On May 23rd, Professor Shen Zhengchang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Scientist of Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (BGRIMM), visited Guangxi University (GXU) to engage in academic exchange. During his visit, he delivered a lecture titled "The Development History of BGRIMM Flotation Equipment System".

Starting from the relationship between the utilization of mineral resources and the development of human civilization, Professor Shen elaborated on the significant role flotation plays in advancing society. He introduced the development history of BGRIMM's flotation equipment system, its cutting-edge technology, and future directions. He also reviewed the process of large-scale, efficient, and customized utilization and development of mineral flotation equipment in China, analyzed the technological bottlenecks in mineral resource development, and shared BGRIMM's journey from being a follower to a leader in flotation equipment development. Using practical application examples, he identified the bottlenecks that flotation equipment urgently needs to overcome and outlined future development directions. The audience asked questions on equipment selection, flotation experiment details, and adjusting research mindset, to which Professor Shen patiently responded, engaging in interactive exchanges with the audience.

Currently, there are three major contradictions in the process of mineral resource selection: the contradiction between the increasing demand for mineral resources and their endowment, the contradiction between traditional technology and green, low-carbon development, and the contradiction between the variety of resources and the individualization of equipment. Flotation equipment serves as a carrier for flotation separation and is a key industrial core machine for solving these three major problems. Professor Shen and his team have focused on developing flotation equipment in three aspects: large-scale resource development, popularized configuration efficiency, and specialized mineral flotation, effectively addressing the bottlenecks in the development of new productive forces in the mining industry.

Professor Shen Zhengchang is a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and a member of the Environmental and Resources Protection Committee. He is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chief Scientist of Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Mining and Metallurgical Process Automation Technology. He has been engaged in research, design, and engineering of selection and metallurgical process technology, developing a series of large-scale flotation equipment to achieve the large-scale utilization of China's "poor ore" resources. He has also developed a series of specialized flotation equipment and technologies, promoting the efficient development of China's mineral resources. His efforts in creating and improving China's flotation equipment system have led to a domestic market share of over 85% and exports to 43 countries, establishing China's strong position in flotation equipment. He has won two National Science and Technology Progress Awards, 27 ministerial-level scientific and technological achievement awards, and has published six books including "Flotation Theory and Technology".

The lecture was attended by over 300 representatives including officials from the State-owned Assets and Laboratory Management Department, as well as faculty and students from the School of Resources, Environment and Materials.