RockTron History
The following list provides a brief chronology of RockTron’s development:
1986: RockTron founder members successfully test 4t/h prototype flotation cell for separating carbon from ash in their plant in Belgium.
1989: RockTron founder members design and construct a 70t/h commercial carbon from ash plant in Lünen, Germany. RAG managing director, Dr Wolfgang Ritchell, confirms this plant operated successfully, continuously and profitably until 1997 when it was decommissioned after exhausting the feed stock.
1992: The first pilot plant was operated successfully, providing proof of concept and the full design data for future fly ash beneficiation plants.
1999: Successful completion of pilot trials for fly ash beneficiation process using run-of-station and lagoon material from Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station in Cheshire.
2000: Foundation of RockTron Limited.
2001: Foundation of RockTron Research Limited and RockTron (Widnes) Limited.
2002: Foundation of RockTron (Gale Common) Limited.
2007: Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) formally announce their funding of RockTron to build a demonstration plant at Gale Common and a full-scale plant at Fiddler’s Ferry in 2008.
2009: RockTron awarded Nicklin Medal at the IChemE Awards for their outstanding contribution to chemical engineering.
2010: The first commercial plant was successfully commissioned and operated at full production capability of 120 tonnes per hour. RockTron also produced the only fly ash available in the UK to meet the highest standards of BS EN450 category A/S fly ash. This was achieved using only stockpiled fly ash, mined from the waste lagoons surrounding the power station.
2010: RockTron signs up SSE as the first UK licensee for its fly ash beneficiation technology. RockTron launches in Asia at IGEM 2010 and signs MOU with Malaysia’s main energy provider, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, to evaluate Malaysian fly ashes.
2010: RockTron received Rushlight’s 2009 Fossil Fuels Award in recognition of the company’s contribution to the reduction of the environmental impact of fossil fuel usage.
2011: RockTron Group forms RockTron International Limited as the commercial arm of the RockTron Group.