NORDIC SUPPLIERS
Technology beyond borders
In a region renowned for innovation, Nordic mining
service and equipment suppliers are developing a number
of interesting solutions to solve several global mining
problems. Dan Gleeson takes a look at some of these Yara's Siilinjärvi apatite mine, in Finland, has
been using the Outotec ACT Thickener
Optimizer at its 10 Mt/y plant to ensure the
paste thickeners can consistently run with a
high and stable underflow solids content of 66-
68%
here is a reason the Nordic mine supply
sector is renowned for being a global
leader when it comes to innovation – it
has companies willing to collaborate.
Whether it is developments in 5G network
communications, equipping mines with more
efficient ground support processes, or the
introduction of a new generation of battery-
electric vehicles, Nordic equipment and service
providers have realised over the years that two
(or more) heads are better than one.
Several projects in the region have recently
attracted worldwide attention.
Take the Sustainable Underground Mining
(SUM) project, a collaborative effort between
miner LKAB and suppliers Epiroc, Volvo Group,
Combitech and ABB. While the four sub-projects
that come under the SUM umbrella are, initially,
intended to be used at LKAB’s Kiruna and
Malmberget iron ore mines, the end goal – to
make the mine of tomorrow “carbon dioxide-
free, digitalised and autonomous” – is
something all global companies mining ore
below ground are aiming for.
LKAB explained why the SUM project
collaboration works: “The strength of a major
partnership such as SUM is that each company
can contribute with its unique expertise. Epiroc
has extensive experience of machinery
developed for use underground and the Volvo
group of vehicles used above ground.
Combitech contributes with knowledge of how
different systems can be integrated with each
other and ABB with management systems, ie
how the communication can work.”
Then there is the 5G developments that
several Nordic-based partnerships are pushing
forward and the industry is scrutinising.
Telia, Ericsson and Volvo CE are involved in
such an initiative, which will see the
construction and mining equipment provider
become one of the first in the world to use 5G mineralogy and tailings feed-rate variation.
The thickener enables consistent and
efficient dewatering performance – even with
changing process conditions, according to the
company.
“Through consistent performance and high
underflow density, the 2nd Generation Outotec
Paste Thickener maximises beaching angle in
the tailings storage facility to provide safer
operations and maximised lifespan,” Outotec
said.
The new paste thickener is built for
applications requiring a high degree of
dewatering, such as minerals tailings, mine
backfill, and pre-leach and Counter Current
Decantation circuits, according to the company.
Yet, Outotec customises the solution to address
each operation's unique drivers. This can
include environmental concerns, water recovery,
regulatory requirements, tailings management,
or limitations on available land space, it said.
Outotec has a history of developing paste
thickeners, as well as the design and delivery of
large-scale paste thickening projects, which, it
said, has given it a deep understanding of the
key aspects of high-density thickeners,
“including effective flocculation, dewatering,
raking, prevention of rotating mud beds,
process control, and the discharge of thickened
solids”.
“One such case was the deployment of
Outotec paste thickener technology…at Yara's
Siilinjärvi apatite mine in Finland,” Simon
Courtenay, Product Manager for the Outotec
2nd Generation Paste Thickener, said. “The
plant generates around 10 Mt/y of tailings and,
thanks to the Outotec ACT Thickener Optimizer,
the paste thickeners can consistently run with a
high and stable underflow solids content of 66-
68%, regardless of challenging mineralogy and
tailings feed-rate variation. This results in
average beach slope angles of 3.5° (6.1%) in the
T
28 International Mining | JUNE 2019
technology to test remote-controlled machines
and autonomous solutions. Ericsson is also
involved with Epiroc in jointly helping mining
companies achieve optimal wireless
connectivity in their operations through Long
Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G technologies. And
Nokia has teamed up with Sandvik to create
similar LTE and 5G communications backbones
for mines of the future.
Epiroc has also emphasised the need for
collaboration in its own zero-emissions journey
with underground mining equipment.
The company, during its second-generation
battery-electric equipment launch in November,
stressed how integral its partnerships with ABB
(e-drivetrain) and Northvolt (lithium-ion
batteries) had been to it achieving over 60,000
operating hours in the field with its first
generation of machines.
And, SSAB has been open to collaboration,
not just within the Nordic region, for many years
through its Swedish Steel Prize. The company
started accepting entries for the 2019
competition – which marks the 20th anniversary
of the event – recently.
SSAB said: “Over the past two decades, the
award has inspired creative engineers, designers
and inventors to utilise the endless potential of
steel to change our world for the better.”
Last year’s winner, Mantella from Italy,
revolutionised the design of its innovative
Stratosphere tipper trailer by implementing
major design advances in the use of high-
strength steel with SSAB helping deliver this by
providing its own Hardox ® 500 Tuf and Strenx ®
960 materials.
Thickening technology
Outotec, one of the Nordic region’s mineral
processing leaders, recently introduced the 2nd
Generation Paste Thickener to, it said, maximise
underflow density regardless of challenging