Metso has successfully conducted crushing and screening training courses with plans to expand the offering in 2026.
Starting at the fundamental level for all competencies, Metso expert Glenn Oldfield is conducting a one-day course on crushing and screening nationwide.
Metso’s focus was to provide non-partisan training for any quarry industry professionals, aiming to allow better understanding and hopefully optimisation of their plants, whatever the equipment brand. With more than 30 years with Metso and 17 years before that in the industry on the customer side of the fence, Oldfield’s contribution to the industry is invaluable.
“Our goal is to grow industry knowledge of the aggregate processing field for the benefit of all. Quarrying is a field we all want to grow and retain staff, by sharing our experience Metso hope to assist in this endeavour,” Metso senior application and project manager for Asia Glenn Oldfield said.
“So far, we have had a fantastic take up of this opportunity with Boral, Heidelberg, Holcim, Adbri, and many other industry players.”
In February, a group of industry leaders from Queensland, including 20 personnel from Boral, participated in Metso’s Crushing and Screening Fundamentals Course. The Boral team comprised quarry managers, supervisors, leading hands, and fixed plant operators. The primary goal of the training sessions was to refresh skills and reinforce fundamental knowledge on this crucial topic.
Several Boral employees attended the training. Image: Metso
Boral asset manager for SEQ Quarries Michael Long shared his feedback with John O’Reilly and Glenn Oldfield after the training.
“The feedback after the session was overwhelmingly positive. The course was well-paced, and the content was delivered excellently by a respected industry expert. Glenn’s style of delivery was unbiased, balanced, and well-informed, providing valuable insights on a range of equipment and processes,” Long said.
“The objective of the sessions was to refresh the skills of our key personnel, whose roles include management, supervision, operations, asset care, and quality assurance.
“I highly recommend this program to anyone in our industry who is looking for foundational training and an understanding of the basic theory behind crushing and screening technology. It’s a valuable investment for both businesses and individuals.”
Metso’s focus was to provide non-partisan training for any quarry industry professionals. Image: Metso
Institute of Quarrying Australia president Michael Close welcomed the initiative which helps all industry professionals.
“I found the course very informative and flowed well for the day. Glenn did say it would be fairly basic content, but with 20-plus years of crushing and screening experience, I still got a lot out of it and takeaways to discuss back with our operations,” he said.
“I think it is a great training initiative that Metso is providing for the industry “free of charge”, and I fully encourage operations managers, process improvement, quarry managers, site supervisors and plant operators to attend.
“The content will help provide a skills gap with the aging quarrying workforce. With the mix of people attending the course, further learning and insights are gained as we share our own experiences and issues, making big ones into little ones.”
Courses will continue around Australia throughout 2025 and expand in 2026 and beyond.
The Whyalla steelworks in South Australia. Image: Alexander/stock.adobe.com
Bluescope has been appointed as a steelmaking advisor to KordaMentha, the administrators of the Whyalla steelworks business in South Australia.
Known as Australia’s largest steel manufacturer, BlueScope will provide technical and operational support in an advisory capacity to the administrators as they try to secure ongoing operations at the Whyalla steelworks.
“BlueScope has a long-standing history with the Whyalla steelworks, and we know its people and assets well,” BlueScope managing director and chief executive officer Mark Vassella said.
“We recognise the ongoing importance of Whyalla to the Australian economy and sovereign capability. This is a difficult time for the steel industry in the Asia Pacific region, but we are in a position to help.
“Accordingly, we will provide a team of experts from Port Kembla Steelworks to assist the administrators work through their process.”
BlueScope has not provided investment or corporate support to the administration process, nor has it decided to participate in any potential sale at this stage.
However, Vassella said BlueScope becoming an advisor to Whyalla steelworks’ administrators may help inform potential participation.
BlueScope’s appointment comes as the $2.4 billion support package from the SA and Federal Governments is progressing to plan, with funds flowing to the local Whyalla community.
The support package was announced in late February to support local jobs and stimulate growth in SA’s steel sector following the Whyalla steelworks’ owner, OneSteel Manufacturing, being placed under administration amid various operational challenges at the site.
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Leading mining technology and service supplier FLS will open or expand seven service centres in strategic locations across the globe in 2025.
These facilities are in direct support of FLS’ CORE’26 mining strategy that includes targeting service growth, and adds to the company’s already comprehensive global network of service centres that can enhance mining customers’ productivity.
New facilities will open in Accra, Ghana; Surabaja, Indonesia; and Dammam, Saudi Arabia, while FLS’ operations in Mackay, Australia will relocate to a larger facility.
Expansions are planned in Parauapebas, Brazil; Karaganda, Kazakhstan; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Operations in each of these new locations will begin within the coming months with official opening details to be announced at a later date.
In addition, an expansion of the service centre in Chloorkop, South Africa is ongoing and will be completed in 2026.
Image: FLSmidth
“Our service centres serve primarily as workshops for improving or repairing customer equipment and can also have warehousing capabilities for distribution,” FLS head of professional services Christian Fabry said.
“With these new openings and expansions, we further strengthen our service capabilities and best-in-class service offerings to customers.”
“We can do that by shortening the operational down time for customers thanks to the service centres’ strategic proximity to mine sites and greater availability of spare and wear parts to local customers.”
FLS offers a comprehensive range of service offerings that allow mining companies to maximise productivity.
The company has developed the strategic global presence and advanced service-based solutions required to provide responsive support wherever customers are located.
This includes:
Strong inventory of OEM spare parts and consumables in service centres around the world
Regional and global field engineers, plus remote asset health and performance optimisation services
Mineral laboratory services for fast, accurate mineralogical and metallurgical testing
Upgrades, rebuilds and exchange services to help you get more from your equipment.
FLSmidth work on the ground, and know that in a 24/7 process every hour of downtime adds up to very high costs in lost productivity.
That’s why its mining service centres are strategically located to offer local support to its customers operations – wherever they are in the world.
The company has service centres in East (Pinkenba, Beresfield, Mackay, Rockhampton) and the West (Henderson & Welshpool).
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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.
Image: Minprovise
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.
The Whyalla Steelworks has been placed into administration after the South Australian government rushed legislation through parliament and pledged “one of the most comprehensive industry support packages that this nation has ever seen”.
The move gives the government authority to act on debts owed by GFG Alliance and secure the future of the mid-north operations.
SGH’s EBIT of $843 million was up 10 per cent, with Boral’s EBIT of $259m up 29 per cent, helping drive the growth in this area.
SGH managing director and chief executive officer Ryan Stokes spoke about Boral’s performance in the first-half results.
“SGH completed the acquisition of Boral early in the half, and I am particularly pleased with their continued progress on the performance journey to achieve mid-teen EBIT margins,” he said.
“We remain excited about the opportunities we have long identified for further improvement at Boral. We also welcomed a significant number of former Boral shareholders to continue participating in long-term value creation as SGH shareholders.
Boral’s revenue of $1.8 billion was marginally down for the first half partially because of lower sales volumes in residential construction and roading.
SGH identified Boral’s cost control, and “internal optimisation” were “instrumental” in delivering the EBIT increase and managing the variable market conditions.
Boral has started an investment programme to refresh its heavy mobile equipment fleet, it expects this to support production and reduce cost efficiencies.
SGH stated the robust infrastructure investment outlook, and a positive residential outlook supported by the National Housing Accord targets supported its outlook for Boral.
“We continue to see solid customer demand across our core sector exposures of Industrials and Energy. The outlook for these sectors, along with our strong HY25 result, gives us confidence in our full-year earnings guidance of high single-digit EBIT growth for FY25,” Stokes said.
“Together with the leaders of our exceptional businesses, our owner’s mindset underpins the productivity and performance improvement that enabled this strong result.
“I am also grateful for the efforts of the wider SGH team and their commitment to serving our customers and delivering outcomes.”
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.
A New crushing and screening plant at Agnew Gold is delivering financial rewards to Gold Fields. Image: Sandvik
A new Sandvik crushing and screening plant at Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine in WA is delivering greater efficiency, throughput and operational safety.
Gold Fields Limited is one of the world’s largest gold mining companies with nine operating mines, located in Australia, South Africa, Ghana, Peru and Chile.
The Agnew gold mine is one of four Australian gold mines operated by Gold Fields. The site is situated approximately 375km north of Kalgoorlie and has a long history of gold production dating back to the late 1970s.
The mine is best known for its underground operations, primarily targeting the Agnew and Lawler gold deposits. Ore is extracted using a combination of underground and surface mining and is then processed on-site.
Around 2018, with the mine expanding into a third underground source, there was a need to increase plant throughput. The 21-year-old tertiary crushing circuit, which was suffering from poor reliability, was unable to meet the demand.
Gold Fields metallurgy manager Reg Radford is the company’s technical expert in the field of processing metallurgy. He works with process managers across all Gold Fields sites in Australia to assist in optimising operations.
Radford could see that the crushing and screening circuit was not in keeping with the company’s broader standards.
“It was working to its limits, and if you compared it to other Gold Fields sites, it was not to the standard that would be accepted elsewhere,” he said. “It didn’t meet our criterion for a well-organised, safe, professional gold processing operation.
“The equipment was old, and there was little or no spare parts availability. From a metallurgical perspective, it was being pushed to its limits to deliver the tonnage required. At best it was giving us an 8–10mm output, which was putting pressure on the downstream grinding circuit.”
The age and complexity of the existing plant also meant that access for operation and maintenance was difficult, presenting potential safety concerns.
Seeking a complete solution
The existing crushers were reaching end-of-life, and rather than just replacing them, it was decided to build an entirely new crushing and screening circuit.
To do this, and address various other concerns regarding the existing plant, a comprehensive upgrade project, known as the Agnew Stage 1 upgrade, was conceived.
The initiative examined bespoke and modular designs that could replace the existing plant. The project aimed to improve site water drainage and dust management (by installing a fine ore bin) while minimising disruptions during construction and commissioning.
Gold Fields manager – processing Tristan Freemantle was appointed as project director for the upgrade at Agnew. A veteran of the gold and copper industry, Freemantle originally worked for Barrick Gold and then transferred to Gold Fields around 12 years ago.
Since then, he has worked across several of Gold Fields’ Australian sites and is currently based at Gruyere, a joint venture project with Gold Road Resources in the Yilgarn area of WA.
“Agnew’s mine life had been extended for a further eight years, so upgrading the crushing and screening circuit was important to increase our processing capabilities: we needed to be in a position to process more ore from the new third mine coming online,” Freemantle said.
Gold Fields has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Sandvik, with the company having Sandvik crushers installed at both their St Ives and Granny Smith operations. After considering a bespoke solution, the Gold Fields team chose to go with a Sandvik modular plant.
“We needed a circuit that was simple, low maintenance and reliable, but also wanted the best crushers and screens that we could get,” Freemantle said.
“Sandvik showed a willingness to work with us within our parameters. Initially, it was just the crushers and screens, but in the end, they presented a complete plant design, which was modular and comparable with the bespoke designs we were considering.
“Sandvik was also able to accommodate our desire to manage our own electrical and process control design.”
A key to the successful implementation was Sandvik’s expertise in crushing and modular plant design combined with the screening know-how of Schenck Process.
The scope of supply included a Sandvik reciprocating plate feeder, grizzly screen, jaw crusher, and two cone crushers, as well as a Schenck Process double-deck banana screen fitted with Screenex screening media. Sandvik also provided bins, chute work, associated wear protection, and conveyors.
Sandvik 800i series cone crushers perform secondary and tertiary crushing functions at Agnew. Image: Sandvik
The innovative plant design eliminated the need for two screening stations and associated conveyors when compared with other proposed designs.
“Having a single vendor was an advantage,” Radford said. “Sandvik’s initial designs and 3D models were quite detailed and comprehensive, which was encouraging. It gave us confidence in the circuit because we knew exactly how the proposed layout would interact with the existing plant.”
Changeover challenges
A significant challenge for the project team was that Gold Fields needed the new plant to be installed in parallel with the old one so that, ideally, there would be zero downtime.
“Agnew can’t afford to be down for two or three weeks,” Radford said. “The mill is pushed to its limits, so it has little ability to catch up.
“Solving this problem – where we could build the new circuit and how to tie it in – was a good part of the success story. Commissioning on-time and within budget, with limited downtime, was a very important part of the brief.”
To accommodate this requirement, the team decided to move the run-of-mine (ROM) pad and build the new circuit on the site of the old ROM pad. While this achieved the brief of zero downtime, it introduced a new challenge.
The geology of the ROM pad was untested, and some contractors argued that a substantial concrete foundation would be required to support the crushing and screening plant, greatly increasing both the build time and cost.
In the end, working with Gold Fields geotech consultants, Sandvik’s design team resolved this problem by delivering a support structure for the new circuit that was strong and rigid enough to reduce the concrete foundations required.
Metso is expanding its screening solutions in China. The initial investment includes an agreement to acquire Selm (Beijing) Technology Company, a privately owned company’s screening business, operations, and key assets.
By combining the new offering with Metso’s expertise in screening equipment, media, repairs, and services, Metso can strengthen its services to better support mining and aggregates customers in China.
“The acquisition is a significant step in advancing our regional strategy in screening of being closer to our customers, fostering a market-focused approach. We are excited to enhance our role in China as a leading provider of screening solutions for large projects like super quarries. We warmly welcome new colleagues to contribute to our growth targets and improved customer service,” says Jouni Mähönen, Vice President, Screening, Metso.
“Selm is a respected company with its products and services well recognized by the customers in both mining and aggregates industries. The acquisition will further enrich Metso’s product portfolio and strengthen our competitiveness and market position. This move will enable us to provide comprehensive screening solutions in China, where Metso has a strong customer base and service capability in both the mining and aggregates industries,” says Xiaofeng Liang, President of Great China market area, Metso.
The acquisition is subject to conditions precedent and expected to close during the second quarter of 2025. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value, which has no material impact on Metso’s financials.
Selm (Beijing) Technology Company is a Chinese manufacturer of mining and aggregate screens and technologies, including micro-sizing screening solutions. The company has around 180 employees and its operations are in Shenyang, Northeast China.
Huifeng Tang, founder of Selm says: “We have been developing our screening business over the past years, building expertise and strong reputation among customers. Moving forward, the screen offering will bring benefits for customers as part of Metso and our employees will get a valued new employer.”
Metso’s screening solutions for aggregates and mining customers consists of banana screens, horizontal screens, inclined screens, mobile screens, portable screens, ultrafine screens as well as screening media, and capital screen related parts, repairs and services.
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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