Tag Archives: apron feeder

RCR Mining Technologies’ SPF set to redefine the future of apron feeder tech

Comminution of minerals, Mining equipment, , , , , , , , , ,

RCR Mining Technologies has announced the launch of the Sealed Pan Feeder (SPF), a world-first, industry-leading product redefining the future of apron feeder technology, it says.

Combining the robust elements of an apron feeder with the sealing properties of a belt feeder, RCR has created a two-in-one machine that, it says, offers benefits beyond any traditional apron feeder.

Both the RCR Sealed Pan Feeder and the RCR Apron Feeder boast low-maintenance designs, outperforming alternatives in the market. The Sealed Pan Feeder shares over 90% of its components with the RCR Apron Feeder, ensuring durability while introducing key improvements:

  • Enhanced performance: The SPF reduces the need for maintenance outages, offering approximately 50% fewer outages and 39% less tool time over a 15-year period compared with standard, non-RCR apron feeders, the company claims;
  • Maximised production: The reduction in maintenance frequency and outage duration translates directly to more ore throughput without increasing the size or speed of the feeder; and
  • Cost efficiency: By eliminating the need for dribble conveyors, the SPF delivers more efficient operating costs, addressing carry-back and leakage with its fully sealed and scrapable material-carrying surface.

RCR’s Head of Engineering, Elia Khoury, said the company was thrilled to launch this world-first, next-generation apron feeder that is set to “revolutionise materials handling”.

The SPF has already proven its worth in the field, with Fortescue Metals Group Project Director, Matthew Erceg-Hurn, remarking: “Having the Sealed Pan Feeders means we have a lot more uptime, which means we can keep running tonnes through the plant and produce more revenue as opposed to stopping and maintain the plant more regularly.”

The Sealed Pan Feeder was recently showcased at MINExpo 2024, in Las Vegas, where it garnered significant attention from industry leaders, according to the company, with Alister MacPherson, Head of Strategy, Growth & Innovation at RCR, characterising the interest as “phenomenal”.

Neville Kelly, Business Development Manager at RCR, concluded: “With its superior design and proven benefits, the Sealed Pan Feeder represents the future of apron feeder technology, helping companies maximise production, reduce costs and streamline operations.”

Metso wins major flotation cell order from First Quantum for Kansanshi S3 expansion

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Canada-based First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has placed an additional order with Metso for the delivery of minerals processing equipment to its Kansanshi copper mine S3 expansion.

Metso’s scope of delivery includes apron feeders, Nordberg® MP800™ cone crushers, TankCell® e630 and TankCell® e300 mechanical flotation cells, high-intensity Concorde Cell™ units, ColumnCell™ units, HRT thickeners and a clarifier.

Most of the separation equipment are part of Metso’s Planet Positive offering.

Last year, Metso was awarded an order for two Premier™ grinding mills, with a total installed power of 50 MW, including Metso Megaliner™ and metallic mill linings for the expansion.

The First Quantum Minerals Ltd Board of Directors signed off on the S3 Expansion last year, bankrolling a project that could see Kansanshi’s life pushed out to 2044. Once the expansion is completed, copper production from Kansanshi is expected to average approximately 250,000 t/y for the remaining life of mine.

Metso says the value of the order exceeds €20 million ($21. 8 million).

Antti Rinne, Vice President, Flotation at Metso, said: “Kansanshi’s flotation flowsheet combines the well-proven, energy efficient TankCell flotation cells with the new Concorde Cell, unlocking the potential for further improved flotation performance. Concorde Cell high-intensity, forced-air pneumatic flotation cells allow operations to enhance fine and ultrafine particle selectivity.”

thyssenkrupp wins semi-mobile-crushing-plant contract in India coal hub

Bulk handling, Coal technology, Comminution of minerals, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining software, Power supply for mines, , , , , , , , ,

thyssenkrupp has been awarded a contract to supply three semi-mobile-crushing-plants (SMCP) to a major open-pit coal mine in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, India, namely the Jayant mine of Northern Coalfields Ltd, a division of state compay Coal India. The plants will be used for a new 15 Mt/y coal handling plant (CHP).

Looking to boost production from 10 Mt/y to 25 Mt/y, the miner is implementing an in-pit crushing and conveying system utilising the in-pit SMCP for the CHP, which will, thyssenkrupp says, make the production process more efficient and stable.

thyssenkrupp won the contract from an India-based engineering procurement and construction contractor, SK Samanta. It involves the complete design, engineering, manufacturing and supply, and “TAG services” for the three semi-mobile crushing plants.

The plants consist out of three separate modules. The receiving hopper module comes with a 2.2 m wide and 10.5 m long, heavy-duty apron feeder, which can be fed by trucks and has a capacity of around 150 tons (136 t).

The heart of each plant is the crusher module, which uses a RollSizer DRS 1,000 x 2,250 (centre distance x length of the roller) for a maximum feed capacity of 1,900 t/h.

The third module is the electrical building with the operator room. By separating this module from the crusher module, the operators and electrical equipment are not exposed to any vibrations from the crushing process. This ensures the plants meet all requirements from a health and safety perspective, while guaranteeing a long life of the electrical equipment, thyssenkrupp said.

“Compared to stationary crushing plants, SMCPs are more flexible and can be relocated when the distance between the mining area and the crushing plant increases and, thereby, can reduce the cost for transport of the run of mine material significantly,” thyssenkrupp said.

“thyssenkrupp can look back on a long history of supplying fully-mobile, semi-mobile, and stationary crushing plants, which makes the company a leading partner for the engineering, construction and service of industrial plants and systems for the coal industry.”

Metso equipment to rough up diamonds at De Beers Venetia mine

Comminution of minerals, Gem stone mining, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, , , , , , ,

Metso is to install high-performance crushing and material handling equipment underground at the De Beers Group’s Venetia diamond mine, in South Africa, as part of an order booked in the September quarter.

In the throes of a transition from open-pit mining to underground operations, Venetia is reported to produce around 4 Mct/y, making it one of South Africa’s biggest diamond mines.

In 2013, an underground extension project commenced with plans to start producing carats in 2022, climbing to full production in 2025 and extending the mine life to 2046.

Metso said Venetia approached Metso to deliver two primary jaw crushers and a number of feeders. All the equipment will be installed underground, which is a very challenging installation, especially given the shaft constraints (dimensions) and weight limitations for transportation underground, the company added.

Venetia decided on Metso’s Nordberg® C Series™ jaw crusher range as the pinned and bolted design of the crusher allowed for the extensive disassembly, Metso said. “This enhances ease of transportation and installation, especially where there are critical space constraints such as an underground installation – as is the case with this project.”

The Metso apron feeders, meanwhile, are used for extracting or feeding ores that are wet, sticky, dry or even frozen.

Metso books comminution equipment order from Codelco at El Teniente

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Metso says it has been awarded a contract to supply crushing and material handling equipment for the first stage of Codelco’s El Teniente copper mine expansion project in central Chile.

The order was booked in Metso’s March quarter 2019 orders and will see the company deliver, among other elements, primary gyratory crushing equipment with apron feeders and conveyer belts as well as related services.

El Teniente is the world’s largest underground copper mine as well as the largest operation of the Chile state-owned copper mining company Codelco. The expansion project, called El Teniente New Mine Level, is expected to add 50 years to the life of the mine, with the first stage expected to start up in 2023.

Once completed, the full expansion will allow El Teniente to maintain its current output of around 450,000 t/y of refined copper, Metso said.

Victor Tapia, President, Mining Equipment Business Area at Metso, said: “We are proud of being part of this landmark project in which we will utilise our process and product knowledge gathered over 150 years of experience.

“In a landscape where challenges are continuously evolving, we are fully committed to keep developing solutions that help our customers to secure sustainable productivity and long-term success.”

Most of the equipment deliveries to El Teniente are scheduled for 2021, while services will be carried out between 2022 and 2023, according to Metso.

“Metso in Chile and Codelco have a long history of cooperation. This order confirms once again our expertise and our position as a leading equipment supplier for underground mining and as a key equipment a supplier for Codelco,” Tapia said.

“Going forward, we’ll focus on providing El Teniente with a high level of performance, reliability and best-in-class support service throughout the project life cycle,” he added.