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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Hengst Filtration has announced the launch of its latest addition to the inline filter series: the 250LEN series inline filter.
This highly engineered filter is designed to meet the tough demands of high-pressure industries. The 250LEN series is designed to enhance the efficiency and productivity of hydraulic machinery and industrial equipment while minimising operational costs.
Key features of the 250LEN series inline filter
The 250LEN series inline filter is a cutting-edge solution that complements Hengst’s existing range of filtration solutions.
With a maximum operating pressure of 250 bar, this new filter series offers strong performance under pressure for demanding environments.
Optimised cyclone-effect technology: the 250LEN series incorporates an optimised flow path that significantly improves differential pressure and enhances separation capabilities. This innovation results in a remarkably low Delta P value
Additional mounting flexibility: from size 250LEN0160-0400, the 250LEN series is equipped with additional side mounting, offering greater flexibility for installation in various industrial setups. For added convenience, Mini-Mess connections are available as an option from size 250LEN0160-0400 onwards, providing further customisation to meet specific applications
High stability: the innovative non-circular design (NCD) of the 250LEN filter head ensures uniform stress distribution within the filter head. This design enhances the overall durability of the filter. This advanced design increases the life cycle of the filter to an impressive two million cycles, making it a reliable and cost-effective choice for long-term use in high-pressure environments
Increase performance with cyclone effect technology and PURE POWER filter elements
Cyclone-effect technology makes the incoming fluid flow tangentially and moves downwards around the filter element in a helical pattern.
This feature transports heavy dirt particles to the outside and prevents the filter pores from blocking prematurely. These heavier particles will accumulate on the inside and bottom of the filter bowl, depending on the actual fluid flow conditions, increasing the dirt holding capacity and extending the time between element replacements by seven to 10 per cent.
The 250LEN series inline filter is designed to work in tandem with the Hengst advanced PURE POWER (PWR) filter elements.
The PWR filter element layers are designed in such a way, that the combination achieves a high retention rate and dirt holding capacity, in conjunction with a low clean differential pressure drop.
The filter material is pleated and wrapped cylindrically round the support tube and glued, so it is impermeable to liquid along the material seam and top and bottom end caps. This highly engineered construction enhances the overall durability, performance and longevity of the filter, making it the perfect choice for critical industries.
Whether for use in mining, manufacturing, or other heavy-duty industries, the 250LEN series inline filter from Hengst sets a new benchmark in high-pressure filtration, combining innovative design with proven technology to deliver superior performance, durability, and cost-efficiency.
Weir’s redefined flowsheet solution includes Enduron HPGR technology. Image: Weir
The Weir Group has been awarded a £53 million ($102 million) contract to provide energy-efficient and sustainable solutions to the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan.
The project is 50 per cent owned by Barrick Gold, and is located in the Chagai district of Balochistan. Barrick is targeting first product at the site in 2028, with an estimated mine life of over 40 years.
The contract will see Weir provide fine grinding, separation and tailings solutions, featuring equipment such as Weir’s Enduron high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR), Enduron Elite wet and dry vibrating screens, Warman slurry pumps, and Cavex hydrocyclones.
“We are delighted to have secured this significant contract which represents further industry acceptance of Weir’s differentiated sustainable and cost-effective redefined flowsheet solution, with our market leading HPGR technology particularly suited for the water-scarce climate and geology of the Reko Diq copper-gold project,” Weir chief executive officer (CEO) Jon Stanton said.
“Our engineers have designed an innovative solution that comprehensively addresses the particular challenges of this project and is a great example of working in close partnership with an ambitious customer who shares in our purpose to sustainably and efficiently deliver the natural resources essential to create a better future for our world.”
After equipment commissioning is completed, Weir will provide aftermarket support via an on-site service centre staffed with Weir technical personnel.
Barrick president and CEO said the company is proud to be partnering with Weir.
“The Reko Diq project will grow Barrick’s strategically significant copper and gold portfolios, benefiting all its Pakistan and Balochistan stakeholders,” he said.
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Weir is aiding the mining industry in rethinking tailings. Image: Weir
While producing tailings is inevitable, Weir is here to ensure waste is removed and handled sustainably.
As millions of tonnes of ore are processed each day across the mining industry, it stands to reason that not all material is exported or used.
Although mine waste – also known as tailings – is unavoidable, heightened environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in the mining industry are necessitating enhanced waste management methods.
Backed by an extensive portfolio of tailings solutions, technologies and processing equipment, Weir is on a mission to help the industry rethink, reduce and repurpose tailings through its transformational tailings flowsheets.
“We are looking to engage with the market to assist with solutions that will achieve new benchmark outcomes for water recovery, energy consumption, carbon footprints and safe storage,” Weir head of tailings and pipelines – Asia Pacific Simon Acutt told Australian Mining.
“We want to trigger new thinking on how to treat tailings.”
An example of this is Weir’s Cavex DE hydrocyclone, a technology that performs two stages of classification in one operational unit.
“The larger particles move downwards under gravity and leave via the bottom outlet with a small quantity of water,” Acutt said.
“A small amount of the fine solids remain with most of the water; this then spirals upwards through a central pipe and out the top as the overflow product. The Cavex DE hydrocyclone goes through this process twice.
“The aim is to separate the large particles and use them for construction material. The main use for the cyclone underflow is to build tailings dam walls.”
The Cavex DE hydrocyclone works without the need for intermediary pumping, piping or sumps. It’s fitted with an air core booster to improve capacity and efficiency by reducing the total pressure across the hydrocyclone and increasing the volume flow split to the overflow.
The Cavex DE hydrocyclone works without the need for intermediary pumping, piping or sumps. Image: Weir
“This creates value out of the mine’s waste,” Acutt said. “By using sand from tailings, operators have less product going into their tailings storage facility (TSF), meaning the TSF can be smaller and save on diesel-powered earthmoving equipment.”
Another example of innovation is Weir’s second-generation Cavex 2 hydrocyclone, which expands upon the Cavex hydrocyclone range and marks a new era in separation technology.
Combined with the feed chamber, the LIG+ advanced laminar spiral inlet reduces turbulence and enables the hydrocyclone to classify up to 30 per cent more feed slurry within a similar footprint as the original Cavex hydrocyclones.
Alongside Weir’s range of tailings products and solutions, the company carries out pipe loop testing to provide design data, centrifugal pump testing, and high-pressure positive displacement pump testing at Weir Technical Centre in Victoria.
“Mineral slurries vary in many ways, meaning each slurry behaves differently in a pipe system,” Acutt said. “Therefore, pilot testing is important to help determine the best solution for each site and reduce the overall design risk.
“Weir can run a variety of tests to identify possible operational issues, with testing able to determine how the slurry behaves when pumped in a range of different conditions, solids concentrations and velocities, all while simulating pump failure and a potential restart event.
“The outcome ensures the selected pump and motors are right for the job and tailored to a mine site’s unique operating environments.”
To ensure it can offer the coarse particle flotation (CPF) technology to its customers, Weir has a cooperative agreement with Eriez, allowing the company to collaborate and apply its HydroFloat CPF technology when needed.
The CPF solution reduces energy consumption by 10–20 per cent and increases water recovery by up to 85 per cent by using advanced dewatering technologies.
“The technology works by injecting air bubbles into the lower levels of the tank,” Acutt said. “These bubbles lift ore to the top of the tank, which is collected via a concentrate overflow.
“The grind size is substantially larger than conventional flotation, significantly reducing energy consumption in the comminution phase. This also makes it much easier to separate water from tailings.
“CPF waste stream can be used for dam wall construction and dam wall support. It requires little further treatment, hence less expensive capital equipment and energy consumption. Weir is working closely with Eriez on several pilot trials.”
With a long-standing global presence in tailings management, Weir is an ideal partner to help the mining industry rethink its approach to tailings.
“Weir is not new to the tailings space,” Acutt said. “We have been actively investing in and expanding our knowledge and testing support facilities, positioning ourselves as a key partner for the future.”
Metso has acquired Jindex, an Australian company that specialises in valves and process flow control, as part of its efforts to boost its slurry-handling abilities.
The agreement is designed to enhance Metso’s offerings by integrating its existing slurry-handling, hydrocyclones and mineral processing equipment with Jindex’s specialised valve solutions.
Metso believes the integration will strengthen its ability to provide comprehensive slurry solutions to the mining industry, enhancing productivity and efficiency in mineral processing plants.
Head of Metso’s pumps business line Tiago Oliveira outlined the significance of the acquisition.
“This acquisition is yet another important step in the development of Metso’s pumps business line offering to bring us closer to being our customers’ lifecycle partner of choice,” he said.
“Flow and isolation control play a vital role in ensuring smooth slurry handling to maximise the productivity and efficiency of minerals processing plants.
“In the past, we have collaborated with Jindex on many customer projects and are now glad to welcome the Jindex experts to the Metso team.”
Jindex managing director Stephen Fowler is excited about the acquisition
“This is a great development and an exciting next step,” he said.
“The Jindex product offering and our technical expertise in valves are an excellent addition to Metso’s pumps business and will enable Metso to provide more extensive flow control solutions to the mining industry.
“We look forward to contributing our unique knowledge and experience as part of the Metso team and providing enhanced outcomes to all our collective customers.”
Slurry handling equipment is referred to in the industry as the “heart of a plant”, as it ensures smooth flow of the process. It is vital in maximising the minerals processing plant’s efficiency and productivity.
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Weir’s new world class, state-of-the-art facility in Port Hedland. Image: Weir
Global mining technology leader Weir has officially opened its new Port Hedland service centre in Western Australia.
The new facility bolsters Weir’s national network of 16 service centres and will aim to support customers and their operations across the Pilbara region.
The centre is equipped to service Weir’s broader range of products and technologies, provide engineering and maintenance support as well as critical parts storage for faster service times for customers.
Opening ceremony on World Environment Day. Image: Weir Minerals
“The new centre at Port Hedland will support our key customers in the region, providing Weir’s best-in-class service and expertise,” Weir Minerals regional managing director Kristen Walsh said at the facility’s opening.
“The Australian $28 million facility demonstrates our commitment to sustainable mining and with further investment planned, we will continue to support our ambitious growth plans in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.”
This will include Fortescue and Thiess’ Iron Bridge project, which incorporates Weir transformational flow sheets – the world’s first dry comminution circuit without tumbling mills.
Port Hedland serves as a critical hub for the mining and resources industry in Australia, driving economic growth and success for the important iron ore region.
The new service centre will work to deliver innovative engineering solutions and expertise, enhancing operational efficiencies and advancing sustainable progress across the Pilbara’s dynamic mining landscape.
With best-in-class technology and support, the centre features facilities forEnduron high-pressure grinding rolls servicing, including tyre roller assembly and Linatex rubber lining services, helping customers to extend the life of their assets.
Weir employees celebrate the opening. Image: Weir
The next stage of development, set for 2025, will see an expansion of the team and specialisation in the repair and overhaul of various Weir processing equipment including Warman pumps, Cavex hydrocyclones and Isogate valves as well as Enduron crushers and screens.
Building on trust, collaboration and integrity, Weir said it is committed to delivering innovative solutions and working together with its customers to make mining more sustainable.
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Group 6 Metals has uncovered more ore tonnes and metric tonne units of tungsten trioxide from the Dolphin tungsten mine than originally anticipated, alongside a record month of shipments.
The company’s in-pit reconciliation methodology uses in-pit sampling, UV (ultraviolet light) lamping, and production drill hole assaying to compare mining results to the geological model.
When compared to the geological model, recoveries from the Dolphin open pit exceeded expectations up until the end of April.
Dolphin produced about 94 dry tonnes of concentrate in April at an average grade of 57.1 per cent for 5380 metric tonne units of tungsten trioxide. A total of 115.05 dry tonnes of concentrate at 57.38 per cent tungsten trioxide was shipped in April, a record month for Group 6.
“Over the past six months, our geology and mining teams have excelled at maximising ore recovery,” Group 6 managing director and chief executive officer Keith McKnight said.
“This means we’ve collected more valuable tungsten ore than forecast while working the outer areas of the Dolphin open pit. While this has caused a temporary delay in the mining sequence, the extra effort has resulted in a detailed understanding of the mine’s geology, giving us a lot of confidence in our mine forecast.
“Excitingly, the high-grade C-lens (deposit) is now accessible at -30 RL (reduced level) in the main Dolphin pit, and production drill assay results confirm the presence of high-grade ore in the mining blocks (is) scheduled for June.”
Group 6 has also made progress in sustainability. It, along with Climate Capital, has been looking into integrating a 7.5 megawatt solar panel array and a 5.5 megawatt hour battery storage system at the Dolphin mine’s power plant.
Climate Capital has finished power modelling and an extensive site assessment. If implemented, the solar power system would sit adjacent to Group 6’s process plant.
Group 6 and Climate Capital are expected to negotiate a power purchase agreement under a build own operate model to deliver the solar project.
After being closed for three decades, the Dolphin tungsten mine officially re-opened in August 2023. It is located near Grassy, a town on the south-east coast of King Island.
These 240 volt high flow submersible pumps are ideal for a difficult working environments where a powerful submersible pump is required. Perfect for construction sites, builders, farming and residential home owners. Move dirty water fast for any application.
Heavy Duty Submersible Centrifugal Water Pump with Float Switch
These high flow submersible water pumps are designed with a open impeller which makes them less prone to blockages and well suited for use with dirty fluids including light mud, sewage and even water containing some debris.
Paddock offer the most powerful pumps we’ve seen capable of running from a standard household 10 amp plug socket. These pumps are fitted with large heavy duty motors and are designed to move water fast.
These pumps come standard with a float switch fitted. When the float is in the upright vertical position, the internal ball drops inside the float and closes the circuit to activate the pump. When the fluid level drops, the float changes its orientation and stops the pump. The length of the float cable can be adjusted via the integrated cable clamp to custom configure the on/off trigger points if desired. Some customers not wanting the float switch have reported success in simply zip tying the float switch in the vertical ‘on’ position and this allows the pump to run continuously independent of fluid level.
Each pump includes a high quality silicon carbide mechanical seal with oil separation chamber ensuring water remains about pf the motor. This design results in long term reliable operation. Maintenance is a dream as the wet end pump can quickly be separated from the electric motor. The pump motor is constructed with 100% pure copper wire windings which helps it to run cooler and last longer for the user.
The pump is suitable for fresh, sewage or sea water*. Popular uses include water supply and disposal, home pressure pumping, irrigation, dairy, farming, fishery, residential pump, construction and building sites, sewage, grey water and flood management.
Submersible pumps rely on the fluid they’re submerged in to cool the powerful motors. Unlike non submersible pumps there is no fan to blow cooling air over a finned motor. Therefore it is important to ensure the pump is not allowed to run for extended periods of time out of the water. The included float switch is configured such that the pump will turn off before the water level drops below the motor. When installing these pumps, ensure the pit is large enough that the float switch can not become jammed in the on position as this can lead to the pump running dry eventually overheating the motor. Each motor includes thermal cutout protection as standard to save the pump from damage if it was accidentally allowed to run dry.
Submersible Pump Features:
5m lead with standard plug end
Low Noise, smooth operation
Compact Construction
12 month warranty
Pump Specification
SPS1500AF
SPSP2200F
Voltage
240V Single Phase
240V Single Phase
Power
1500 W
2200 W
Motor
Continuous Duty Cycle when submerged
Continuous Duty Cycle when submerged
Flow Rate
466 LPM
700 LPM, 42 m3/hr
Inlet / Outlet
2″
3″
Pressure
18m ~180kPa, 26 psi
17m ~170kPa, 25psi
Max. Fluid temp.
60°C
60°C
Compatible Fluids
Water, Sea Water*, Sewage
Water, Sea Water*, Sewage
Approx. Weight
29 kg
33 kg
Approx Dimensions
270x290x600mm
270mmx290mmx700mm
Construction
Stainless steel motor casing
Open impeller design
Stainless steel shaft
Silicone Carbide Mechanical Shaft Seal with secondary oil seal
Stainless steel motor casing
Open impeller design
Stainless steel shaft
Silicone Carbide Mechanical Shaft Seal with secondary oil seal
Protection
Thermal **
Thermal **
Warranty
1 yr
1 yr
*Long term use in sea water may lead to corrosion which is not covered by warranty. Whilst the pump will work with sea water it is not recommended for permanent installations in corrosive salt water environments.
** Whilst the pump motor includes thermal cutout protection, this should not be used to control fluid level. Allowing the pump to run dry repeatedly only to over-heat and stop via the thermal cutout protection will significantly reduce the operating life of your pump and this type of damage is not covered under the products warranty. The pumps float switch should be used to control fluid level and this is configured such that the motor is always submersed and cool.
Dewatering pump solutions company Sykes Group has announced the launch of the Skyes/Primax XH250.
The Skyes/Primax XH250 was developed with the requirements of the mining and quarry industries in mind, specifically to address challenges these industries face, including the need to reach greater depths and widths and the need for reliable dewatering solutions.
The Sykes XH250 steps in to address this challenge by delivering higher heads and flow rates. This ensures consistent equipment access to all areas of mining and quarry sites.
Key features of the Sykes XH250:
1.Versatile drive options: The XH250 is available in both diesel and electric drive configurations, and it can be mounted on skids, trailers, or pontoons.
2.Impressive performance: The XH250 is engineered to deliver 200L per second at 220m or 250L per second at 200m, ensuring reliable and efficient dewatering.
3.Innovative pump design: The pump’s design incorporates several key features to enhance its longevity and performance, including shaft stiffness ratios, multiple priming options, advanced bearing arrangements, and sealing solutions.
4.Front and rear wear plates: Sykes Pumps’ inclusion of wear plates offers the ability to make fine adjustments to the impeller-wear plate clearance, enabling customers to restore pump efficiency without the need for extensive overhauls.
5.Material pptions: The Sykes XH250 is available with various material options to suit specific applications, including 316 SS Impeller, wear plates, and SG iron Volute, among others.
“The Sykes XH250 is a testament to our commitment to providing efficient and reliable dewatering solutions for the mining and quarry industries,” Skyes Group said.
Atlas Copco has launched a next-generation electric submersible dewatering pump, the WEDA D95, incorporating state-of-the-art Wear Deflector technology.
The robust and reliable pump delivers a best-in-class performance over a longer lifetime than comparable pumps in heavily abrasive environments such as mining, tunnelling and construction, and enables operators to improve their sustainability and productivity.
WEDA D95 has a power rating of 37–43 kilowatts (kW) and is the latest pump in the WEDA D drainage range to feature the innovative Wear Deflector technology designed to minimise wear and provide consistent performance over a longer operating life.
Features such as a high chrome wear resistant impeller combined with solid-redirecting auxiliary vanes contribute towards its performance. The pump also features re-adjustable hydraulics which allow the pump to be simply realigned to compensate for any wear, thus prolonging its life.
All these elements have a significant positive impact on the overall operational productivity, meaning users can achieve a lower total cost of ownership.
“There are often many suspended solids in harsh applications which can cause excessive abrasion and wear to the internal workings of the pump,” Atlas Copco Power and Flow product marketing manager – submersible pumps Bart Duijvelaar said.
“At Atlas Copco, we are driven by innovation, and so we have taken the fundamental design of the drainage pump back to the drawing board. We have optimised the hydraulic design using computational fluid dynamics and applied 21st century manufacturing techniques combined with decades of experience to produce this new long-lasting and reliable pump.”
The pump has also been built with maintenance and serviceability front of mind. Thanks to the clever design, users can also carry out inspection and maintenance on site themselves and reduce downtime and associated costs. For example, the mechanical seal is a unique stainless-steel single cartridge, rather than many separate components, and so it is easy to replace in one piece.
For Atlas Copco Power and Flow achieving a more sustainable future is crucial. Therefore, facilitating the repairability of its pumps has been at the forefront of the design to ensure less time-consuming maintenance and best-in-class service support. It gives a second life to these pumps with increased uptime.
WEDA D95 also features external oil inspection screws. Operators can easily access the screws to check the quality of the oil and the health status of the seal without having to dismantle the whole pump. This makes preventive maintenance easy so users can detect problems before they lead to failure.
Overall, with the ease of service, it is possible to readjust the pump to the original performance without changing many parts. The pump’s repairability prolongs the life of the pump, giving it a second life and contributing towards a more sustainable future.
Additionally, the pumps in the D range are available with various accessories including different types of discharge connections, pump rafts and zinc anodes to provide extra corrosion resistance.
The new WEDA D95 pumps are backed by Atlas Copco’s service team and supported by a wide network of local dealers and technicians worldwide with readily available parts to help users keep their operations up and running to improve productivity.
With state-of-the-art manufacturing and 3D modelling tools, Atlas Copco is addressing product performance and technical challenges at the design stage. The WEDA D95 submersible pump is the latest example of a well-crafted and thoughtfully designed pump range, with more models expected in the company’s portfolio in the coming years.
