Extracting platinum and nickel from ore takes place in some of the harshest operating conditions in metal processing. Furnaces operate at temperatures of up to 1800 °C, with smoke, dust and furnace gases making visual inspection unreliable or impossible.
In this environment, temperature becomes one of the most reliable indicators of process behaviour. LAND thermal imagers are used across smelting, tapping and slag handling to deliver continuous, accurate temperature data without requiring operators to approach molten metal or rely on limited viewing windows.
Inside the furnace, infrared borescopes provide a real‑time view of electrodes, refractory walls and critical zones. During tapping and slag removal, fixed thermal imagers measure the temperature of the main flow, helping operators distinguish between slag and molten metal and act with confidence.
Using permanently installed thermal imaging systems rather than handheld instruments allows temperature data to be captured consistently and trended over time. This supports earlier detection of developing issues, more effective maintenance planning and extended equipment life, while improving safety around high‑value assets.
