Metso Outotec’s large mill discharge offering started comparatively late – in 2015 – but it has been fast catching up with competitors. As a result of this late start, many of the sustainability benefits companies are only just getting round to retrofitting on their pumps have been incorporated from the off on its MD Series.

Metso Outotec EnviroSet, for instance, has been in place on these pumps for seven years. It is a total sealing solution made up of high-quality packing and a unique throat bushing that is engineered to control the internal stuffing box environment and reduce gland water consumption.

“On top of this, we have a ‘clean-slate design’ focused on environmental sustainability,” the company says, mentioning the reduced footprint that comes with its “Low-Rider” focus on reduced material use, reduced weight on the power frame and – when combined – lower logistical costs.

At the same time, the modular design of Metso Outotec mill discharge pumps results in minimal component changes to up- or down-size the pump depending on the required flow; all while retaining the same frame. Examples of other “environmentally sustainable” features on the company’s recently-released largest mill discharge pump, the MDM900 (900 mm inlet size), include a reduced footprint and a standard low-flow shaft seal to minimise the pump’s freshwater requirement during operation.

As Diwakar Aduri, Product Manager, Global Mill Discharge & Dredge Pumps, Metso Outotec, tells IM in this Insight Interview: “That’s the size of pumps and throughput we’re talking about, but that’s not the limit. There is already talk about larger pumps as well…The platform is flexible and modular.”

With pumps transporting increasingly abrasive slurries throughout the mine site, the wear of internal parts continues to be a focus for Metso Outotec, which is where the company’s Life Cycle Services (LCS) offering comes in. LCS contracts can simplify your maintenance, improve your pump reliability, minimise downtime and maximise pump life, as Tiago Oliveira, VP, Pumps Services, Metso Outotec, says.