Weir Minerals Africa has designed and manufactured nine 3 m by 6.7 m double-deck vibrating Enduron screens for Arcelor Mittal’s iron ore project in Liberia. AMEC Minproc Canada was responsible for the engineering and process design of the plan.

Winchester Maphosa, Product Manager for Screens said: “In terms of Enduron screens, this is one of the largest projects we have undertaken since Weir acquired Linatex. It is a really good reference for us in such a remote location, as it showcases the full capabilities of Weir Minerals Africa as a complete solutions provider.”

Weir Minerals Africa also supplied a total system that comprised feed and discharge chutes and isolation frames for the screens in order to dampen vibration and thereby prevent damage to the structures that support the screens. Maphosa explains that the screens are arranged in three modules of three screens each, with each module having its own feed distribution system.

“The distribution systems supplied essentially split the feed into three. We also supplied all the piping up to the feed chutes. The cast iron distributors were developed in house and manufactured at the Weir Heavy Bay Foundry in Port Elizabeth,” Maphosa says. The contract also comprised ancillary equipment such as Isogate valves and steel pipes and hoses lined with Linatex rubber. Linatex rubber lining was also used to line the feed and discharge chutes.

Maphosa says that Weir Minerals Africa has been liaising closely with AMEC Minproc Canada in terms of the overall process solution and system for the iron ore project.

“This showcases our ability not only as an equipment supplier, but also as a process solutions provider which includes the entire system in which that equipment is incorporated. In addition, we can provide assistance with compiling a process layout for use by project houses.”

Weir Minerals Africa will supervise the installation and commissioning to ensure that the Enduron screens perform according to specifications once on site.

“We design and manufacture the screens and then test them in the workshop prior to despatch to see that they operate as expected. The logistics of transporting screens of this size poses a huge challenge by itself, as they have to be delivered to site as complete units. While the screens themselves are 3 m wide, there are additional 600 mm wide brackets on each side that render them even wider than usual.”

Maphosa says this was a particularly exciting project for Weir Minerals Africa, as it had to dovetail specifically with the process layout provided by AMEC Minproc Canada.

“With these kinds of projects you always want to ensure that you have spares on hand, whether it is consignment stock or spares acquired specifically by the customer. Africa remains a key focus, especially countries such as Liberia and Guinea, where major Greenfield iron ore projects are imminent. Many West African countries still have a vast wealth of mineral resources that can be tapped into. There are obvious challenges in terms of declining commodity prices and a difficult economic environment globally. However, Weir Minerals Africa is positioned ideally to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the continent and to supply its customers with complete solutions to their mineral processing requirements,” Maphosa comments.