Pumps manufacturer Metso, a global supplier of sustainable technology and services to various industries, has received a large pumps order for manganese producer Assmang’s wet high-intensity magnetic separation plant at its Khumani iron-ore project.

Metso will supply the Northern Cape plant with 56 slurry pumps, which is one of the biggest orders the company’s pumps division has received. The order will be filled in May and was placed by project house DRA Mineral Projects, Khumani’s main engineering, procurement and construction management contractor.

Metso’s relationship with Assmang started after it successfully supplied six high-pressure, double-adjust pumps for a trial order at Assmang’s Parsons plant, near Kathu, in the Northern Cape, in 2009.

“This was to test whether we were capable of producing the pumps in the timeframe DRA had specified,” says Metso regional sales manager Graham van Bosch.

“Our success convinced Assmang of our capabilities and proved that we have a competitive slurry pump.”

This paved the way for Metso to bid for the Khumani expansion project (KEP), in March 2009, which involves the development of a greenfield iron-ore export mine on the Bruce, King and Mokaning farms, near Kathu.

The company successfully supplied 56 slurry pumps, which included two lines of seven 250 hp overland tailings pumps in series, to KEP.

Meanwhile, Metso has also received an order from multidisciplinary construction group Stefanutti Stocks for Assmang’s paste plant, which is alongside the Parsons plant, to supply twenty-six 150 hp double-adjust pumps.

“In terms of pumps, this is the greatest contribution Metso has made to the environment as these paste pumps reduce Assmang’s environmental footprint by salvaging water,” says Van Bosch.

Metso’s slurry pump range can support all pumping applications, with the vertical and horizontal spindle consisting of both rubber and metal in varied lengths, including double- adjust capabilities, Van Bosch reports.

“The double-adjust pumps are for users that are concerned about maintaining pump effi- ciency and saving power.

“Many aspects contribute to the success of the projects we supply; however, the main factor is Metso’s ability to provide a complete service from sizing and selection, using the most advanced slurry sizing software in the industry, to engineering support for the installation and commissioning of the equipment,” says Van Bosch

To support all the newly supplied equipment at Assmang’s King and Parsons plants, Metso has extended its aftermarket services.

To further enhance this service and support, the company decided to establish an office in the vicinity of the customer to ensure that its expertise is close at hand.

Metso opened a new branch, on February 2, in Khatu, which will be responsible for all admini- strative functions and resolving technical matters for the new pumps orders, as well as any future orders from companies operating in the area.

The new Metso branch was established in the past seven months and is now ready to support both the Assmang plants and all other slurry pump users in the area.

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