Tag Archives: mining equipment

Weir strengthens mining and oil & gas ties with Flow Control sale

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

The Weir Group has entered into an agreement to sell its Flow Control division to First Reserve, a global private equity investment firm focused exclusively on energy, for an enterprise value of £275 million ($360 million).

Weir, which will receive cash for the sales, said all the way back in April 2018 that it planned to sell the division. The admission came alongside the acquisition of ESCO. The transaction remains subject to certain regulatory and other approvals, with completion expected in the June quarter, the company said.

The Flow Control division primarily provides highly engineered pumps, valves and other solutions used in power, industrial and downstream oil and gas applications, according to Weir.

Weir said: “Once this transaction completes, on a pro forma basis, more than 80% of Weir’s revenues will be from attractive aftermarket-intensive mining and upstream oil and gas markets.”

Weir Group CEO, Jon Stanton, said: “The decision to sell Flow Control is part of Weir’s recent portfolio transformation which focuses the group on where we can maximise long-term value – building on our strong global leadership positions in mining and upstream oil and gas markets.”

Jeff Quake and Neil Hartley, Managing Directors of First Reserve, said: “In our view, Weir Flow Control represents an attractive growth platform in a fragmented sector, with internationally recognised brands driven by recurring high-margin aftermarket parts and services which have proven to be resilient through multiple economic environments.”

After the sale completes, Flow Control will continue to be led by current President David Paradis and his management team, Weir said.

In the year to December 31, 2018, Flow Control’s unaudited financial results included profit before tax of £23 million on a pre-exceptional items and intangibles amortisation basis.

Terex Trucks lays groundwork for Russia expansion with Mining Eurasia pact

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Terex Trucks has signed Mining Eurasia as its new official distributor in the Russian Federation as the Scotland-based manufacturer looks to improve availability as well as return on investment for its customers in the region.

The company said: “As the single largest country in the world, it’s no great surprise that Russia has an abundance of coal, metal and minerals. In fact, it is home to 17% of all mineral deposits, 18% of all coal reserves, and produces more chromium, nickel and palladium than any other nation.”

According to Terex Trucks, this is one of the reasons why mining equipment provider Mining Eurasia has gone from “strength to strength” over the years. Now, it will be the official distributor of Terex Trucks’ TA300 and TA400 (pictured) articulated haulers in the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Startsev, Chief of Service, Mining Eurasia, said: “Russia is a tough market, with many of our customers running 24/7 operations. This firstly requires reliable equipment, but it also requires a lot of support from us.

“The harder you make machines work, the more you’ll need access to spare parts and knowledgeable technicians. We’ve always prided ourselves on the quality of our aftermarket support. This has helped us to build a strong reputation within our sector and strike up partnerships with companies like Terex Trucks.”

John Rotherford, Global Key Accounts Director, Terex Trucks, said: “In close collaboration with their (Mining Eurasia’s) team in Russia, we’ll be working together to improve availability as well as return on investment for our customers.”

Mining Eurasia has its headquarters in Moscow, along with a repair centre, four regional offices and 11 service centres situated across Russia. “The majority of our employees are dedicated service specialists,” Startsev said. “We plan to use that expertise to ensure that our customers can get the most out of their Terex Trucks machines.”

The Terex TA300 ADT is powered by a Scania DC9 engine and has a maximum payload of 28 t, maximum torque of 1880 Nm and can achieve gross power of 276 kW, according to Terex Trucks. “It is equipped with true independent front suspension as standard, resulting in excellent traction control and operator comfort,” the company said.

The TA400, the largest articulated hauler on offer from Terex Trucks, has a maximum payload of 38 t and a heaped capacity of 23.3 m³. “The Allison HD4560 transmission boasts high performance oil and up to 6,000 hours between service intervals,” Terex Trucks said.

Both machines come with hydrostatic power steering and all-hydraulic braking systems, helping to ensure a safe and comfortable ride, according to the company.

Liebherr crawler excavators proving their worth in South Africa chromium mine

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

After more than 1,000 operating hours, three Liebherr R 920 crawler excavators are still exhibiting the fuel efficiency, manoeuvrability and hydraulic performance that convinced mining company KEDASE to buy the equipment, the original equipment manufacturer said.

KEDASE, based in Boshoek, South Africa, purchased three R 920 crawler excavators from Liebherr in 2016. They are used for trenching, pipe laying and the feeding of a screen in a chromium mine in the country.

With an operating weight of 21 t and equipped with a Stage IIIA/Tier 3/CHINA III engine with an output of 110 kW/150 hp, the R 920 crawler excavator was developed specifically for these types of applications, according to Liebherr. For KEDASE, the machines have been configured with a 5.7 m boom, a 2 m stick and a 1.15 m³ bucket.

“The R 920 concept is based on the standard European models with high levels of reliability and increased productivity combined with low fuel consumption,” Liebherr said. “Launched onto the market at Bauma 2016, the R 920 is accompanied by a revamp of the range of 20-25 t crawler excavators.”

In addition to the R 920 are the R 922 and R 924. The R 922 weighs 22 t and has an output of 110 kW/150 hp and the R 924 weighs 24 t with an output of 125 kW/170 hp. “These machines are aimed at less regulated markets like South Africa, South East Asia, Russia, China and India,” Liebherr said.

Since their arrival in 2016, the R 920 crawler excavators have met all expectations, according to the OEM.

“After more than 1,000 operating hours, these machines are currently used for nine to 12 hours every day with an average fuel consumption of only 15 l/h. The manoeuvrability and hydraulic performance, in particular, make the machines efficient on site. From the operator’s point of view, the R 920 is characterised by its speed, comfort, stability and performance: “I feel like I’m in a pickup”, one operator said.

Liebherr said the expectation is that these machines will keep performing over time and reach 15,000 operating hours.

Voith expands TurboBelt TPXL conveyor coupling range

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , ,

Voith says it has expanded its TurboBelt TPXL range of fill-controlled couplings for conveyors, with the addition of 500 kW, 800 kW and 1,250 kW versions.

These couplings combine hydrodynamics with intelligent control technology to optimise performance, according to Voith.

The integrated controller matches the output torque exactly to the start-up parameters of the belt conveyor system, thus reducing wear and increasing service life, according to Voith. Its high power density means the TurboBelt TPXL range requires only half the volume of conventional couplings and therefore can be easily integrated into drivetrains, the company said.

Voith said: “With its proven hydrodynamic drive principle, the Voith TurboBelt TPXL range of couplings has been a staple of the mining industry for years. Delivering a nominal torque from 1,600 Nm to 7,960 Nm, respectively, the new sizes – TurboBelt 800 TPXL and TurboBelt 1250 TPXL – open up an expanded range of applications. Its rugged construction makes it ideal for use in demanding environments and tasks, such as open-pit mining.”

The TurboBelt TPXL’s plug-and-play design allows for easy integration into established systems and drivetrains and serves to significantly shorten commissioning times, according to Voith. The coupling concept consists of an integrated controller, an integrated oil pump and an oil supply unit, all of which are designed to work in tandem with each other.

“This lays the groundwork for accurate predictive maintenance to effectively keep the total cost of ownership low,” Voith said. “The TurboBelt TPXL’s hydrodynamic operating principle enables wear-free power transmission without the need for a mechanical connection. In this way, the system’s lifespan is expanded and maintenance costs are decreased significantly.”

TurboBelt DriveControl, Voith’s digital control system, was designed to work in conjunction with the TurboBelt TPXL’s integrated controller to meet even the most demanding requirements in belt conveyance, Voith said. “It allows seamless connection of drives, belt conveyors and components throughout the entire extraction process.”

In this way, TurboBelt DriveControl can handle lengths of up to 20 km as well as vertical curves and tonnages of more than 12,000 t/h, according to the company.

Votih said: “The intelligent system features autonomous belt conveyor startup and stopping procedure, even for regenerative conveyors. In addition, it extends the belt’s service life by reducing mechanical stress and dynamic impact.

“To maintain reliable conveyor performance at all times, TurboBelt DriveControl also features active load sharing, one-drive off and hot stand-by declutching function.”

The system logs all operational data, according to Voith, allowing the coupling to adjust its control behaviour in accordance with previous empirical values to accommodate a specific load situation, for example.

“Based on the required torque for the belt and the basic start-up parameters, the coupling automatically calculates the optimum fill level and fills or drains the working circuit accordingly. The stored information can be utilised for self-diagnosis and remote maintenance. In addition, the controller monitors the coupling’s entire sensor system to ensure flawless operation at all times,” Voith said.

Emeco secures more haul trucks, dozers in effort to even supply-demand balance

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining finance, Mining services, , , , ,

Emeco Holdings’ confidence in the market has led it to investing in a large package of “strategic core assets” comprising mainly 240-t haul trucks and Cat D10 (pictured)/D11 dozers, the company said in its latest financial results.

The company, in 2018, acquired Matilda Equipment for an enterprise value of A$80 million ($57 million) and has since been working hard on integrating the rental specialist into the group.

Emeco saw strong growth in the first half of its financial year to end-2018, with operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of A$102.8 million, up from A$67 million a year earlier.

The company put this down to a full contribution from Force Equipment – which Emeco also acquired recently – and Matilda Equipment, continued improvement in average operating utilisation to 64% (up from 57% a year earlier) and strength in the Eastern Region, particularly coal mining customer demand.

Emeco has paid a A$20 million deposit to secure this haul truck and dozer fleet, with the recently acquired Force Equipment workshops playing a pivotal role in getting these assets ready for work.

“Emeco currently has very high utilisation in these asset classes – demand outweighs supply,” it said, adding that rental agreements were in place for a majority of these assets prior to them arriving in Australia.

Delivery and preparation of these assets is expected to occur throughout the second half of 2019, with earnings contribution expected in its 2020 financial year, the company said.

Porter Group to sell Sandvik mobile crushers and screens in Australia

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

Construction and mining equipment supplier, Porter Group, says it has been appointed as the agent for Sandvik Mobile Crushers and Screens in Australia.

The announcement represents a continuation of Porter’s ongoing expansion across the region, with the relationship with Sandvik working to enhance customer experience, efficiency and profitability, the company said.

“The enduring relationship between Porter Group and Sandvik goes back 10 years to 2009 in New Zealand,” Porter Group said. “Both the brands have made great strides forward as positive responses from customers poured in. The advanced products and services have reshaped the industry standard and customer expectations.”

Porter Group owns more than 50 retail locations in four countries – New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the US (California). It said it is now one of the largest privately-owned industry identities in Australasia.

Darren Ralph, General Manager of Porter Equipment Australasia, said: “The latest extension of the Sandvik relationship is an important progression for the brand in the region. Sandvik Mobiles are global leaders in technology and productivity and this development will ensure that the product is brought to the customer base efficiently. We aim to provide Sandvik Mobiles with a platform to propel the brand to new heights in Australia.”

Sandvik Mobile Crushers and Screens manufactures tracked, wheeled and portable plant for a large variety of applications worldwide, according to Porter Group. It has designed market leading technology featuring unique and advanced concepts such as the PrisecTM impact chamber, Hydrocone technology and the patented Doublescreen system.

Sandvik LHDs and dump trucks open to third-party proximity detection systems

Automation, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , ,

Sandvik Load and Haul says it has developed a Proximity Detection System Interface for its underground LHDs and dump trucks.

The feature allows installation of a third-party proximity detection system (PDS) to a Sandvik underground loader or dump truck to meet legal requirements and improve safety in underground operations.

“PDSs help to improve safety at mine and construction sites where risks of collision may occur,” Sandvik said. “The PDS is generally designed to slow down and/or eventually stop the equipment in case the system detects a person or an object carrying a tag inside a predefined zone. The exact operation of the PDS always depends on the selected system and the local conditions, which vary from site to site.”

Marjut Seppälä, Product Safety Manager, Load and Haul, said: “A PDS is a legal obligation in South Africa, which is an important market area for Sandvik. We have developed the interface to meet these requirements and, at the same time, to improve safety on our customer sites. As we want to provide the same opportunity for all our customers, regardless of the market area, the interface now becomes globally available for our loaders and trucks.”

She continued: “But even though PDSs help to improve safety, they shall never be used to replace normal safe and sound operating practices.”

The PDS interface comes together with another safety enhancing feature, Speed Brake Interlock, which is used to prevent excessive speed during driving. When the Speed Brake Interlock functionality is in use, it monitors the equipment speed and guides the operator to slow down by means of visual and audible messages on the system display.

NEPEAN bulks up conveyor component reach with addition of Tefco Engineering assets

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , , , ,

NEPEAN’s PROK Conveyor Components has extended its conveyor component capability with the addition of a fully-operational specialised original equipment manufacturer (OEM) pulley business based in New South Wales, Australia.

NEPEAN Chief Executive Officer, Miles Fuller, said the new business, which comes from Tefco Engineering’s assets, is a perfect extension of its conveyor pulley capability in key mining regions and will strengthen PROK’s offering to customers on the east coast of Australia and internationally.

With the integration of Tefco Engineering’s assets, PROK is positioned to provide customers in core mining regions with a dedicated and local option for OEM pulleys and pulley overhauls, the company said.

Fuller said: “The new facility will be integrated with our existing PROK business with a focus on growing, improving and innovating to ensure that our customers are the winners.”

The acquisition includes over 3,500 m² of manufacturing operations in New South Wales, bolstering PROK’s existing capability with six overhead cranes, plate rolling, computer numerical control machining, in-house stress relieving, shot-blasting, painting facilities and specialised pulley acceptance testing equipment, the company said.

NEPEAN is already the largest manufacturer of pulleys and idlers in Australia, and one of the largest specialists in conveyor components globally, the company said. Through operations in six continents, NEPEAN produces thousands of large engineered pulleys and millions of rollers for distribution to over 66 countries.

Fuller said: “Our service offering and the wider suite of products positions NEPEAN as the number one choice for quality conveyor components.

“Our investment in the Tefco Engineering business, and more importantly Tefco Engineering’s customers and employees, is a further commitment to an industry we know well. It is a step in NEPEAN’s journey to be the global leader in innovative conveyor components.”

NEPEAN’s conveyor expertise in Australia includes fully-integrated bulk materials handling solutions from the mine to the train or truck load station.

Metso Minerals division expands with incorporation of Pumps business area

Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Water management, , , , , , , , ,

Metso says it is looking to better support the common customer interface and growth plans of its Pumps business area by moving it into its Minerals division.

Previously, Pumps was reported under the Flow Control segment together with Valves. Metso said it will continue to report externally under the two segments, Minerals and Flow Control, and will run its operations through seven business areas grouped under these two segments.

“The majority of Metso’s Pumps business area’s customers are common to the Minerals segment, and sales already largely operate through the Minerals market area structure,” Metso said. The Pumps business area will now be headed by Mikko Keto, who acts also as President of Metso’s Minerals Services business area, while John Quinlivan will continue as President of the Valves business area.

The change is effective immediately, with Pumps to be reported under the Minerals segment as of January 1.

Outotec continues to invest in technology as sales rise

Automation, Base metals, Energy minerals, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Industrial minerals, Metallurgy, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining finance, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, Water management, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Outotec registered a year-on-year improvement in financial performance in 2018, excluding a €110 million ($125 million) ilmenite smelter project provision, the company reported today.

The company’s sales increased 12% in 2018 to €1.28 billion, while its order intake jumped 4% to €1.25 billion. The €110 million provision for the Saudi Arabia project saw adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) come in at -€46.2 million, compared with €33.5 million in 2017, yet President and CEO, Markku Teräsvasara, said adjusted EBIT would have almost doubled to €64 million had it not been for this deduction.

“In 2018, we made significant progress in several areas,” Teräsvasara said. “In the beginning of the year, the market for minerals and metals technologies improved, but global macroeconomic uncertainties and reduced metal prices started to affect the market sentiment, and we saw several larger investment decisions being delayed into 2019.

“This was demonstrated in our order intake, which increased 4% year-on-year (in comparable currencies 8%) but declined in the fourth (December) quarter from the comparison period,” he said.

The company’s largest order in the December quarter – around €34 million – was for the delivery of battery chemicals technology in Finland for the Terrafame plant to be built in Sotkamo. The company has since followed this up with a contract in Australia to convert spodumene to lithium hydroxide.

Teräsvasara said profitability continued to improve in the Minerals Processing segment, with EBIT coming in at €78.5 million, compared with €60 million a year earlier.

Outotec said copper, gold, and battery metals projects were the most active during 2018, with demand for minerals processing equipment and spare parts stable throughout the year. In the company’s Metals, Energy & Water divisions, meanwhile, “solid demand” was registered in hydrometallurgical and pelletising solutions, as well as sulphuric acid plants, Outotec said.

Outotec said the €110 million provision related to possible costs for an ilmenite smelter project in Saudi Arabia. Back in October, the company said it was working with the client to investigate the reasons why one of the repaired furnaces in a first-of-its-kind ilmenite smelter had issues starting up.

“The currently estimated provision is based on progress made with the analysis of the furnace,” the company said today, adding that the provision was booked in its December quarter results.

Teräsvasara highlighted the “leading technologies” that were part of the company’s core strength in the 2018 results.

During the year, the company continued to develop its technological capabilities and grow its patent portfolio, with Outotec’s R&D investments representing 5% of its sales and totalling €57 million last year, he said.

Outotec went into a little more detail about this in its 2018 and Q4 review.

The first two industrial references of Outotec TankCell® e630s are running at the Buenavista del Cobre concentrator in northern Mexico, the company said.

“The site has reported an increase of more than 3% in overall recovery with a higher-grade copper concentrate. The TankCell® e630 flotation cell has a nominal volume of 630 m³ and is equipped with a FloatForce mechanism with a diameter of 2,200 mm,” Outotec said.

The company has also developed and filed a patent application for a thermal leaching process to convert spodumene concentrate into battery-grade lithium hydroxide. The lithium hydroxide process has been piloted at the Outotec Research Center in Pori for Critical Elements Corporation in Canada and Keliber Oy in Finland. Lithium hydroxide corresponds to the change in demand in the metal salt markets, it said.

Meanwhile, the new Hybrid filter plates that are 40% lighter, and, therefore, more competitive than conventional plates, were introduced to the spare and wear parts markets during 2018, Outotec said. “The new plates also improve the filtration capacity, provide low residual moisture in the cake, and reduce operational costs,” it added.

Outotec has also designed a skid-mounted, modular prefabricated sulphuric acid plant which significantly lowers the installation cost and time. In addition, the modular plant offers lower operation costs, increased availability and maintainability, as well as environmentally sound and safe operation, it said. “The innovative plant concept is based on Outotec’s technology and expertise gained from 650 plants delivered globally,” Outotec said.

Meanwhile, Outotec is in the middle of a pilot study with Sweden-based miner LKAB to treat industrial waters at its Svappavaara mine in the country. The pilot started in August and consists of nanofiltration and chemical precipitation of sulphate with Outotec’s Ettringite process. The pilot has shown sulphate concentration can be significantly reduced from the inlet value of 1,800 mg/l to the level of 150 mg/l, Outotec said.

A new digital product, Outotec Health Indicator, was also introduced last year. This produces data for flotation process control when used together with Courier on-stream elemental analysers. It enables higher performance in terms of concentrate quality and recovery of valuable minerals, according to the company.

Lastly, Outotec has been developing MesoTherm™ bio-oxidation technology for leaching base metals. The development work has shown it to be effective on certain copper sulphides, yielding 98% copper dissolution.