PumpPowerAUS/PEMO

Horizontal slurry pumps are indispensable in moving abrasive and corrosive liquids efficiently. These pumps are designed to handle liquids containing solid particles, making them the right choice in various industries such as mining, construction, and wastewater treatment. Here below you’ll find all the Pemo horizontal slurry pumps, while in the news section we go deeper into the definition, types, uses, and advantages of horizontal slurry pumps.

Pemo horizontal slurry pumps

Pemo’s horizontal slurry pumps are specifically designed for specific industry and purpose, we can build it in the V-Belt and Direct Transmission versions. All the Pemo horizontal pumps have the sealing system that consists of mechanical seals, with faces that are made of Tungsten Carbide (widia) or of Silicium Carbide. Lubrication of the mechanical seals, when there is a pair per pump, can be made with flushing water at a determined pressure, depending on the version, or with water/glicole by means of different closed circuits with natural or forced circulation. Instead, lubrication of the bearings is made with grease or oil.

Pemo Pumps models

Pemo Pumps has three different series of horizontal sludge pumps:

AO-AO/AD Series are standard horizontal pumps with frontal inlet. Based on our standards, the maximum available pressure should never exceed 2 bar (29 psi). Since there is only one
mechanical seals these models are used to pump only water like fluids with almost no abrasive particles.

AO/TD – AO/TD/AD Series are horizontal pumps with frontal inlet and double mechanical seals, flushing must be done at a pressure that must be about 1 bar (15 psi) higher than the slurry outlet pressure. They can be used to pump abrasive and/or acid liquids. Maximum outlet pressure should not exceed 3-4 bar (45 – 60 PSI). Designed for heavy duty slurry and/or acid applications, these pumps have capacities from 1 to 1500 m3/h (5 to 6613 gpm).

AO/AB – AO/AB/AD Series are one of the most popular and distinctive products of the Pemo Pumps range. Thanks to the side inlet, the maximum pressure that the mechanical seals see is the fluid inlet pressure, greatly increasing life expectancy. For this reason, flushing must be done at a pressure that must be about 1 bar (15 psi) higher than the slurry inlet pressure instead. When pumping acid liquids, the shaft and the mechanical seals chamber can be made of special alloys.

Designed for slurries and/or acid applications, these Pemo pumps are truly unique! Maximum particle size is 2 mm though this is dependent on the specific application, capacities are from 1 to 900 m3/h (5 to 3,968 gpm), and maximum discharge head is 90 m (295 ft) in the Hardalloy PEMO design.

Primary markets

These are the primary markets where Pemo horizontal slurry pumps are used, we also can provide to our clients references and case studies.

Mining, Quarries, and Mineral Extraction
Aggregate Industry
Chemical Industry
Food Industry
Industrial Wastewater Treatment.

AO/TI and AO/TD Series, main characteristics

Designed for heavy duty slurry and/or acid applications.
These are end suction slurry pumps with single or double mechanical seals.
Capacities from 1 to 1500 m3/h (5 to 6613 gpm).
Usually maximum discharge pressure should not exceed 3 bar or 43 psi.

AO/AB Series, main characteristics

Designed for slurries and/or acid applications.
The heart of the PEMO product line, the AO/AB Series pumps are truly unique. Due to the side inlet, the maximum pressure the mechanical seal will see is the fluid inlet pressure, greatly increasing life of the seal.
When pumping acid liquids, the shaft and the mechanical seal housing can be made of special alloys.
Maximum particle size is 2 mm though this is dependent on the specific application.
Capacities from 1 to 900 m3/h (5 to 3,968 gpm).
Maximum discharge head is 90 m (295 ft) in the Hardalloy PEMO design.

Pemo Pumps is an Italian excellence in the custom pumps market. With a production 100% made in Italy, 50% of Pemo Pumps revenues comes from direct sales worldwide. Just one third of our sales are to Italian companies for direct use and for selling worldwide. Pemo Pumps has subsidiaries, representatives, and agents in 20 Countries and has more than 4,000 customers in the World.

Contact today our consultants to learn more about the complete range of Pemo Pumps.

Minprovise further expands wear parts and liners supply

Staff Writer

Image: Minprovise

Minprovise, a leading supplier in the mining and quarrying industries, has recently expanded its product range to include a variety of wear parts and liners.

This new offering includes high-quality manganese crusher liners, apron feeder pans and jaw crusher wear parts. The new range of high-performance crusher liners can also be supplied with tungsten inserts (TIC) offering unmatched toughness and extended service life, increasing plant availability and reducing costly downtime.

By offering a comprehensive range of wear parts and liners, Minprovise aims to provide reliable and high-quality alternatives to expensive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, helping clients reduce costs and improve operational performance.

Further to that, Minprovise has recently introduced bi-metal wear plates and composite white iron wear bars (chocky blocks) into their suite of wear products.

To assist clients with reliable supply and the shortest possible lead time, Minprovise hold considerable stock of various sized chocky blocks to suit the majority of more common wear applications.

From a quality standpoint, Minprovise’s commitment is evident in its rigorous selection, auditing and qualification process for all suppliers. Independent metallurgical test reports from both Australian and international laboratories are available on request for the Minprovise range of wear products.

This dedication to excellence has made Minprovise a forward thinking and trusted partner for many mining and quarrying operations, with well established relationships with organisations such as Rio Tinto, BHP, FMG, AngloGold and Roy Hill to mention just a few.

Product range support

Minprovise boasts a dedicated technical team with decades of experience in both Australian and international mining and quarrying industries.

Where required, Minprovise technical experts work alongside client teams to analyse areas of high wear with the goal of developing and implementing custom wear solutions. These can generally be implemented quickly, drawing from the extensive stock on hand and utilising rapid turnaround fabrication via the Welshpool-based workshop facility.

With this expansion, the company’s focus on innovation and safety first ensures that clients receive the best possible solutions for their needs. For more information about Minprovise’s new product range, including wear parts, liners, and chocky blocks, visit the Minprovise website.

Introducing the XCMG （徐工） XPE1215 mobile jaw crusher

Staff Writer

The XPE1215 mobile jaw crusher is built to withstand tough mining conditions. Image: XCMG

XCMG’s new XPE1215 mobile jaw crusher is poised to change the game in crushing and screening.

When it comes to mining and construction machinery, XCMG is a name synonymous with innovation, durability, and excellence.

Leading the charge in the Australian market, XCMG has proudly introduced the XPE1215 mobile jaw crusher, a game-changer in the world of crushing and screening.

Designed for efficiency, reliability, and unmatched performance, the XPE1215 is here to redefine industry standards.

Built for power and precision

At its core, the XPE1215 is engineered to handle the toughest of tasks.

The XPE1215 mobile jaw crusher reduces energy consumption without compromising productivity.
Image: XCMG

With its impressive jaw capacity, this mobile crusher is equipped to handle large-scale operations, processing substantial volumes of material with ease.

Whether it’s mining, construction debris, or quarrying, the XPE1215 tackles the job head-on, ensuring maximum productivity on every project.

Key specifications:

Jaw size: Optimised for high-capacity throughput, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency

Motor power: Enhanced motor systems ensure smooth operation, even under heavy load conditions

Mobility: Designed for rapid deployment and ease of transport, this crusher adapts seamlessly to diverse terrains and work sites.

Why the XPE1215 leads the pack

The XPE1215 isn’t just another mobile jaw crusher; it’s a class apart. Here’s why the XPE1215 is a premium option:

Innovative design: Incorporating advanced engineering, the XPE1215 boasts a user-friendly interface, making operations straightforward and efficient. Maintenance has never been easier, thanks to its accessible design and quick-service capabilities.

Energy efficiency: Sustainability is at the heart of XCMG’s innovations. The XPE1215 reduces energy consumption without compromising performance, helping operators achieve cost savings and meet environmental goals.

Durability under pressure: Built with high-quality materials, this crusher is made to withstand Australia’s harshest conditions. From searing heat to rugged terrains, the XPE1215 remains reliable, ensuring years of dependable service.

Precision and consistency: The crusher’s advanced jaw technology delivers uniform particle sizes, enhancing the quality of the output.

XCMG in 2025

While the XPE1215 takes centre stage, there’s much more to come from XCMG.

XCMG is gearing up to redefine the crushing and screening industry, with an expanded lineup of advanced machinery set to debut in 2025.

These forthcoming innovations are not only tailored to meet the specific demands of the Australian mining and construction landscape but are also engineered with global best practices in mind, ensuring they deliver superior performance, durability, and efficiency.

XCMG’s commitment to innovation means these new models will incorporate advanced automation, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced material handling capabilities to support operations of all sizes.

Whether tackling challenging terrain or increased throughput in high-demand environments, XCMG’s 2025 lineup promises to push boundaries and set new benchmarks in crushing and screening technology.

Crushing it with XCMG

The XCMG XPE1215 mobile jaw crusher is not just a piece of equipment – it’s a statement. It’s a declaration that XCMG is here to push the boundaries of what’s possible in mining and construction machinery.

As the industry look towards 2025, XCMG’s commitment to excellence ensures the future of crushing and screening is brighter than ever.

This feature appeared in the February 2025 issue of Australian Mining.

How Metso has revolutionised the crushing industry

Staff Writer

Metso has been working to reshape crushing and screening in the industry for over 100 years. Image: Metso

With decades of industry knowledge and a desire to make its customer’s lives easier, Metso is helping to revolutionise the crushing and screening industry.

A lot can happen in a century.

Industries rise and fall, cities transform, and companies like Metso help to reshape the mining industry as we know it.

During the past century, Metso has been at the forefront of crushing applications. From the primary crusher stage down to fine crushing and pebble applications, the company is renowned for its benchmark crushing solutions – and it has no plans of slowing down.

“Metso takes pride in the deep knowledge of our people and our strong customer service commitment,” Metso crusher technology manager –capital equipment Troy Barry told Australian Mining.

“In Australia for example, we have an impressive footprint of service locations and experts, including our recently opened Karratha Service Centre, Metso’s largest service centre globally.

“We also have a particularly strong team of crushing experts here in Australia, some with over 30 years of crushing expertise – working closely with our expert global design and engineering teams.”

Having been involved in the industry for as long as it has, Metso is no stranger to adapting with the times, especially when it comes to one of the industry’s favourite buzzwords: digitalisation.

The XM series
Nordberg MP crusher.
Image: Metso

“Metso includes a full digital offering for its XM crusher series, comprised of SmartCone, SmartStation and Mineral Crusher Pilot (MCP) automation,” Barry said.

“We deliver intelligence from the simple connection of our IC (integrated control) system at a local level through to the full connection of the operator’s control suite, and all the way to expert global teams remotely monitoring and evaluating the crusher performance.”

The ability to remotely monitor and evaluate a crusher’s performance allows Metso’s teams to be in constant contact with the machine, able to recommend changes to optimise performance in real time.

“This advanced technology extends the time between maintenance intervals and allows for a more continuous operation,” Barry said.

Recognising that each customer has differing crusher requirements, Metso always adapts its approach to suit.

“Our end targets are always based on the customer’s requirements,” Metso senior manager, crusher technical support Neale Baigent told Australian Mining.

“With our chamber optimisation program for instance, each crushing process is unique and feed material properties change over time.

“Based on Metso’s extensive database of over 40,000 crushing installations, plus tools such as our unique simulation software and CrusherMapper scanning, we select optimal alloys, choose or design chamber geometry to maximise wear life and performance.”

The chamber optimisation program is an evolution borne from customer demand, as it’s now also available to non-Metso crushers.

“Based on our results from this program, customers wanted our chamber optimisation also across non-Metso crushers, which is what we now do,” Baigent said.

In terms of evolution, the new poly-cer product, part of Metso’s protective wears portfolio, gives up to four times better wearlife, reducing shutdown frequencies.

“Poly-Cer is a specially designed blend of rubber and high-quality ceramics, reinforced with steel. This ensures both strength and performance,” Baigent said.

“Installation of Poly-Cer is easy and safe, with plug-in, bolt-in installation for most crushers.”

As the company evolves, Metso’s crushing capabilities are always increasing, with the XM series a particular highlight for Barry.

“The entire premise of the XM series is giving the customer the highest performance equipment to achieve optimisation,” he said. “Our up to 25 years warranty protects the customer’s investment and is unheard of in the industry.”

Barry said Metso’s drive to change means it has been able to stay at the forefront of innovation.

“The recently launched XM crusher series combines resilient engineering, unmatched warranties and a new digital package,” he said. “It combines the toughest and most advanced mechanical parts with the latest in digital technologies and automation. And by using the most robust crushers available on the market, the XM series enhanced the Nordberg MP cone crusher and the Superior MKIII primary gyratory with the most extreme duty parts, increasing wear life.”

As Metso looks to the next century, it’s clear this crushing behemoth isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

“As we look to the future, we continue to develop our alloys, product offerings and services,” Baigent said.

“We are always looking to improve and innovate in anticipation of our customers’ needs– after all, the best new developments come from feedback and challenges faced by our customers.”

Precisionscreen’s sand solutions are made for Australia

by Adam Daunt

Precisionscreen designs and manufactures its sand washing equipment in Brisbane. Image: Precisionscreen

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The sand-washing range from Precisionscreen is made for Australian conditions with options for all types of operators and contractors.

Demand for natural or manufactured sand is rising in the Australian market, so having the right equipment is essential.

Precisionscreen has developed its sand-washing equipment range over several years to ensure it could help the smallest of sand producers to the larger players in the sector.

Jonny McMurtry, chief operating officer at Precisionscreen, told Quarry he believed there would likely be continual strong demand for the material.

“There has been an increase in demand for sand washing equipment as I think there is increased demand for washed sand in the market,” he said.

“As the volume of infrastructure continues to be there and climb, the requirement for sand isn’t going to go away.”

The market for washed sand and manufactured sand is becoming more diverse as quarries explore how they can use the material to either expand their offering to the market or add new revenue streams.

Original equipment manufacturers like Brisbane-based Precisionscreen have developed a wide range of sand-washing equipment to suit specific applications and help customers take advantage of the growing demand. In one case, Precisionscreen worked with Victorian-based construction materials supplier site to create a sand-washing solution for their manufactured sand application. The company has employed the use of a sand screw from Precisionscreen to create a manufactured sand using washed crusher dust.

“Our sand washing equipment has been developed over a number of years and we offer different machines for different applications or customer price ranges or throughputs,” McMurtry said.

Precisionscreen has built out its range of sand washing equipment to provide solutions for customers from the first stage of washing to the final stage. The company manufactures all its sand washing equipment at its headquarters in Wacol, Brisbane which gives it the distinction of being Australian made.

The company’s adaptable wash kits have a range of customisable features to tailor the kit to the customer’s specific application. The Precisionscreen wash kit can range from single deck to two or three-deck kits which are built on the screen box.

Each deck has multiple spray bars with several spray nozzles to rinse the product being processed.

Operators can finely control the individual gate valves to each bar which provides enhanced control and excellent washing coverage.

“The wash kits as part of our screen boxes are probably the first step for sand washing,” McMurtry said.

“We sold quite a few of those this year, predominantly for sand washing but even washing pebbles or rinsing different products to remove dust has been in demand.”

Precisionscreen Sandscrew has also been in demand from customers across Australia due to its versatility. It can work alongside Precisionscreen’s wash kits or other wash plants to help dewater and classify sand products.

The sand screw has a hydraulic drive and features a mobile-wheeled axle as well as an adjustable overflow weir. The Sandscrew can be operated off the Precisionscreen’s screening plant powerpack.

The spiral screw helps separate heavier particles as they sink to the bottom of the trough after being dragged through the trough by the spiral screw. Dewatering occurs throughout the trough until the finished product is discharged via a chute.

“Our Sandscrews have been quite a hit just due to the adaptability. It can work with existing screening plants or existing applications if needs be. We’re one of the few manufacturers that makes our sand screws semi-mobile so it can couple up with existing systems if needed,” McMurtry said.

“The sand screw is probably on the lower end with throughput and cleanliness of sand but it has performed very well [in creating] a manufactured sand where it is quite suitable and economical for that type of application.”

Precisionscreen has a wide range of sand washing solutions for customers. Image: Precisionscreen

Precisionscreen has also created a modular sand washing plant which combines a galvanised 10×5 two-deck wash screen with a SRD180 bucket wheel dewaterer and a fines recovery pod to create a one-stop solution for sand producers.

It allows operators to create up to three different sand fractions and accept material from a dry screening process via conveyor belt or cyclone mounted above the screen. The SRD180 bucket wheel dewaterer collects sand particles from slurry materials in a wet screening process with its primary responsibility being to pick up heavier particles of sand as they sink to the bottom of the tank. It can manufacture coarse and fine grade sands simultaneously. It features a submerged back screw which helps float off unwanted silts while its large water overflow area and polyurethane bucket inserts provide a sizeable dewatering capacity.

The FRP has a 250mm cyclone on-board, discharging heavy particle sand onto the high-frequency dewatering screen for draining. The screen helps remove unwanted materials, excess water or organic materials from the sand material. The cyclone and screen are hydraulically driven and designed to work with Precisionscreen’s washing plants.

McMurtry said the SRD and FRP had benefits even as standalone products for Australian operators.

“The SRD180 or the FRP gives a greater throughput and a cleanliness of the sand as well and that’s where it comes into its own.

“If you have a high silt content and you need to float off a lot of that bottom end product in that super fine sand, that’s when the likes of the SRD or FRP comes into its own,” he said.

“If a customer has water restrictions or low access to water that is where the FRP can allow any residual water to be taken off your sand product quite quickly and easily. Or it can use the cyclone to take out the super fine sand to recycle that water quickly.” •

For more information, visit precisionscreen.com.au

PumpDim™ software

The PumpDim™ software streamlines the complexities of accurately modeling how a slurry pump will perform in a system. The software takes into account particle size distribution, percent solids of the slurry, liquid viscosity, and the piping conditions around the slurry pump to accurately size the ideal pump for the given conditions.

✅ Are you working on a brand new plant or upgrade? PumpDim™ can be used to determine the best slurry pump.
✅ Have an existing plant with slurry pumps? PumpDim™ can model how the slurry pumps are performing.
✅ Curious to see the hydraulic performance curves of Metso’s slurry pumps? This can be found in PumpDim™ with the Performance curve viewer.

https://www.metso.com/campaigns/pumpdim-slurry-pump-selection/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2024-min-social-media&utm_content=slurry-pump-selection

A winner for Weir

A Warman MCR 760 installed at a copper mine in Chile. Image: Weir

Weir will supply its Warman slurry pumps and Cavex hydrocyclones to Teck’s Highland Valley copper (HVC) mine in Canada in a new contract award.

Teck is completing its HVC mine life extension (MLE) project, aiming to extend the mine’s operational life through enhancing site infrastructure. The project is expected to yield around 1.95 million tonnes of additional copper over its lifespan.

The Warman MCR 760 pump is a cornerstone of the project, holding the title of the largest mill circuit pump in North America.

Designed to maximise wear life in arduous mill duties and facilitate easy and safe maintenance, the Warman MCR 760 pump addresses the global trend of declining ore grades that require increased throughput for economical mineral recovery.

Weir will also supply its Cavex 800CVX and 650CVX hydrocyclones for the MLE project. The solution was chosen thanks to its consistently high classification efficiency, capacity and low maintenance requirements.

A Warman MCR 760 slurry pump.
Image: Weir

“Weir has a proven track record of supplying and supporting the largest, highest capacity mill pumps on the market,” Weir divisional senior product manager, pumps Quinton Sutherland said.

“Designing, manufacturing, and supporting pumps of this scale presents unique technical and engineering challenges, which is why Weir’s team of experts, drawing on decades of experience supporting customers across the globe, are the best choice when deciding who to trust with the most critical mill circuit operations.”

Weir director, capital sales North America Phil Blondin said the company priorities being close to its customers, wherever they are in the world.

“We have a service centre in Kamloops – a close drive to HVC – and a local team that can provide service and maintenance support, as well as an inventory program that encompasses the lifecycle of the products we supply,” Blondin said.

“This is the first mill pump this large in North America and, while Weir has manufactured and installed pumps this size in other parts of the world, we recognise that having a service network to support customers at every stage of the project is an essential part of what we’re offering.”

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Sharing the load in Esperance

Staff Writer

The Port of Esperance. Image: Southern Ports

Treotham worked with Southern Ports to deliver boosted efficiency to its Esperance ship loader.

Western Australia’s Port of Esperance is a busy place, with more than 13 million tonnes of trade passing through the port last year.

Esperance is a well-traversed path for Australian miners, with iron ore and spodumene joining nickel as the port’s major exports.

When dealing with this kind of tonnage, even the slightest inefficiencies can have an impact on trade. That’s why the Port of Esperance’s custodian, Southern Ports, looks for solutions it can count on to reduce inefficiencies.

Treotham national sales manager John Sharp was brought in by Southern Ports to design a solution that would keep the port running smoothly while offering cost savings and boosting worker safety.

“I had been to the site a few times and saw the opportunities to improve the system that supplied power to the ship loader,” Sharp told Australian Mining.

“Treotham’s priority is to develop solutions that work, so we put together a new custom-designed system that would get the loader running more efficiently.”

The system, called a belt tripper, was incorporated onto a conveyor in order to “trip” the material off at specified locations between the terminal pulleys. The material is then discharged onto another conveyor that loads the Port of Esperance’s ship-loader.

rol e-chain built for harsh environments, highlighting the cable management of fibre optic cables and water hoses.
Image: Southern Ports

A belt tripper can be in a fixed position or travel continuously at a constant speed for layered stacking.

In the port’s case, as the ship-loader was moving, it caused the energy chain to move from where it should be, disrupting the ship-loading operation and requiring it to be stopped until the energy chain was put back in its trough.

Treotham supplied Southern Ports with a marine-grade aluminium guide trough, energy chain and cable management system with anti-lift protection used to power the loader.

Sharp said the biggest challenge was determining where the energy chain should go.

“We ultimately decided to put it in the gallery, meaning we could simply put brackets on the existing conveyor structure, making installation quicker and more efficient than alternative locations,” he said.

Treotham turned to long-time partner igus for a 105m energy chain that was used to get the power needed for the system.

When igus first began developing its energy chain solutions, it saw great potential in an area that it felt had been somewhat overlooked.

Working from its extensive testing facilities in Germany, igus uses different construction methods within the cable materials to find those that work best. Its portfolio now contains tens of thousands of chains divided up into family groups, with the E4 family known as the most ‘heavy duty’ solution.

A key feature of these chains is their flexibility.

“For the Port of Esperance’s solution we used water hoses, fibre optics and high-voltage igus Chainflex cables,” Sharp said. “If you think about the market for high-voltage cables, they’re around on every street corner at a transformer, but they’re not flexible, so they’re for static installation.

“Then when you look at high-voltage cables for continuous motion, not many companies actually produce this; it’s quite a feat of engineering to build such a high-voltage cable designed to continually bend.”

Sharp said using the igus energy chains for the Esperance project led to something of an eye-opening development.

“When the chains are moulded, tools can wear out over time,” he said. “That means it’s possible to build a chain that’s no longer straight because of the different lengths of each side part.

“What igus did with the E4 was make left and right sides interchangeable, so there’s just one tool.

“This streamlines the stock holding, and also makes for a better-quality product.”

igus energy chains are designed to withstand extreme push and pull forces, a critical element in bulk material handling.

Such is the reliance on the energy chain’s durability, most systems integrating them don’t shut down until a ‘catastrophic’ failure. When a failure does reach a catastrophic level, the downtime caused by damage to the chain or the system can be excessive.

That’s why Treotham’s Esperance solution included a ‘push–pull detection system’ (PPDS) that triggers a signal to operators when forces on the chain are becoming too great.

Marine-grade aluminium guide trough combined with a rol e-chain system.
Image: Southern Ports

“The PPDS is a mounted sensor that measures force continually,” Sharp said. “It can be configured to meet the needs of the operator when excessive force is detected, whether that be a warning or an automatic controlled stop.”

The system’s safety features were put to the test when a ladder was left against the new system.

“The ladder hit the chain, which proceeded to stop completely rather than continue and risk causing a catastrophic failure,” Sharp said. “The customer was extremely pleased to not have the damage and downtime that would have ensued.”

Treotham’s expertise allowed Southern Ports to explore a unique solution to the issues it was facing with its ship-loader.

The end result delivered not only improvements to the tripper but also reduced installation costs in a collaboration between Treotham personnel and Southern Ports’ own in-house technicians.

“It was a huge benefit to be on the ground, implementing the Esperance solution in-person,” Sharp said. “With a team of two fitters and two electricians from Southern Ports, we fitted the system in five days. I’ve seen similar projects that were sub-contracted out and snowballed into taking more than 12 months.

“It’s always fun working with a customer that can operate in-house for these kinds of solutions and bring in our team to create a group of like-minded experts to get the job done.”

This feature appeared in the October 2024 issue of Australian Mining.

Revolutionising screen deck maintenance

Alexandra Eastwood

Image: Sandvik

Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions launched DeckMapp, a groundbreaking new digital platform for screen deck maintenance, at MINExpo 2024.

This highly innovative, cloud-based software solution is set to transform screen deck maintenance and drive substantial improvements in the efficiency and operational performance of mineral processing plants.

Accessible via laptop, tablet or mobile phone, DeckMapp captures, stores and shares real-time data to present a reliable, single source of truth for all activities within the screen media lifecycle.

According to Matt Cutbush, Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions digital solutions product manager, DeckMapp empowers teams engaged in screening operations with comprehensive tools to view deck history, share deck plans, visualise panel wear patterns and capture feedback, as well as access maintenance plans and activity reports.

“By guiding operators through maintenance updates and wear assessments, DeckMapp ensures consistent data entry across the board, resulting in robust, reliable historical wear data for every screen in your operation,” Cutbush said.

“DeckMapp enhances data quality and formalises maintenance processes, thereby eliminating information inconsistencies that can adversely affect production and profitability due to rework and extended task durations. DeckMapp delivers real-time updates to ensure all team members are aligned, further reducing the risk of miscommunication and operational inefficiencies.”

A key feature of DeckMapp is the optional add-on WearApp, an innovative wear assessment system powered by artificial intelligence.

With WearApp, users simply capture images of worn screening media panels with a smartphone or a tablet. WearApp then applies artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically assess each aperture calculating amount of wear, panel efficiency and remaining wear life. This revolutionary application not only saves substantial time, but also delivers far greater accuracy over traditional manual wear assessment methods.

With DeckMapp and WearApp, plant operators can leverage data-driven insights to make smarter, more efficient maintenance decisions, and significantly reduce cost overruns associated with screen deck maintenance.

These enhanced capabilities will allow processing plant operators to make more informed decisions regarding their screening media maintenance strategies, such as determining optimal replacement times based on actual open area rather than individual aperture wear.

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Weir locks in deal with 100-year mine

Kelsie Tibben

The Weir WARMAN slurry pump. Image: Weir

The Weir Group, a global mining technology leader, has been awarded a £25m ($48.2 million) contract to provide sustainable solutions to the next phase of OCP Group’s Benguerir and Louta greenfield phosphate projects in Morocco.

The order, which includes the company’s WARMAN slurry pump and CAVEX hydrocyclone technology, will support the continued construction of the Louta project and the trebling of production from the Benguerir project.

Weir has previously provided similar separation and de-sliming solutions also based on its WARMAN and CAVEX technology.

The Benguerir expansion will start up following the initial phase of the project which has scheduled first production in 2024, with an estimated total mine life of more than 100 years.

“We are pleased to have secured this major contract. It represents a strong endorsement of our WARMAN and CAVEX ranges that provide energy efficient separation at scale to support our customer’s productivity and sustainability goals,” Weir chief executive officer Jon Stanton said.

“Along with our industry-leading solutions, we promise our customers world class service; our local team are delighted to continue to deliver for OCP as they commission the initial phase at Benguerir and look to expand these exciting projects.”

After commissioning of the equipment, aftermarket support will be provided via Weir technical experts from the company’s Moroccan service centre, which is located close to the projects.

Founded in 1871, The Weir Group is one of the world’s leading engineering businesses with a purpose to make its mining and infrastructure customers’ operations more sustainable and efficient.

Weir’s highly engineered technology aims to enable critical resources to be produced using less energy, water and waste while reducing customers’ total cost of ownership.

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