The Weir Group PLC (Weir) has been awarded a £100m order to provide industry-leading energy saving solutions to the Iron Bridge Magnetite Project, a joint venture between Fortescue Metals subsidiary FMG Magnetite and Formosa Steel.

Weir’s Enduron® HPGRs are increasingly replacing conventional mills in

The order, which includes a range of Weir crushing and pump equipment including Enduron® High Pressure Grinding Rolls and GEHO® pumps, will reduce energy consumption and wet tailings waste by more than 30 per cent compared to traditional mining technologies.

The Iron Bridge project, located 145 kilometres south of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, is a US$2.6bn investment in premium magnetite iron ore reserves with annual production – when the mine is fully operational – of 22 million wet metric tonnes per annum. Delivery of the first ore is expected in 2022.

Weir Group Chief Executive Officer, Jon Stanton said the company is delighted to have secured the landmark contract, which is Weir’s largest-ever individual mining order.

“Fortescue challenged us to help create one of the most energy and cost-efficient magnetite ore processing facilities in the world,” Mr Stanton said.

“Our engineers have worked relentlessly to design a solution that is truly innovative – delivering significant energy, water and cost savings. This is a great example of working in close partnership with an ambitious customer who shares our passion for using innovative engineering to make mining more productive and sustainable.”

Weir’s Enduron® HPGRs are increasingly replacing conventional mills in comminution (crushing, screening and grinding) circuits because of their substantially lower energy consumption and potential for significant total cost of ownership reduction. According to Weir, not only do they require as much as 40 per cent less energy than traditional alternatives, but their wearable components last much longer and the maintenance time required to replace worn out parts is significantly lower.

Stuart Hayton, Managing Director of Weir Minerals Netherlands, where the Enduron® HPGRs and GEHO® pumps are designed and manufactured has seen a growing demand for these technologies due to their significant benefits compared to older products.

“Comminution is one of the most energy intensive processes in the world and the ability to deliver substantial reductions in costs, energy and water use not only supports miners’ profitability but also the sustainability of our industry,” said Mr Hayton.

WEIR Minerals will be presenting at the WA Mining Conference, 15-16 October 2019, Perth WA. For more information, visit www.waminingexpo.com.au

Source: www.global.weir