Tag Archives: Planet Positive

Metso Outotec ups the pumping ante with its MDM900

Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec has released its largest mill discharge pump to date, the MDM900, in a move that will see it compete for orders from the highest throughput processing operations in the world.

The MDM900 is the latest addition to Metso Outotec’s flagship Mill Discharge (MD) pump series, a pump designed for heavy-duty use in concentrator plants, where capacity and wear resistance are very important.

The MDM900 is an all-metal, thick-walled, extra heavy-duty pump designed specifically for extremely arduous mill duty applications. Its release comes less than a year after Metso Outotec officially launched the MDM800, which was then its largest metal pump model size.

Coming with an inlet size of 900 mm (36 in), the MDM900 is designed for flows up to 13,500 cu.m/h and heads up to 40 m. It is fitted with a FR2100 frame and has an impeller diameter of 2,100 mm.

Diwakar Aduri, Product Manager for MD Pumps at Metso Outotec, said: “Slurry handling is vital in maximising a minerals processing plant’s productivity and efficiency. The advanced design of the MDM900 enables minimised slurry velocities in the pumps, thus reducing the rate of wear significantly. This translates to increased uptime and productivity for our customers.

“We are also proud to have implemented many environmentally sustainable design initiatives in the MDM900 pump, which is part of our Planet Positive offering, as are all our MD Series pumps.”

Examples of these “environmentally sustainable” features include the reduced footprint of the MDM900 and its standard low-flow shaft seal to minimise the pump’s freshwater requirement during operation, Aduri added.

Metso Outotec MD Series pumps have been designed to match a mill’s uptime. They come in two tailored solutions, MDM and MDR. The MDM (Mill Discharge Metal) pumps are available in inlet size ranges of 250-900 mm, and the MDR (Mill Discharge Rubber) models come in inlet size ranges of 250-700 mm. Both pump types are suited for heavy-duty use in concentrator plants offering excellent resistance to abrasion and erosion, according to the company.

Metso Outotec to conduct strategic review in Metals business area segments

Metallurgy, Mining mergers and acquisitions, , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it will take the next structural development steps in its business portfolio, following the completed integration of its Minerals business and the successful turnaround of its Metals business.

The company plans to change its business area structure and related reporting segments by transferring the Hydrometallurgy business from Metals to Minerals. The objective of the change is to accelerate Metso Outotec’s profitable growth in the minerals processing industry by more efficiently leveraging the opportunities and synergies in the minerals and hydrometallurgical processes.

Having Hydrometallurgy as part of the Minerals business will, Metso Outotec, enable enhanced customer service with a competitive and fully integrated Planet Positive product offering, as well as closer integration with the customers’ processes through digitalisation. Going forward, gold and battery chemicals businesses are among the interesting new synergistic growth areas.

A strategic review will be conducted in the remaining Metals business area, consisting of the Smelting, Metals & Chemical Processing and the Ferrous & Heat Transfer business lines, as well as related aftermarket services. The review will focus on evaluating the best environment for developing the Metals business and its strategic fit in Metso Outotec’s business portfolio. All potential options will be considered, including development by Metso Outotec, co-development with a partner, or divestment. The review has no impact on Metals’ daily business conduct, sales, or project execution, which will continue with full commitment.

ArcelorMittal contracts Metso Outotec for iron ore processing plant revamp in Mexico

Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it has been awarded a contract to supply key grinding equipment for ArcelorMittal’s Las Truchas 2.3 Mt/y iron ore processing plant revamp project in Mexico.

The value of the order is approximately €17 million ($19 million), to be booked in the Minerals division’s Q4 (December quarter), 2021 orders received.

The order includes two Metso Outotec Premier™ grinding mills with a total installed power of 19 MW. In addition, Metso Outotec will deliver an in-house designed Mill Reline Machine, enabling efficient and safe replacement of the steel and rubber lining systems, an operations-friendly Select™ Ball Feeder and spare parts, the company said.

Andy Lingenfelter, Vice President, Minerals Sales, North and Central America at Metso Outotec, said: “We are pleased to have been chosen for this project. In Mexico, Metso Outotec is a leading grinding mill supplier and is supported by our strong local service and consumables presence.

“With our Planet Positive Premier grinding mills and associated life cycle service offerings, our customer will be able to expand their iron ore production in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible way in partnership with us.”

Metso Outotec to supply VSFX tech for Li-Cycle battery recycling plant

Base metals, Environmental, Metallurgy, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it has signed an agreement with Li-Cycle North America Hub Inc for the supply of manganese, cobalt, and nickel solvent extraction technology for a battery recycling plant to be built in Rochester, New York in the US.

The contract value, which is not disclosed, has been booked in the Metals December quarter 2021 orders received.

The Metso Outotec delivery includes three modular VSF®X solvent extraction plants and related Dual Media Filters, and basic engineering.

Jari Ålgars, President of the Metals business area at Metso Outotec, said: “We are looking forward to working with Li-Cycle on this battery recycling project. The energy-efficient, modular VSFX solvent extraction plant, which is part of our Planet Positive product range, reduces emissions and is safe to operate. The Li-Cycle project will be an important new reference for Metso Outotec in the battery recycling business.”

Metso Outotec delivers new generation feedwell for improved thickener, clarifier performance

Environmental, Metallurgy, Mineral processing, Mining services, Water management, , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it is launching the Metso Outotec Reactorwell™, a new generation feedwell for maximising thickener and clarifier performance while minimising flocculant consumption and bringing significant operational cost efficiencies.

The feed system features high solids retention and mixing efficiency. It also eliminates feed short-circuiting and offers low shear for ideal floccule growth and even discharge symmetry, the company said.

The new feed system provides optimum feed conditioning for thickeners and clarifiers, and, thanks to its many benefits in addition to low flocculant usage, the Reactorwell is part of Metso Outotec’s sustainable Planet Positive portfolio.

Brian Berger, Vice President, Thickeners and Clarifiers at Metso Outotec, said: “The Reactorwell enables a big leap forward in thickener and clarifier performance as it utilises maximum settling area due to its high exit symmetry. It also provides improved overflow clarity as well as higher underflow density. Additionally, the Reactorwell allows better thickener operability with an improved response to process changes.

The Reactorwell is, the company says, easy to maintain due to its intelligent design and modularity. It consistently achieves high unit area throughput and the improved Autodil™ performance minimises the need for pumped dilution, leading to lower total cost of ownership.

Metso Outotec’s Concorde Cell flotation tech to recover fine and ultra-fine particles

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it is launching its groundbreaking Concorde Cell™ flotation technology to provide efficient fine and ultra-fine particle recovery.

This Planet Positive technology sets a new benchmark in high-intensity pneumatic flotation, reducing plant operation costs and contributing to sustainability of operations through minimised energy and water consumption per tonnes of metal produced, the OEM said.

Back in August, Metso Outotec said it would supply Concorde Cell technology to a “major nickel producer” in Western Australia as part of its concentrator modernisation. It later turned out that this was for BHP Nickel West at the Mount Keith operation where the concentrator capacity is being increased from 10.5 Mt/y to 12 Mt/y, and ultimately 15 Mt/y.

The patented Metso Outotec Concorde Cell technology is the first fine and ultra-fine flotation solution for more finely disseminated and complex orebodies that have previously been inaccessible, according to the company.

Antti Rinne, Vice President, Flotation at Metso Outotec, said: “The need to process more finely disseminated and complex ore grades, as well as the declining ore grades and the demand for improved flotation selectivity, all bring new challenges to minerals processing flowsheets. The new Concorde Cell technology helps flotation circuits overcome these challenges and recover the previously unachievable ore value.”

The Concorde Cell forced-air Blast Tubes treat 100% of fresh feed combined with tailings recycling for improved performance, allowing, Metso Outotec, says finer grinding to get extra liberation without the risk of valuable particles lost into tailings. It also provides a very high shear environment with increased bubble surface area flux for faster flotation kinetics, plus optimised froth recovery and improved selectivity, the company said.

“Combining the well-proven TankCell® technology with Concorde Cells is a low-risk and high-benefit approach for minerals processing flowsheets,” Rinne said. “The cell produces very high shear and extremely fine bubbles, which increases recovery in particles under 20 microns.”

The offering also includes Blast Tube retrofit kits for upgrading the metallurgical performance of self-aspirated pneumatic flotation cells to the Concorde Cell technology. In addition, Metso Outotec says it can provide a complete slurry handling package for the Concorde Cell, including pumps, spare parts, as well as optimisation and maintenance services.

Metso Outotec invests in Lappeenranta filtration technology centre

Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Water management, , , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec is opening a new laser welding unit, customised for demanding production conditions, at its filtration technology centre in Lappeenranta, Finland.

The new laser welding unit will add to the centre’s manufacturing capacity and enable the production of higher-quality welded structures in a safer and more environmentally friendly manner, the company says. The value of the investment is approximately €1 million ($1.2 million).

Markku Teräsvasara, President of Metso Outotec’s Minerals business, says: “Investing in an efficient laser welding unit is one example of our desire to focus on being an industry leader also in filtration technology.

“In Lappeenranta, we produce several types of filters used in demanding industrial applications. We have systematically developed our capabilities in Lappeenranta over the years. Today, the technology centre for solid-liquid separation, which we opened in 2015, serves customers around the world.”

In addition to Lappeenranta, Metso Outotec provides filtration technology to customers worldwide from its Turku and Suzhou facilities in China, Jussi Venäläinen, Vice President of Metso Outotec’s Filtration Business Line says.

“Our filtration equipment is used, for example, in the mining, chemical and food industries,” he says. “All of them require reliable filtration to ensure high quality of their end products.”

Metso Outotec says its filtration technology centre in Lappeenranta plays an important role in the development of industry innovations. In addition to manufacturing, the centre operates a Dewatering Technology Center, which is focused on solid-liquid separation. It also has continuous cooperation with the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology, among others.

Venäläinen added: “We have a long legacy of filtration expertise – our first filters were made as early as the 1930s in Sala, Sweden. Our selection of filtration technologies is the largest in the field, and their energy, emission and water efficiency is in a league of its own.

“Most of the filtration solutions are part of our Planet Positive range of products. Our filters are safe, easy to use, and quick to maintain, and their high level of automation enables continuous optimisation and remote support. We also provide comprehensive filter maintenance, including lifecycle services.”

Metso Outotec has carried out more than 14,000 filtration tests and delivered more than 5,000 filters for various applications worldwide. Most of the filters are sold under the Larox® product name along with Metso Outotec corporate branding.

In Finland, industrial filter production began in 1977 in Lappeenranta under Larox Oy. In 2009, it continued under Outotec (Filters) Oy, and, after the Metso Minerals and Outotec merger, the filtration technology centre became a part of Metso Outotec. The Lappeenranta site employs around 200 people.

Metso Outotec to deliver ‘multiple’ Vertimills to Ferrexpo’s Ukraine iron ore ops

Comminution of minerals, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Steel and iron ore, , , , , ,

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.

Metso Outotec takes next sustainability steps with Planet Positive

Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , ,

Metso Outotec has introduced a new approach to sustainability that, it says, covers the environmental, social and financial aspects of the topic area.

Its ‘Planet Positive’ efforts enforce the company’s purpose to enable sustainable modern life, the company says, building on Metso Outotec’s commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C, with targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

To serve customers’ sustainability needs and to increase the size of its ecological handprint, Metso Outotec focuses on further growing its sustainable offering. The Planet Positive portfolio focuses on the most environmentally efficient technologies – of which there are more than 100 – in the company’s current portfolio, responding to the sustainability requirements of its customers in the aggregates, mining and metals refining industries. The customer requirements relate to energy or water efficiency, reduction of emissions, circularity and safety, it says.

Correspondingly, Metso Outotec focuses on minimising the environmental impact of its own operations and supply chain to diminish its ecological footprint. Already today, Metso Outotec’s handprint is significantly bigger than its footprint, it says.

Piia Karhu, SVP, Business Development at Metso Outotec, said: “We have a wide Planet Positive offering available for our customers and, with strong R&D focus, we continue to strengthen our sustainable offering for aggregates, mining and metals refining industries. We also have high targets for sustainability in our own operations and supply chain. There is a growing demand in our industry for environmentally efficient solutions.”