Mining has long been a major sector of the Australian economy, in a nation blessed with vast natural resources. However, high costs and competition can mean the difference between a successful and unsuccessful mining pursuit.
The FAL IP team has many years of experience reviewing patent applications. Particularly in mining and resource technology. Of significance is our experience reviewing applications at the Australian Patents Office.
Our team can assist in protecting innovations across a range of resources and mining technologies. These include:
- Hydrometallurgical technologies, such as heap leaching, tank leaching and in situ leaching techniques using for processing of various ores, including nickel-rich laterite and liminite ores;
- Pyrometallurgical technologies, such as calcining, roasting, smelting and refining technologies to for example extract iron or copper from ore.
- Electrorefining of aluminium from alumina using the Hall-Héroult process
- Comminution techniques such as crushing (e.g. jaw crushers, gyratory crushers, impact crushers) and grinding (e.g. ball, rod or SAG mills or high pressure grinding rolls);
- Sizing systems including screening and cyclonic separation.
- Concentration techniques including froth flotation, dewatering, thickening, flocculation, agglomeration, magnetic and electrostatic separation.
- Mining safety systems including safety systems for underground mining techniques.
- Mining machinery such as earth movers, conveyors, excavators, drills and drill rigs, and automated mining machinery.
Of course, obtaining IP protection for any mining business is not limited to registration of patents and designs. FAL IP is well placed to assist mining business suppliers to mining businesses to protect their branding and reputation.
Branding is an important part of any business, and FAL IP can assist in protecting any aspect of branding include brand-names and logos.
FAL IP also operates in conjunction with FAL Lawyers, a law firm specializing in technology commercialization law and with a long history of assisting mining and resources companies.