Tag Archives: slurry pumps

Metso to provide ‘grinding island’ for Almina copper, zinc concentrator in Portugal

Almina Minas do Alentejo S.A. is proceeding with the preparations to upgrade the copper and zinc concentrator at its Almina mine in Aljustrel, in the Iberian pyrite belt in Portugal, with the company having placed an order with Metso as the key equipment supplier for this project in the March quarter of 2023, the OEM says.

Metso has now completed the basic engineering of the grinding island. Delivery of the concentrator plant equipment will take place around the end of the June quarter in 2024, with the project expected to be commissioning by the end of the March quarter of 2025.

Saso Kitanoski, President for Metso’s Europe Market Area, said: “Collaboration between Almina Minas do Alentejo S.A and Metso is strong. We are excited to continue working with Almina on this project, for which they selected us to supply the grinding island, ultrafine grinding technology, as well as flotation, filtration and thickening equipment, as well as all slurry pumps. The deliveries will be fast as the plant will be built already within the next 24 months.”

According to Miguel Santos, Senior Sales Manager for Metso Minerals in Iberia & Italy, Almina chose to collaborate with Metso on the engineering for the grinding island as Metso was able to bring extensive expertise and confidence that the project will deliver robust performance, availability and sustainability results.

Santos said: “Almina trusts Metso as a partner for this project as we can provide them with a comprehensive package of solutions to help them achieve their targets. Several of the solutions to be delivered to Almina feature our Planet Positive technology.”

Weir Minerals offers up slurry pumping advice with updated Warman handbook

Weir Minerals, manufacturer of the Warman® slurry pump, has released the latest edition of its Warman Slurry Pumping Handbook, with the sixth edition, the company says, featuring detailed engineering data required for most slurry pumping applications.

Drawing on decades of Weir Minerals’ in-house expertise in engineering and slurry pumping technology, the new handbook has updated reference material based on new learnings, improved understanding and technological developments within the mining industry, Weir Minerals says. The handbook aims to empower engineers to achieve optimal performance from their Warman slurry pumps.

An increased global focus on the environment, energy consumption and water conservation will influence slurry pump design and considerations – making this latest handbook an essential tool for all current and future pump engineers, the company added.

Marcus Lane, Director, Slurry Pumping Technology Group, said: “Pumping slurry has many challenges and I’m excited to publish our latest handbook, packed with fundamental theory, application advice, standard practices and latest Warman learnings from the field; all aimed to help our customers, present and future, deliver with excellence.”

Weir Minerals says it is looking to shape the next generation of smart, efficient and sustainable solutions with cutting-edge science and innovation. The handbook includes over 140 pages of detailed information, including performance charts, impeller design, part configuration, assembly and slurry considerations – supported by accurate technical renders and specifications.

John McNulty, Vice President Global Engineering & Technology, said: “The high quality of the reference material in this essential resource reflects the leading status of the Warman slurry pumps. As the industry leader, we have a responsibility to develop our future engineers; we will make the latest version of the Warman Slurry Pumping Handbook available not only to our customers, but also to the leading schools worldwide, so they can learn from the best in the industry.”

As part of Weir Minerals’ commitment to investing in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and developing the next generation of engineers, copies of this resource will be gifted to the leading mining and engineering educational facilities around the world, including the winner of the 2022 Warman Design & Build competition, Deakin University in Australia.

Metso Outotec wins major equipment order for Almalyk MOF-3 copper concentrator

Metso Outotec says it has signed a contract to deliver key process technology to Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Company’s MOF3 copper-gold-molybdenum concentrator complex in Almalyk, in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan.

The planned capacity of the plant, which is situated next to the Yoshlik-1 deposit, is 60 Mt/y, with the contract value exceeding €100 million ($107 million).

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery consists of the basic engineering, manufacturing, and supply of the HIGMill® regrinding mills, TankCell® flotation equipment and high-rate thickeners, FrothSense+™ froth cameras, Larox® PF filters, slurry pumps and MHC™ Series hydrocyclones, as well as samplers, Courier™ 6X SL elemental on-line analysers and PSI500i particle size analysers, a state-of-the-art process control system, and installation and commissioning advisory services and spare parts.

Markku Teräsvasara, President of the Minerals business area at Metso Outotec, said: “We are very happy for being trusted with this landmark order.

“Special emphasis has been put on optimising metallurgical performance and energy efficiency of the concentrator plant. Our delivery will feature several Planet Positive technologies contributing to sustainable operations,” says .

KSB slurry pump capabilities grows with completion of Georgia facility expansion

KSB says it has completed its multiphase, $44 million expansion at its Grovetown, Georgia, facility, with the expanded base now serving as the headquarters of GIW® Slurry Pumps.

In 2020, the KSB Group launched KSB Mining, a new market-driven organisation providing its leading expertise on centrifugal pumps — in slurry and non-slurry applications — to mining operations.

The first two phases of this expansion were approved in 2013 in response to growing market demand for larger equipment. Since then, the Grovetown facility has completed upgrades, added thousands of square metres to its foundry, increased furnace capacity, completed construction on a distribution centre and won approval for three additional phases of improvement. Now, with the project’s completion, KSB has quadrupled its capacity to mold castings over 9,000 kg,  increased its maximum pouring output by up to 30,000 kg, reduced the number of required shot blast runs by 50%, added special cleaning stations for large castings, implemented new technology and efficiency solutions and doubled employee locker room facilities.

Set to make its official debut in the December quarter of 2022, KSB’s expanded Grovetown facility is the culmination of over a decade of planning, construction, and improvement. The decision to forge ahead with the project’s completion, despite the pandemic and its economic fallout, is the latest example of KSB’s ongoing commitment to its founding purpose, it said.

As Wolfgang Demmler, President of KSB Mining, said: “Our customers in the mining industry are doing essential work to keep the economy afloat. KSB is more committed than ever to providing our partners with an uninterrupted supply of pumps and parts. Completing this expansion improves our ability to serve our customers, and we’ll stop at nothing to support the success of our clients’ operations.”

Multotec supplies 38 slurry pumps to Kazakh chrome project

Mineral process equipment specialist Multotec’s global reach has recently been highlighted with the supply of slurry pumps to a chrome project in Kazakhstan.

According to Gerhard Hendriksz, General Manager, responsible for slurry pumps at Multotec, an order of 38 slurry pumps was delivered in mid-December 2021 through a collaboration of Multotec’s international business team and the company’s distributor in Kazakhstan.

“The pumps were produced according to the specifications provided by Multotec’s distributor, ensuring the units will deliver the required duty for the end customer,” Hendriksz said. “This includes being designed to withstand highly abrasive operating conditions.”

Certain chrome deposits in Kazakhstan boast some of the world’s highest concentrations of chrome oxide (Cr₂O₃) – up to 62% content – making the slurry particularly abrasive. The pump range Multotec delivered includes models from the HD25 to the MD300, in metal- and rubber-lined configurations to suit their respective duties.

A turnaround time of just 10 weeks was achieved, with Multotec leveraging its local supply chain that included foundry work, machining and other suppliers, as well as collaboration with Multotec’s technical partner, 7D, based in Perth, Australia.

Andre Burger, Production Manager, responsible for pumps at Multotec, emphasised that a close working relationship with the end user and Multotec’s Russian-speaking business team ensured smooth preparation and delivery.

“Our distributor has in-depth knowledge of the customer’s applications and has the engineering expertise to ensure optimal product specification and performance,” Burger said. “Multotec will support the products with aftersales and support services, including availability of spare parts.”

Despite the trade disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Multotec has continued to perform strongly on the export front. Last year, it earned a place in the Exporter of the Year Awards – presented by the South African Capital Equipment Export Council.

Multotec supplies a complete range of pumps for medium- and heavy-duty slurry applications, including cyclone feed, spirals feed, mill discharge, tailings disposal, filter feed, effluent discharge and spillage. The range caters for flow rates from around 15 cu.m/h up to 2,000 cu.m/h.

Metso Outotec ups the pumping ante with its MDM900

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.

Sulzer upgrades VA vertical cantilever sump pump

Sulzer has launched an upgrade of the VA vertical cantilever sump pump, with the update focused on developing a rigid and reliable cantilever sump pump that contains the company’s most efficient hydraulics.

The VA pump range has been designed for pumping all kinds of clean and contaminated liquids and slurry.

The hydraulic coverage of the pump was extended with energy-efficient, non-clogging and wear-resistant options, and it now includes the core process and slurry pump portfolio hydraulics. With the upgrade, multiple improvements were also made to the vertical construction, Sulzer said.

The VA pump is suitable for highly demanding applications such as:

  • Industrial water;
  • Effluents;
  • Corrosive and abrasive mixtures;
  • Hazardous fluids;
  • Abrasive liquids and/or liquids containing large solids;
  • Abrasive fibrous slurries and/or fibrous slurries containing large solids;
  • Abrasive non-fibrous slurries and/or non-fibrous slurries containing large solids; and
  • Heavy slurry.

Metso Outotec appoints Cyriac Tor as slurry pump distributor

Metso Outotec has appointed Cyriac Tor Ltd as a distributor of its pumps in the UK, with the agreement covering slurry pumps, spare parts, seals and hoses, commissioning, service contracts and technical support to all industry sectors in England, Scotland and Wales.

The contract came into effect this month and will run alongside all existing distribution agreements.

“We are very pleased to announce the partnership with Cyriac Tor,” Saso Kitanoski, President, Europe in Metso Outotec, says. “This partnership allows us to extend our presence in multiple industry sectors within this key market. With Cyriac Tor’s local presence and extensive knowledge, we will be able to expand the level of support we give to customers as well as increase our presence in industrial processes.”

Cyriac Tor Ltd Managing Director, Ben Oliver, added: “Cyriac Tor Limited is very happy to work alongside Metso Outotec, with an enlarged territory, looking forward to increasing our customer base and supplying a top class service.”

Greg Dixon, European Pump Sales Director at Metso Outotec, said the company was looking for a partner to help it better serve process industry customers requiring market-leading slurry pumping solutions.

“By holding both equipment and local inventories with an increased service capability, we will be able to offer our customers a world-class, responsive service,” he said.

Metso Outotec to deliver bauxite grinding package to NALCO alumina refinery

Metso Outotec has been awarded a contract for the engineering and delivery of a bauxite grinding package to National Aluminium Company’s (NALCO) Damanjodi Alumina Refinery as part of NALCO’s fifth stream expansion project in Odisha, India.

Typically, the value of this type of an order is in the range of €12-15 million ($14.2-17.8 million). The order has been booked in the company’s Minerals June quarter orders received.

Metso Outotec’s delivery includes basic design of bauxite silos and engineering and supply of two ball mills with a capacity of 434 t/heach, apron feeders, agitators, slurry pumps, instrumentation, as well as site advisory services.

Kamal Pahuja, President, Middle East and India at Metso Outotec, said: “We are extremely happy to continue our co-operation with NALCO. This is the third order we have received for their current expansion project in Odisha. The other two orders include two energy-efficient flash evaporation plants and two alumina calciners along with a hydrate filtration plant.”

Weir Minerals pairs Multiflo, Warman and ESCO technology in latest slurry pump

Weir Minerals has launched the new Multiflo® Mudflo™ hydraulic submersible slurry pump, engineering the pump to, it says, tackle abrasive applications and large particle handling.

The Multiflo Mudflo pump features a hydraulically driven wet-end specifically designed to efficiently and safely reprocess and relocate tailings ponds, maintain water retention dams and manage slimes and sludge ponds.

It combines the Warman® MGS pump-end, Multiflo CB32 hydraulic cutters and ESCO® excavation teeth to provide efficient pumping of highly charged and abrasive slurries, the company claims.

Weir Minerals’ Ultrachrome® A05 chrome alloy impeller ensures high wear resistance and the specially engineered suction strainer minimises the risk of clogging by preventing large solids and debris from entering the pump. Drawing on decades of Warman pump design experience, the Multiflo Mudflo pump is capable of pumping between 150 cu.m/h and 1,200 cu.m/h, up to 82 m head.

The Multiflo CB32 hydraulic cutters feature the ESCO Ultralok® tooth system to prevent premature breakage, avoid tooth loss and protect the integral locking system to ensure the continuous operation of the pump, it says.

Engineered by the Weir Minerals dewatering pump experts in Australia, it is available for global customers from July 2021.

Cameron Murphy, Director of Dewatering Weir Minerals APAC, said: “The Multiflo brand is synonymous with high quality and long-lasting equipment. In designing the Mudflo pump, our dewatering experts drew from the very best Multiflo, Warman and ESCO technology and used advanced hydraulics to create an innovative and cost-effective new solution for mine dredging applications.”

The product was developed following close customer collaboration and a mutual commitment to safety and technical excellence, Weir Minerals said.

Geoff Way, Weir Minerals Dewatering Specialist, said: “It is not uncommon for sites to use a combination of pumps, shovels, excavators and trucks for dredging applications. When one of our long-time partners in Indonesia contacted us about developing a custom solution for the slurry build-up in their sumps, we knew we could provide a better solution. We are problem solvers. We considered our customer’s pain points and engineered a new solution to efficiently and safely manage their site processes.”

The Multiflo Mudflo pump can also be retrofitted to competitor OEM equipment, Weir Minerals says, with the quick-hitch plate attachment ensuring convenient installation and removal from hydraulic excavators.

The Multiflo Mudflo pump can be assembled on land, eliminating the safety risks associated with assembling pumps over water. Furthermore, the new hydraulic hose management system reduces the risk of hose entanglement and trip hazards, all the while providing a reliable hose bend radius to ensure smooth oil flow.