Metso Outotec is to deliver multiple energy-efficient Vertimill® VTM-3000 stirred mills to Ferrexpo in Ukraine, with the vertical grinding mills set to become the largest of their kind to be installed in the country.

Once the mills have been installed, Ferrexpo’s iron ore beneficiation complex will be the largest VTM installation on the continent, Metso Outotec said, with several Vertimills already operating at the plant.

Typical values for this type of an order is in the range of €30-40 million ($35.7-47.6 million), depending on the scope of delivery, the company said. The order was booked in the company’s Minerals’ June quarter orders received.

Vertimill technology is part of Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive offering, providing the lowest total cost of ownership compared with other grinding mills in many applications thanks to its high energy efficiency, reduced media consumption, low installation cost as well as minimal liner wear and maintenance, the company claims. It is capable of handling feed sizes of up to 6 mm and grinding to product sizes of 30 microns or less. Vertimill is available in standard mill sizes ranging from 11 kW to 3,352 kW.

Ferrexpo has plans to increase output from its iron ore operations in Ukraine from 32 Mt/y to more than 80 Mt/y.