1. EmployerFeedback Form
Please provide feedback on your work-based learning student. The scope of the feedback should
be related to the action taken by the learner and subsequent results delivered. It is also advisable
to comment on any aspect of the learner’s work such as professionalism, time management, and
attitude to work, team working and quality of work. Other aspects of employability skills such as
negotiation, influencing, flexibility, relationship building, taking initiative, and overall impact to
your business should also be considered.
Name of Student: Fernando Afonso Magalhaes Castro
Name of Employing Organisation: Prince Minerals Corp..
Module Title: Use of Pan Pelletiser for powder Granulation.
Report on Student: Fernando was given the task to investigate the use of a pan pelletiser as a means of
producing a controlled granular produce using potential customer’s existing powdered product used in
the foundry industry. A market that although known to Prince offers Prince EMEA a new product range
and also a new processing route alongside those we already employ at Stoke on Trent manufacturing
facility.
The task involved the characterisation of the feed power and the identification of key parameters and
subsequent determination of suitable control limits to achieve the customer’s required specifications and
or grades.
Using these parameters Fernando was then required to produce batches of a variety of grades of
product for evaluation on customer’s pilot plant facility. After that stage he was required to identify
means of extending the current manual production flow in to one that allowed for the Continuous
production of pellets by providing ways and means of Improving the facilities and the capabilities by
maximising value-added on within the production process changes suggested.
Fernando immediately brought his engineering knowledge and skills in to play on this specific project by
creating a proposal of a schedule for the work involved and the identification of a series critical control
parameters based on the research carried out in to pan pelletisation. A planned schedule that he stuck to
in order to identify fully those critical parameters before moving on to variation on product formulations.
He demonstrated not only an ability to visualise the means of overcoming and resolving issues but a
capacity for hard work and a preparedness to work with a whole range of people from the operative on
the shop floor, technical personnel factory managers and directors level. He was extremely good at
assessing the time needed to complete a task and ensuring that task were completed with in such
timescales despite being involved in other projects such as the glass concentrate. Quickly moving from
one project to another as the day to day production constraints impinged on the progress of these
projects.
His detailed report clearly identified major areas of concern and suggests the necessity to ensure the
sourcing of replacement equipment to achieve an optimised production process.
Fernando work on this projects has clearly shown that it is possible to achieve the initial required grade
and shape of granules (3 to 8 mm,) using the accepted level of additive even without the recommend
modifications. Progress so far on producing a smaller size granule have produced the necessary
grading however it might well require modification to the method of feed to achieve the required output.
Fernando presentation skills and use of easily understood graphics enabled him to produce a clear
succinct report of all the aspects of the project including an awareness of Logistics , Health and Safety,
Ergonomic operator issues and areas requiring improvement to maximise production output within the
proposed production flow line.
The work carried out by Fernando will form a valuable basis for the evaluation of any other future
materials requiring granulation via the pan pelletiser. As such this work will be invaluable in years to
come as we extend our granulation facility into materials and markets that have been outside the scope
of Prince EMEA activities.
Student Signature - Fernando Afonso Magalhães Castro
Employer responsible for student: - T. S Bridge Technical Director
Date: 16/09/2015