Technical and Engineering Services

Ben joined TZMI in May 2006 as a TiO2 Pigment Specialist. He has a Bachelors degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters of Business Leadership. Ben enjoyed an extensive career with Huntsman Tioxide spanning more than 12 years. In 1992, he joined the Tioxide JV at its South African TiO2 plant holding various operational positions including Engineering Manager, Works Manager and Business Development Manager, before becoming Capital Manager for Tioxide’s global TiO2 business.

Gavin joined TZMI in May 2008 and has technical, management and business skills gained through experience in plant operation, pilot plant test work, plant design and commissioning, process optimisation, business analysis, operations management and product development. Since graduating from the University of Natal with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering Gavin spent 16 years in the Anglo American Group working in mineral sands, gold and iron operations. In 1993 he joined the Namakwa Sands project and was involved in smelting and minerals processing aspects and also as Operations Manager responsible for the mineral separation business unit.

Dereck Becker was the recipient of an Anglo American Scholarship to study a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at university where he graduated in 1985. Since 1988, Dereck has worked in the Titanium Dioxide industry specialising in sulfate process chemistry and operations. He is registered as a Chartered Engineer of the Engineering Council UK and a Member of The Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK).

Steve joined TZMI as a Principal Consultant and Director in 2000 and has had a diverse career in the minerals processing industry which, in addition to the mineral sands industry, has included experience in copper smelting, lime and cement manufacturing industries. The emphasis in his career has been in mineral sands operations and since his employment at Allied Eneabba Limited as a metallurgist in 1976, Steve has had senior roles including General Manager for RGC’s operations in Florida, General Manager of the Eneabba operations, and Group Operations Manager for RGC Mineral Sands Limited.

Gu Minglong joined TZMI Shanghai in April, 2013 as an engineer. He is responsible for the technical support of business development initiatives and the implementation of projects with TZMI’s engineering team. Prior to joining TZMI, Mr. Gu worked for Nanjing TiO2 as an assistant Engineer, involved in project construction, commissioning, technical reform and quality control from 2007 to 2011. After that, he started working for CYMG as a production manager from 2011 to 2013, during this period, he was responsible for production and management work , including production management, personnel training, team building. He graduated from Changchun University of Science and Technology, in his native Northeast China, majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in Business Administration.

Gavin joined the TZMI team in 2008 after a career spanning 16 years in the pyrometallurgical and heavy minerals processing industry. Gavin completed his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering at University of the Witwatersrand in 1991 and then joined the Pyrometallurgy Division at Mintek gaining considerable experience in the operation of both AC and DC electric arc furnaces. Then at Richard Bay Minerals he gained technical and operational experience in smelter furnaces and heavy minerals processing and was involved in overseeing operations activities at the smelter, services and molten products transfer areas before going on to manage metallurgical development work spanning from the mine through to final products.