Metso has signed a three-year life-cycle service agreement with the First Quantum Minerals-owned Kevitsa copper and nickel mine in Sodankylä, Finland. Metso is committed to reducing production downtime associated with mill liner changes and maximise grinding efficiency over the life of the contract. The value of the order has not been disclosed. Metso will take complete responsibility for the supply, installation and optimisation of Kevitsa mine’s mill liners. “Metso and Kevitsa’s common goal is to increase the mill’s availability, production efficiency and reduce the total cost of ownership so as to help increase mine profitability.”

“This solution will raise our utilisation rate to a new level and will contribute significantly our sustainable competitiveness in the challenging market situation,” says Timo Ikäheimonen, Planning Manager at FQM’s Kevitsa mine. As part of the life-cycle service agreement, Metso aims to increase the time between shutdowns through optimisation of wear parts selection as well as decreasing the duration of shutdowns. Metso will reduce shutdown times through advanced planning and the delivery of its patented Megaliner grinding mill wear parts. Thanks to the fast installation process of Metso’s Megaliner, downtime is reduced. “Additionally, the use of Megaliner parts in grinding mills increases work safety as the attachment parts are inserted from the outside of the mill. With this set-up there is no need for the workers to be in the danger-zone of the liners while installing liner bolts.”

“With this FQM Kevitsa mine’s cooperation agreement, we aim to reduce the concentrator plant downtime, secure availability and commit ourselves to the continuous development of enhancing the plant’s operations,” says Olli Kellokumpu, Sales Director, Finland, Minerals, Metso. Installation will begin in the latter part of 2015. The agreement will be booked in phases into Metso’s orders received throughout the term of the agreement.