ultra‑pure (>99.5 %) battery‑grade lithium carbonate, use less water, and cut capital costs. The company aims to demonstrate commercial viability within the next 12‑18 months to attract debt syndicates and joint‑venture partners.