Industrial company servicing the mining industry Metso is investing €3.5-million in crusher wear parts manufacturing in Africa by renovating a second melting furnace at the Isithebe foundry, in KwaZulu-Natal, to meet growing demand from the mining industry for such components.

The investment will enable the company to improve its quality to enable large crusher wear parts castings and ensure the availability of Metso’s heavy crusher wear parts globally.

Metso mining crusher wears director Joni Meronen says this investment will ensure that Metso meets customers’ needs: “Through the renewal of the foundry, we will improve our capabilities to deliver high-quality, heavy-wear parts.”

The foundry will manufacture wear parts for the Nordberg MP2500 series of cone crushers (which is claimed by Metso to be the world’s largest cone crusher), as well as for Metso machinery and third-party machinery using primary gyratory wear parts, making full use of the latest manufacturing technologies.

The first product deliveries from the new furnace are scheduled for May 2019. During the renovation project, production of castings will continue as usual at existing facilities.

The renovated foundry will be built to Metso’s strict sustainability and quality principles, as well as international standards.

Metso crushing and screening wears senior VP Jose Perez says the company is the only supplier providing a full portfolio for comminution, from spare and wear parts to equipment and service. “This investment is part of our development agenda to execute our commitment to ensuring availability and reduced lead times for customers.”

The Isithebe plant is part of Metso’s global foundry network, consisting of foundries in Ahmedabad, India; Přerov, in the Czech Republic; Quzhou, China; and in Sorocaba, Brazil.

Isithebe foundry director Thando Makhoba says sustainability is of the utmost importance to Metso, with the company developing its operations in a safe and sustainable manner, in close consultation with local communities.