Lycopodium has been awarded a $68.5 million EPC processing plant contract from Toro Gold.
The contract sees Lycopodium provide EPC services for a processing plant and other facilities at Toro’s Mako gold project in Senegal.
The win is a continuation of the company’s work with Toro, following the completion of its work on the pre-feasibility and definitive feasibility studies for the project.
TEREX has made second quarter revenue of US$109.6 million ($145.44 million), reflecting what company CEO John Garrison is calling “a company in transition”.
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Overall, Terex’s net sales for the quarter ending 30 June was US$1.298 billion ($1.720 billion), down about 10% from the same time last year. Garrison said Terex “continued to face challenging markets in the second quarter”.
“The North American market for many of our AWP andCranes products was lower than last year, as expected, which was reflected in both our sales and orders in the quarter,” he explained. “We grew AWP sales in Europe and parts of Asia, but not enough to offset the softness in North America. Our Materials Processing segment executed well and improved upon last year’s performance.”He said Terex will “remain focused on what we can control”.“The steps we took earlier in the year to reduce [selling, general, and administrative expenses] helped offset some of the impact of soft markets and competitive pricing, but more is needed,” he outlined. “In the second quarter, we took additional steps to simplify our manufacturing footprint and lower our cost base. After the sale of MHPS, Terex will be a smaller company. We are committed to reducing our cost structure accordingly.”
A new mining code has been launched by the World Initiative of Mining Lawyers (WIOML) to aid countries in both attracting investment and securing benefits for their own economies.
“The code provides a good starting point for countries without a code in place yet,” Andrew van Zyl, a partner and principal consultant at consulting engineers and scientists, SRK Consulting said,according to IM Mining.
“It also provides a useful benchmark against which a country could compare its existing code.”
Aspects of the code include licence allocation, work-it-or-lose-it, the right to mine, and social licences.
“Clearly, the transparent awarding of exploration licences is a key starting point for any national effort to promote mineral development,” van Zyl said.
He went on to say under the code miners should be given longer lead times for exploration, raising the potential of making economically viable discoveries – given that the average period for economic discovery is around eight years – followed by right to mine permissions, based on objective criteria free of discretion.
“So this should be done on an objective basis with free and open access – although there may be circumstances under which tendering could be considered.”
Van Zyl added that in the current investment strained market, clearer and more reasonable codes will aid in attracting investors, and should be used to build a constructive collaboration with mining stakeholders.
“There is little appetite or ability right now to raise the billions of dollars needed to develop large mining projects,” he said.
“But there is the time to invest much smaller amounts in the vital but neglected process of forging agreement and trust between miners, governments, communities, NGOs and other interested parties.”
“When it comes to stakeholder engagement, miners have traditionally found themselves between the proverbial rock and hard place,” Deloitte explained.
“Reconciling the often competing needs of government, local communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), employees, and regulators – whilst still delivering return on shareholder investment – has become a balancing act of huge proportions.”
Researchers found that mining projects with expenditures of between US$3 billion to US$5 billion can incur weekly losses of roughly US$20 million due to delayed production caused by community opposition, according to Rachel Davis and Daniel Franks’ Harvard Kennedy School report, Costs of Company-Community Conflict in the Extractive Sector.
“Too many projects are rushed into construction when commodity prices are buoyant, and are consequently hampered by a lack of local buy-in and insufficient clarity about each player’s respective roles, responsibilities and benefits,” van Zyl said.
“In many cases, the process becomes fraught with mistrust and brinkmanship, which delays or even threatens the project altogether.”
He went on to state: “It is vital for mining companies to take the initiative in setting up these meaningful discussions, rather than waiting for governments to impose solutions that may not be as effective,” he said.
“There is a danger that the industry is perceived as often being on the back foot and reacting defensively to the demands of other parties; goal-driven communication between these groups will help ease that perception.”
The code was launched at the recent WIOML conference.
Outotec has been awarded a contract by Shangdong Province Metallurgical Engineering Co Ltd (SDM) for the delivery of process equipment to the Sangan Iron Concentrate Project in North-Eastern Iran. The Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development & Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) owns the Sangan mines and SDM is their engineering partner. The contract value is approximately €10 million and the order has been booked in Outotec’s 2016 second quarter order intake.
Outotec’s scope of work includes the design and delivery of thickeners and filter presses as well as related installation supervision and commissioning services including spare parts. The new iron processing plant will process annually 5 Mt of ore. The equipment will be delivered mostly during the second quarter of 2017. “We are pleased to have been given the opportunity to deliver the main dewatering process equipment to the second phase of the Sangan Iron project. Our comprehensive portfolio of dewatering equipment enables us to tailor efficient and environmentally sound solutions and services for iron ore processing”, says Kalle Härkki, Head of Outotec’s Minerals Processing business unit.
KONECRANES is offering to split off one of its subsidiaries to address concerns from the European Commission (EC) about the supply of hoists within the European Economic Area.
The subsidiary, STAHL CraneSystems, provides hoisting technology and crane components to the global market. As a result of the offer, which will be market tested, the EC has extended its review of the transaction between Konecranes and Terex with an expected decision date of 8 August. Konecranes noted the offer “may be subject to change” prior to the EC’s decision.
Konecranes CEO Panu Routila said the offer was a result of “very constructive dialogue” with the EC and the company believes the offer will “fully resolve” the EC’s concerns.
While that bargaining process continues, Konecranes has also released its interim report for 2016 which covers January through to June. Orders dropped 10.3 percent compared to last year to EUR905.3 million, which Konecranes said was due to lower port cranes orders in the first quarter of 2016. Sales declined by a slight 2.3% to EUR987.4 million compared to last year as well.
Net profit declined from EUR17 million down to EUR10.9 million, but the second quarter results for the second quarter (April to June) were considerably better. They increased 40.6%, from EUR11.4 million to EUR16 million.
Citing the second quarter adjusted operating profit, which had increased by 40.2%, Routila said the rise occurring despite the drop in sales showed Konecranes’ cost savings actions were delivering results.
Joy Global Inc, the global supplier of high-productivity mining solutions, has announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which Komatsu America Corp, a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd, will acquire Joy Global in a transaction valued at approximately $3.7 billion, including Joy Global’s outstanding indebtedness.
Komatsu intends to operate Joy Global as a separate subsidiary of Komatsu and retain the strength of the Joy Global brand names. The companies will align the organisation and operation for optimal customer support from Joy Global’s headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Komatsu and Joy Global’s products and services are highly complementary and the combined organization will continue to focus on safety, productivity and life cycle cost improvement for customers. Komatsu plans to leverage both companies’ leading technologies to pursue product and service innovation to enhance mine safety and productivity. In addition, the companies employ complementary strategies and are committed to an integrated direct sales and service model.”
“This is a compelling transaction that delivers substantial and certain value to our stockholders as well as expanded options for our customers and employees going forward,” said Ted Doheny, President and Chief Executive Officer of Joy Global. “We believe this is the right partnership to meet the evolving needs of our customers while furthering our ability to lead the mining industry with game-changing technologies and best-in-class products. Joy Global’s Board of Directors, in making its determination, considered the challenging market conditions the company believes are likely to persist. The mining industry continues to face cyclical headwinds from oversupplied commodities and reduced end user demand resulting in cash flow restrictions for most producers, creating an increasingly challenging environment. We are also seeing structural changes in the US and China coal industry.
“Our companies share similar cultures and values,” Doheny continued, “and we expect many Joy Global employees to benefit from exciting career opportunities as part of an even larger, more diversified company. On behalf of the Joy Global Board and management team, we thank our dedicated employees for their continued hard work and commitment to solving mining’s toughest challenges.”
从1月中旬到4月底，澳元兑美元从0.6830最高飙升至0.7828，涨幅近15%。澳元的升势与一系列经济事件吻合，包括商品全面复苏、市场对美联储政策预期的转变、日本实施负利率、欧洲进一步降息，以及因澳洲联储（RBA）上半年降息预期减弱，澳大利亚债券利率上涨了25个基点。
澳元强势反弹是哪三大因素造成的？
1. 大宗商品暴力反弹
大宗商品方面，年初至今，铁矿石价格呈现一波暴力反弹，从而拉动商品货币澳元不断升值。从1月低点算起，芝商所 (CME Group) 旗下62%品位铁矿石期货价格迄今大涨65%，至57.41美元/吨。这波价格反弹的支撑因素可能主要来自于中国钢厂趁着钢价反弹之际开足马力生产，从而带动原材料采购，且澳大利亚部分矿石供应出现中断。
原油价格近期一路走高亦助推澳元升势，虽然多哈会谈的失败导致油价一度大幅跳空回落，但是油价随后强势反弹，甚至仍不断刷新今年以来的高点。鉴于市场风险情绪回归，以原油为首的大宗商品价格在未来的一段时间里仍有望持续上涨。
2. 美国推迟加息打压美元
大宗商品价格上扬是一个原因，澳元的涨势主要还是源自于美国推迟加息，美联储对市场安抚的一种鸽派姿态，导致短暂的全球投资者风险偏好的上升，使得大宗商品以及部分高风险资产都得到了一些比较明显的反弹机会，这是影响包括澳元在内的高风险资产的深层次原因。
美元方面，美国统计局4月中旬公布了美国3月新屋开工率，录得-8.8%，远低于预期的-0.7%，这表明一季度美国房地产已经开始降温，经济也大幅下滑，给投资者对于美国加息的预期又增添了额外的顾虑。美联储对未来的加息犹豫不决，美元一落千丈，澳元等非美货币价格乘胜追击，纷纷扩大涨幅。
3. 本地向好数据提供支撑
回到澳洲国内，近来本地经济数据普遍向好是澳元表现坚挺的另一重要原因。最新数据显示，澳洲的经济增长率已经加速至3%，主要得益于国内消费需求走强，失业率也由1月高点6%回落至5.8%，就业岗位增加2.6万，远好于预期值1.7万和前值0.03万。种种迹象表明，本地经济正逐渐从矿业衰退中恢复过来，同时彻底打消了澳洲在一两年内出现经济衰退的疑虑。
国内经济继续增长，矿业投资增加，非矿业产业需求可观，劳动力市场改善，然而全球低通胀和低利率，导致澳元走高，打压了澳洲通货膨胀以及劳动力成本增速，这在一定程度上增加了日后澳洲联储降低利率的可能性。
澳洲联储拒绝强势澳元
针对澳元近期的强势表现，澳洲联储主席史蒂文斯(Glenn Stevens)再现口头干预，称澳元或有上涨过度的风险，并暗示外汇市场将再度成为联储决策的风向标。其他联储高级官员也对澳元高企表示关切，并表示全球其他央行都希望实现自己本币汇率更具竞争力。
最新公布的澳洲联储会议纪要显示其对澳元强势不怎么满意。联储甚至为了澳元走高讨论适当的货币宽松政策。无论如何，这复杂化了经济再调整并对通胀造成压力。似乎联储此次的说辞比之前更强硬一些。
The industrial and technology group ThyssenKrupp is strengthening its plant technology capabilities in France by merging the formerly separate entities Polysius and KH Mineral to become ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (France). The step comes into effect as of October 1, 2015. The company said that this strategic move “is another milestone for the plant engineering and construction specialist of the ThyssenKrupp Group in its efforts to further promote the integration and regionalisation of its plant technology business worldwide. It pursues ThyssenKrupp’s overriding goal of integrating its businesses more closely to create sustainable value as a diversified industrial group.” As of today, ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (France) employs around 300 employees at two locations in Aix-en-Provence and Sarreguemines.
Samir Abi Ramia, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (France): “On the basis of decades of experience in EMEA markets, excellent engineering skills and proven technologies, we can now offer tailor-made solutions for the cement, mining and raw materials industries in general from a single source. Joining our forces in France while at the same time benefiting from the global network of one of the world’s leading engineering and construction specialists will enable us serve our customers’ needs even better.”
By combining the French operations, ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions is taking the next step to becoming a leading provider in the areas of plant engineering, procurement and construction for clients in the region across the cement, minerals, bulk materials handling and processing, and mining industries. The turnkey contract experience of the former Polysius will be a major asset for ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (France) which will be extended to the management of important mining and quarry projects, while the experience of the former KH Mineral contributes expertise in the management of short-term projects and in reinforcing the single machine business.
Under the roof of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions, plant technology operations worldwide are managed by the two business units Process Technologies and Resource Technologies. Process Technologies is focused on engineering, procurement and construction for chemical, refinery and other industrial plants, while Resource Technologies offers a comprehensive product portfolio and a wide sales and service network to customers in the mining, cement, mineral processing and materials handling industries.
Members of the Australian business community have this morning cautiously welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after more than five years of talks.
Hailed by Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb as “the biggest global trade deal in twenty years”, the TPP is an agreement that takes in the major economies of the Asia Pacific region.
While the exact wording of the TPP is yet to be released to the public, small business representatives this morning said moves toward greater trade opportunities for Australian businesses should be welcomed.
“Any agreement has winners and losers, but this reflects what’s going on,” says Peter Strong, executive director of the Council of Small Business of Australia.
“The world is globalised and we have to embrace that and it’s what the government is doing.”
However, Strong told SmartCompany the signing of the historic trade deal also highlights competition concerns within the Australian economy.
“It also highlights that we need to look internally at what is holding business back,” he says.
“The duopoly [in the grocery sector] is holding business back, there’s no doubt.
“In the TPP there’s two countries that don’t have an effects test. Nearly all of them do, if we’re going to compete fairly let’s be fair and put an effects test in.”
Alex Malley, chief executive of CPA Australia, told SmartCompany the TPP puts Australian businesses in prime position to “secure first mover advantage in a massive new global trade bloc”.
“When you combine the TPP with our existing trade treaties and the pending deal with China, export-oriented Australian businesses now have a global footprint of improved market access,” Malley says.
“Whether you’re an apple exporter from Tasmania or a tech company in Sydney, the TPP is an opportunity to create jobs.”
Malley says, subject to the TPP being ratified, “the world is now a different place for Australian businesses”.
“It’s up to them to take the steps necessary to take advantage of these market access deals for their products and services,” he says.
“The beginning and end of any trade deal is jobs. Navigating the complexities of the multi-nation TPP negotiations to provide opportunities for job creation is a significant achievement.”
The Export Council of Australia and the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) have also welcomed the conclusion of the TPP talks this morning, with the NFF describing the event as a “huge milestone”.
“The agreement is a generally positive outcome for Australian farmers, which will reduce trade barriers and create new export opportunities for our high-quality food and fibre,” the federation said.
Here are six things you need to know about the TPP:
1. The deal includes 12 countries
Australia is one of 12 countries that form the TPP. These include the United States, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Brunei.
2. The TPP covers 40% of the global GDP and a third of Australia’s exports
Combined, the TPP countries account for approximately 40% of global gross domestic product and 24% of global trade in services.
According to Minister Robb, one third of Australia’s total goods and services exports, or $109 billion of trade, went to TPP countries in 2014.
Close to 35% of Australia’s services exports went to TPP countries, worth a total of $20 billion.
3. It has taken years to get to this point
The conclusion of the TPP negotiations in Atlanta this week comes after five years of talks. The first round of negotiations for the trade deal took place in March 2010 in Melbourne.
The TPP also builds on an earlier trade agreement between Brunei, New Zealand, Chile and Singapore called the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into effect in 2006.
4. Sugar, dairy among the winners but pharmaceuticals has been a sticking point
Australian sugar and diary producers are tipped to be among the winners under the TPP, with Robb saying today Australian sugar exports in the US will effectively double under the deal. Tariffs for particular types of sugar exports in Canada, Peru and Malaysia will be eliminated or liberalised and levies for high polarity sugar into Japan will also be reduced.
Australian cheese makers will see tariffs into Japan eliminated on $100 million of existing trade and be given preferential access for another $100 million of trade. Cheese producers will also gain preferential access into Mexico and Canada and increased access and tariff reductions for some forms of cheese in the US.
However, one of the more contentious aspects of the TPP concerns patent protections for pharmaceuticals.
Fairfax reports the negotiations were extended through Sunday evening as Australia and the US continued to grapple over a US proposal to keep data for advanced medicines made from living organisms, protected for 12 years. Australia had sought a protection period of five years. The parties have agreed to a protection period of between five and eight years.
5. Service providers will benefit too
Agricultural exporters and manufacturers are not the only potential winners from the TPP; Robb said Australian service providers in sectors including finance, education, health and hospitality and tourism will also benefit from the deal.
In particular, Robb said Australian SMEs that provide professional services are set to win with restrictions in Malaysia “that have long been of concern to Australian SMEs” to be removed.
“Malaysia has locked in recent reforms to the legal, architectural, engineering and surveying sectors,” Robb said.
6. There are concerns about the secrecy of the agreement and negotiations
Despite the slated benefits of the TPP, the deal has not been without controversy, especially when it comes to the transparency of the negotiations.
Consumer group CHOICE said this morning it has collected more than 7400 signatures from Australians who called for the text of the TPP to released prior to the conclusion of the negotiations.
“At about midnight last night, trade ministers confirmed that the TPP negotiations were finished, however the text of the agreement still won’t be publicly available for a number of weeks,” said CHOICE campaigns manager Erin Turner.
“It’s absurd that our Trade Minister has committed Australia to a deal the Australian public has never seen.”
CHOICE is calling for the Productivity Commission to conduct a full cost-benefit analysis of the deal.
First and foremost, manufacturing professionals attend trade shows to see new technology. New technology is what they will get at this year’s AUSTECH, Australia’s premier advanced precision manufacturing and machine tool exhibition.
Co-located with National Manufacturing Week (NMW), the show will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 26 to 29 May.
AUSTECH is the largest gathering of metalworking technologies in Australia. What better opportunity to experience new and different ways to improve your manufacturing business by investigating, in a single venue, what the rest of the world is working on? Manufacturing is always looking for ways and tools to help it make things better, faster and at lower costs.
Along those lines, here are a few of the many new products and technologies on show next week:
Waterjet machining:
Omax Corporation and Headland Machinery Pty. Ltd., the company’s exclusive distribution partner for Australia, will showcase the versatility and high-speed cutting precision capabilities of the Maxiem 1530 JetMachining Centre. The all-new 1530 represents the company’s next generation line of Maxiem machines.
Building on the cost-effective, yet high-performance technology of its predecessors, the newly redesigned 1530 offers enhanced durability, improved performance, and faster production times for an overall increase in productivity and profitability. At AUSTECH, the company is pairing the 1530 with a reliable 40-hp direct-drive pump to demonstrate how easy it is to cut virtually any material quickly and efficiently.
3D printing/additive manufacturing:
BQ will be showcasing Ciclop, the first 3D scanner with 100% free software and hardware. It has been designed and developed with the community in mind, so that they can use it, innovate with it, make their own changes and share them. Ciclop is a rotating triangulation-based 3D laser scanner (it uses laser light to capture the geometry and texture of the object rotating on a turntable) and it is multi-platform. To scan, Ciclop uses Horus, a free software entirely developed by BQ. With this scanner, BQ is expanding its DIY ecosystem, which comprised Prusa i3 Hephestos until now.
Evok3D will be showcasing additive manufacturing in application together with Nissan Motorsport (Nismo). On its stand the company will have race driving simulators, a display V8 race engine, competition steering wheel etc. All showcasing 3D printed parts. Most excitingly any professional 3D printers purchased before June 30 will include a V8 Supercar Hot Lap in the Nissan Altima V8 Supercars!
Objective3D will be part of the Stratasys Pavillion – D05 and at the show we will be featuring the world’s most versatile multi-material 3D printer – The Objet 500 Connex 3 by Stratasys.
The Objet 500 Connex 3 brings new production-floor efficiencies to fruition with in-house tooling, custom jigs, assembly fixtures and gauges. With triple-jetting technology, hundreds of Digital Materials, and two spacious build-tray sizes, Connex3 is designers / engineers product development and production powerhouse.
Users of this 3D Printer will enjoy unmatched versatility with a range of material properties from rubber to rigid, transparent to opaque, neutral to vibrantly colored and standard to biocompatible. For jobs that require a range of mechanical, optical or thermal properties, only Connex3 lets you combine up to three base resins in pre-set configurations to produce up to 82 materials in a single build.
5-axis machining & CNC technology:
Okuma will showcase three levels of new technology, including 5-axis machining. New advanced technology machine models of 5-axis milling with turning, amazing advances in the user-interface of Okuma’s own OSP controller technology and packaged, kit-style automation solutions.
Shera Bonnet & Associates will have a new web-based solution for monitoring the efficiency of CNC machines real time on show. The company makes use of touch screens and tablets or smart phones to allow users to view up to the minute status of their CNC machinery from anywhere they have an internet connection. Managers walking around exhibition could be monitoring what their shop is doing while away from their plant. Automatic messaging when a machines status changes and on line efficiency reports will allow management to assess how well their shop is going 24/7.
Accessories & more:
Dimac will have several new products from a diverse range of OEMs at its stand this year, including Freddy Products: a vacuum coolant cleaner for coolant and swarf. The new Freddy Superminor+ is designed to remove coolant, swarf and oil from machine tool sumps, separate the particulates and return filtered coolant for re-use. Alternatively liquids and particles can be easily disposed of. The new Freddy Superminor+ has been re-engineered for even greater cost effective coolant management. Other products on show include a workholding system for difficult to hold parts using light a activated bond from Blue Photon and live centres from Royal Products.
Industrial Minerals will be showcasing the Geoblaster wet abrasive machine & Novatek Dustless tools, innovative equipment designed to control dust and air pollution in the industrial sector.
Trademaster specialised pipe bevelling machines will be on demonstration this year at Austech. The company will be showcasing a range of portable mandrel machines for bevelling steel pipe from diameters 32mm – 372mm.
Anca Motion shows its LinX Linear motors this year. The cylindrical linear motors offer a conitnuous force rage of 407N to 815N as well as high-speed acceleration. The cylindrical design provides improved performance at a lower cost when compared to conventional flat linear and rotary motors. Zero net attractive forces improve efficiency with no down force, extending machine life. The LinX linear motor range is available in a variety of different sizes to allow for application-specific solutions.
Ausfork has recently launched its new online training and record keeping service called ACT-Online at the Cemat Exhibition in Sydney. Ausfork has focussed on all of the Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) such as Forklifts, Pallet Jacks, electric Pallet Jacks, Walkie Stackers and developed online theory modules for the purpose of equipment specific Inductions, Refresher Training and Verification of Competence (VOC). It is all backed by a Learning Management System that keeps all of the records ‘in the cloud’ www.ausforkcloud.com.au.
Of course, there will be many, many more products and exciting technology on show, so make sure you don’t miss this event! Organiser AMTIL looks forward to welcoming you to our show from 26 to 29 May 2015.
