Tag Archives: Metso

Metso’s GHG targets recognised as ‘science-based’

Environmental, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

Metso’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets have won the approval of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), demonstrating the mining equipment and service provider is doing its fair share in trying to achieve the global climate change goals as set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The GHG targets are part of Metso’s Climate Program and, the company says, are applicable to all relevant emission sources: production, procurement, inbound and outbound transportation as well as the use of Metso’s products.

The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature. The initiative aims at promoting science-based target setting and driving down GHG emissions.

The initiative is tied to the 2015 Paris Agreement, which saw 195 of the world’s governments commit to prevent dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to below 2°C.

Metso says it is one of the few corporations in its field to join SBTi in the efforts to prevent global warming.

As a scope 1 and 2 GHG target, Metso has committed to a 25% reduction in carbon emissions in production by 2030. This is achievable by investing in renewable energy and improving the energy efficiency of the production processes, the company said.

“Metso demands sustainability not only of its own production, but also 30% of its suppliers in terms of spend are required to set science-based emission targets by 2024,” the company said.

By streamlining transportation routes and optimising warehouse locations, Metso aims for a 20% reduction in transportation emissions by 2025 (scope 3 GHG emissions target).

Through extensive research and development work, Metso has been able to significantly reduce the energy consumption in customer processes, it said. To continue this development, the company is aiming for a 10% reduction in GHG emissions in the most “energy-intensive customer processes” using Metso products by 2025.

“This is further reinforced by the demanding energy-efficiency targets in all Metso R&D projects. As supportive actions, Metso will also offset flight emissions by 100% by 2021 and continue to find new ways to decrease emissions, for example, in offices,” it said.

Metso President and CEO, Pekka Vauramo, said: “We are extremely happy about the ratification of our science-based CO2 emissions targets.

“Our Climate Program is an important step in our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is also an essential element in Metso being a responsible and trusted partner to our customers. We aim to improve our customers’ productivity in a sustainable manner, and we involve all our stakeholders in reaching this goal.”

For Metso, Scope 1 emissions are generated from fuels used in production, Scope 2 emissions are generated from the purchased energy and Scope 3 emissions are generated from transportation, procurement, travelling and product use, it said.

In 2018, Metso’s emissions clocked in at over 1 Mt of CO2, including 655,732 t from purchased goods and services, 136,968 t related to production, 161,629 t in “upstream” transportation, 77,821 t in “downstream” transportation and 22,256 t in business flights.

At the same time, the emissions saved in Metso product use in 2018 amounted to more than 1.07 Mt of CO2 through its energy-efficient grinding solutions HRC™, Vertimill® and SMD (stirred media detritor).

MinRes and Metso working on 15 Mt portable crushing plant

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , ,

Mineral Resources Ltd told investors at its annual general meeting last week that it had designed a 15 Mt capacity portable crushing plant and planned to develop it in joint venture with Metso.

The “Next Gen” crushing and screening plant is expected to come with low capital and operating costs, in addition to significant flexibility with its portability.

The ASX-listed mining services company said it planned to install its first unit on site in the June quarter of 2020 and that it should take eight weeks to mobilise and commission at site.

The JV with Metso is expected to see both companies develop and market the plant.

In addition to the crushing and screening plant, MinRes said it had developed a carbon fibre manufacturing facility producing “structural members” and that four 150 t dump truck trays had been made, with field testing currently taking place on site.

The company, which says these trays will increase dump truck payloads by 10-15%, is expected to carry out durability trials to understand wear rates, ongoing optimisation of both tray and workshop and commence manufacturing of 200 t dump truck trays in the next 12 months.

Metso and Outotec tie-up wins backing at EGM

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining mergers and acquisitions, , , ,

Metso says its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) has seen the Board of Directors’ partial demerger plan and combination with Outotec approved.

The decisions of the EGM will become effective as of the registration of the completion of the partial demerger, which is expected to take place in the June quarter of 2020, subject to the statutory creditor hearing process and receipt of all required regulatory and other approvals, including competition clearances.

The combination of Metso Minerals and Outotec is highly complementary and will create a unique company in the industry, according to the two companies. “Metso Outotec will leverage the strengths of both companies, including technology and R&D, product and process excellence, scale and global service offering footprint. The combination will deliver significant benefits to all stakeholders,” they said.

As part of the deal, Metso Flow Control, which was recently split off from the Metso Minerals division, will become a pure-play listed entity under the name of Neles.

Pursuant to the demerger plan, all such assets, rights, debts and liabilities of Metso which relate to, or primarily serve, Metso’s Minerals business will transfer, without liquidation of Metso, to Outotec.

The planned combination received approval from the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority earlier this month.

Minprovise keeps crushing on track at Hope Downs 1 iron ore mine

Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , ,

Minprovise says it has completed a jaw crusher replacement project at Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting’s jointly owned Hope Downs 1 iron ore mine site in the Pilbara of Western Australia.

The crusher in question, a Metso Nordberg C160, is Hope Downs’ primary crusher. Minprovise was selected for this project due to the positive references it has previously received carrying out similar work in the field, the mineral processing equipment and site services provider said.

The crusher replacement was the second such project completed in the last year by Minprovise, the first being undertaken at the West Angelas mine site (part of the Rio-majority owned Robe River joint venture), located in Newman, in late 2018.

Hope Downs 1 is part of the Hope Downs joint venture. The Hope Downs 1 and 4 deposits produced 46.9 Mt of iron ore in 2017, according to Rio.

“The large-scale site maintenance project required careful quality control and site safety management in the lead up to, and during, the crusher replacement,” Minprovise said. The team were required to safely and efficiently remove the old jaw crusher model and replace it with the newer C160 model in its already established and confined structure, according to the company.

“Minprovise’s end-to-end business model and internal manufacture and fabrication capabilities meant that the team were also able to fabricate the appropriate and tailormade transport frames, jigs and chute covers for the optimised safety of the project,” it said.

To complete the lift, the company used a 500 t crane to safely manoeuvre the 78 t crusher mainframe into place.

As the sole provider of the install process, Minprovise was required to coordinate between the client, the transport agency, the crane provider and the crusher manufacturer to ensure a smooth and time efficient process, it said. “Minprovise’s phase of the replacement project was completed in the originally quoted and designated amount of time, with no hiccups or costly time-delays.”

The fabrication and install of the crushers casting plates to take the full impact of the crushers vibrations was also undertaken by Minprovise employees.

Throughout the entire process – which included concrete cutting and jackhammering of the support base, removal and replacement of the casting plates, re-grouting of the new base and plates and heavy lift and install of the crusher – zero safety incidents or minor injuries were reported, according to the company.

Metso Outotec planned combination wins Finnish FSA approval

Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mineral processing, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Water management, , , , ,

The planned combination of Metso and Outotec has received approval from the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority, the two companies have reported.

The approval is tied to the Finnish language demerger prospectus relating to the combination of Outotec and Metso.

Outotec and Metso announced on July 4, that the boards of directors of Outotec and Metso had approved a combination agreement and a demerger plan that would see Metso Outotec Corp created.

As part of the deal, Metso Flow Control, which was recently split off from the Metso Minerals division, will become a pure-play listed entity under the name of Neles.

The combination of Metso Minerals and Outotec is highly complementary and will create a unique company in the industry, according to the two companies. “Metso Outotec will leverage the strengths of both companies, including technology and R&D, product and process excellence, scale and global service offering footprint. The combination will deliver significant benefits to all stakeholders,” they said.

An extraordinary general meeting of Outotec and Metso shareholders was expected to convene on October 29 to approve the demerger plan, with the registration of the completion of the demerger with the trade register maintained by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office expected to take place in the June quarter of 2020, subject to other approvals.

Apron feeders: the material handling workhorses

Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining techniques, , , , , ,

Following the publication of the International Mining October issue and, more specifically, the annual in-pit crushing and conveying feature, we have taken a closer look at one of the core elements that makes up these systems, apron feeders.

In mining, apron feeders play a major role in ensuring smooth operations and increasing uptime. They are very diverse in their application within a mineral processing circuit; however, their full capabilities are not widely known throughout the industry leading to many raised questions.

Martin Yester, Global Product Support of Bulk Products at Metso, has answered some of the more important ones.

What is an apron feeder and when should it be used?

In simple terms, an apron feeder (also known as a pan feeder) is a mechanical type of feeder used in material handing operations to transfer (feed) material to other equipment or extract material (ore/rock) from storage stockpiles, bins or hoppers at a controlled rate of speed.

These feeders can be used in a variety of applications in primary, secondary and tertiary (reclaiming) operations.

Apron feeders are the preferred feeder for several reasons. Some of these are:

  • Aprons provide better feed control to prevent material feeding in downstream equipment from choking;
  • They can absorb the shock of loading material directly onto the feeder with a shallow bed (the impact coming down on the feeder when the material is dumped is great); and
  • Apron feeders can reclaim a variety of dry or wet materials of various sizes at a uniform rate, with this flexibility applied in many applications.

What are the advantages of using a tractor chain style apron feeder?

A tractor chain style apron feeder refers to the undercarriage chain, rollers and tail wheels that are also used in bulldozers and excavators. This style of feeder dominates the market in industries where users require a feeder that can extract materials of varying characteristics. Polyurethane seals in the chain prevent abrasive materials from entering the internal pin and bushing, which reduces wear and extends equipment life in comparison with a dry chain style. Tractor chain style apron feeders also create less noise pollution for quieter operation. The links of the chain are heat treated, which results in an increased service life.

Overall, the benefits include increased reliability, fewer spare parts, less maintenance and better feed control. In return, these benefits lead to more productivity with minimal bottlenecks within any mineral processing circuit.

Can apron feeders be installed on an incline?

The common belief about apron feeders is that they must be installed horizontally. Well, contrary to popular belief they can be installed on an incline! There are many added benefits and capabilities that come from this. Less space is needed overall when installing an apron feeder on an incline – not only does the inclination limit floor space, the height of the receiving hopper can also be reduced. Inclined apron feeders are more forgiving when it comes to larger lumps of material and, overall, will increase volume in the hopper and reduce the cycle time of the haul trucks.

Keep in mind there are some factors to pay attention to when installing a pan feeder on an incline to optimise the process. A properly designed hopper, the angle of inclination, the design of the support structure and the access and stair system around the feeder are all key factors.

Apron feeder optimal speed – faster is always better, right?

The common misconception around operating any equipment is: “faster is better.” In the case of apron feeders, nothing could be further from the truth. Optimal speed comes from finding that balance where efficiency meets transportation speed. They do operate at slower speeds than belt feeders, but for a good reason.

Normally, the optimal speed of an apron feeder is 0.05-0.40 m/s. If the ores are non-abrasive, the speed can increase to above 0.30 m/s due to the likely reduced wear.

Higher speeds would hurt an operation: if your speed is too high, you run the risk of accelerated wear of components. Energy efficiency, too, decreases due to the increase in energy demand.

Another concern to keep in mind when running an apron feeder at high speeds is the increased possibility of fines being generated. There can be a grinding effect between the material and the pans. Not only would the generation of fines create more issues because of possible fugitive dust in the air, but this also creates a more hazardous work environment for employees overall. So, finding an optimal speed is more important for the productivity and operational safety of the plant.

What are the limitations on size and type of ore?

Apron feeders do have limitations when it comes to the size and type of ore. The limitations will vary, but there should never be senseless dumping of material onto the feeder. You will need to not only factor in the application you will be using the feeder for, but also where in the process this feeder will be placed.

Generally, an industry rule to follow for your apron feeder dimensions is that the width of the pans (inside skirts) should be twice the maximum lump size of the material. Other factors, like a properly designed open hopper incorporating the use of “rock turning plates”, can affect the pan size, but that’s only relevant in certain circumstances.

It is not unusual for 1,500 mm of material to be extracted if a 3,000 mm wide feeder is used. Material of minus-300 mm from crusher ore stockpiles or storage/blending bins is typically extracted with apron feeders to feed secondary crushers.

What information is required when sizing an apron feeder?

When sizing an apron feeder and respective drive system (motor), as with a lot of equipment in the mining industry, experience and knowledge of the entire process is valuable. Apron feeder sizing requires basic knowledge of plant data to be able to accurately fill in the criteria needed for a vendor’s “application data sheet” (or however the vendor receives their information).

Basic criteria that should go into this includes feed rate (peak and normal), material characteristics (such as moisture, gradation and shape), maximum lump size of the ore/rock, bulk density of the ore/rock (maximum and minimum) and feed and discharge conditions.

However, occasionally there can be added variables to the apron feeder sizing process that should be included. A primary additional variable that vendors should be asking about is the hopper configuration. Specifically, the hopper shear length opening (L2) directly above the apron feeder. When applicable, this is not only a key parameter in properly sizing the apron feeder, but also the drive system as well.

How does “bulk” density affect the sizing of an apron feeder?

As stated above, bulk density of the ore/rock is one of the basic criteria requirements that should be included for effective apron feeder sizing. Density is the weight of material in a given volume and usually bulk density is measured as tonnes/cubic meter (t/m³), or pounds/cubic foot (lbs/ft³). One specific note to remember is that bulk density is used for apron feeders and not solid density like in other mineral processing equipment.

So why is bulk density so important? Apron feeders are volumetric-type feeders, which means bulk density is used to determine the speed and power needed to extract a certain tonnage per hour of the material. The minimum bulk density is used to determine the speed, and the maximum bulk density establishes the power (torque) needed for the feeder.

To conclude, it is important the correct “bulk” density and not “solid” density is used for sizing apron feeders. If these calculations are incorrect, this could jeopardise the resulting feed rate for the downstream process.

How do you determine the hopper shear length of the apron feeder?

Identifying the hopper shear length is a key component for correctly sizing and selecting an apron feeder and drive system (motor). But, how can this be determined? The hopper shear length is the dimension from the back plate of the hopper at the skirt line to the shear bar located at the exit end of the hopper. It sounds very simple, but it is key to note that this should not be confused with the dimension at the top of the hopper where material is loaded.

The goal of finding this measurement of the hopper shear length is to establish the actual shear plane line of material and where material inside the skirts is separated (sheared) from the material inside the hopper (L2). The resistance to shear the material is typically estimated to be between 50-70% of the total force/power. This calculation of the shear length will result in either insufficient power (lost production) or excessive power (rising operating expenses (opex)).

How do I find the optimal length of my apron feeder?

Spacing of equipment is essential to any plant. As mentioned before, apron feeders can be installed on an incline to save space. Selecting the correct length of an apron feeder will not only reduce capital expenditure (capex), it will also reduce power consumption and opex.

But how is the optimal length determined? The optimum length of an apron feeder is one that can fulfil the required duty in the shortest length possible. However, in some cases for an operation, the choice of feeder might want to be a little longer to “convey” materials to reach downstream equipment and eliminate a transfer point (and unnecessary costs).

To determine the shortest and optimal feeder possible requires flexibility in the layout of positioning the apron feeder under the hopper (L2). After determining the shear length and bed depth, the overall length can then be minimised just enough to prevent what is referred to as “self-flushing” over the discharge end when the feeder is idle.

I properly selected my apron feeder, but what about my drive system?

Selecting the proper drive system for your apron feeder will depend on the operation and goals of the feeder. Apron feeders are designed to be ran at variable speeds to extract from storage and feed downstream at a controlled rate of speed for maximum efficiency. The material could vary depending on factors such as the season of the year, orebody, or blasting and blending patterns.

The two types of drives suited for variable speeds are a mechanical drive using a gear reducer, inverter duty motor and variable frequency drive (VFD), or hydraulic motor and power unit with a variable pump. Today, variable speed mechanical drives have been proven as the preferred drive system due to the advancements in technology and capex benefits.

Hydraulic drive systems do have their place but are not seen as the ideal option between the two variable drives.

This Q&A was taken from a series of Metso blogs on apron feeders. For more information, please follow these links:

https://www.metso.com/blog-hub/mining-minds/feeding-the-facts-part-1-apron-feeder-basics/

https://www.metso.com/blog-hub/mining-minds/feeding-the-facts-23-proper-sizing-and-selection-of-your-apron-feeder/

McCloskey becomes part of Metso

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining mergers and acquisitions, , , , ,

Metso says it has completed the acquisition of McCloskey International, a Canadian mobile crushing and screening equipment manufacturer with market share in the aggregates sector, as well as customers in the frac sand and industrial minerals segments.

The deal was announced back in June, with Metso, at that time, saying the acquisition would allow the company to “better take part in the attractive growth of mobile products within the aggregates industry”.

“This acquisition is an excellent strategic fit for Metso, because it strengthens our aggregates business and balances our traditionally mining-focused Minerals portfolio. With McCloskey as part of Metso, we are also able to better take part in the attractive, long-term growth of the mobile equipment market within the aggregates industry,” says Pekka Vauramo, Metso’s President and CEO.

Markku Simula, President of the Aggregates Equipment business area of Metso, said: “This acquisition expands our offering to new customer segments and application areas. McCloskey’s capabilities and technical solutions strengthen our ability to address diverse customer needs through complementary channels and offerings. We are confident that McCloskey will align well with Metso, and we are excited to welcome new colleagues to the Metso family.”

McCloskey will be reported in Metso’s Minerals segment as of the December quarter.

Metso to buy up remaining shares in Chinese crushing and screening firm

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , ,

Metso, to support its growth plans in China, has exercised its call option to acquire the remaining 25% of Chinese crushing and screening equipment manufacturer Shaorui Heavy Industries.

The Finland-based company originally acquired 75% of Shaorui, which targets the mid-markets with its comminution equipment, back in September 2013. Back then, the company said the acquisition forms a good platform for future growth in terms of obtaining a leading crushing and screening market position by combining Metso’s current premium product offering with Shaorui’s experience in mid-market products.

“Shaorui business is growing and our expectations are positive,” Markku Simula, President of the Aggregates Equipment business area at Metso, said. “Today, they are one of the leading mid-market crushing and screening equipment producers in China, and full ownership provides us an opportunity to broaden our scope in terms of new markets and offering.”

The transaction is expected to be completed during the December quarter. After the transaction, Metso will become the sole owner of the company with 100% of its shares.

Metso to keep its crushers working for longer with O-Series liners

Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Metso says it is expanding its crusher wear part offering by launching a new range of OEM crusher liners.

Available for selected markets from September, the new Metso O-Series offers the right balance between performance, affordability and reliability, the company said.

Olli Heinonen, Head of O-Series development at Metso, said: “The Metso O-Series offers a value-priced alternative that is ideal when you need to focus on optimising daily operations, while our premium crusher wears range ensures additional durability, performance and maximum return on investment.”

The Metso O-Series range is now available for Metso Nordberg® HP Series™ and GP Series™ cone crushers as well as C Series™ jaw crushers, Metso said. In the first phase, the new range will be sold through Metso sales offices, and the accredited Metso distributors in China, Mexico, Central America, and Asia Pacific.

Heinonen concluded: “The Metso O-Series was created in close cooperation and dialogue with our customers to especially meet the business requirements in rapidly developing markets. We are excited about this new range and the new opportunities to help our customers get better control of their operations without compromising on quality. Going forward, we’re looking into bringing further crusher models to the range as well as introducing it to additional markets.”

Metso places rubber, poly-met wear parts facilities under review

Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , ,

Metso, as part of its Minerals Consumables business area review of manufacturing capabilities in the EMEA region, says it is starting “personnel negotiations” to review the implications at rubber and poly-met wear part production units in Ersmark and Trelleborg, Sweden.

The negotiations concern the potential closure of the factory in Ersmark and the restructuring of the manufacturing operation in Trelleborg, according to the company, and could affect manufacturing related functions and some 150 positions.

Metso confirmed other operations in Sweden are not in the scope of these negotiations.

The Ersmark and Trelleborg units produce rubber and poly-met wear parts used in the mining industry. Today, Metso is a leading player in the rubber and poly-met mill lining business, with a strong service network in all the main mining markets, it said. In addition to Ersmark and Trelleborg, Metso operates nine factories manufacturing synthetic solutions globally.

Sami Takaluoma, President, Minerals Consumables business area, said: “Our target is to utilise the full potential of the most efficient manufacturing methods and optimise sourcing opportunities and logistics. By developing our supply capabilities at the regional and global levels, we are actively responding to changes in the competitive environment, as well as improving our flexibility in fulfilling customers’ needs.”