SCREENING
Haver & Boecker Niagara recently engineered a new elliptical motion Niagara XL-Class vibrating screen for a Brazilian iron ore producer
Screening shake-ups
From recent major consolidation moves to the latest designs and technologies , Paul Moore reviews the screening market in mining
There has been a significant amount of consolidation in the vibrating screen market in mining , not least with the recent closing of FLSmidth ’ s acquisition of TK Mining . This brought together the strengths of FLSmidth ’ s screening line-up , which is rooted in the Ludowici business which it acquired in 2012 and has grown from being centred on the Australasian market to being a major global player , with TK Mining ’ s long established screening portfolio .
The FLSmidth range includes its BRU linear motion ( banana ) screens which come in a wide range of sizes ranging from 0.9 m to 4.8 m wide and up to 11 m long along with the VSW dewatering screens plus circular motion screens ; with TK Mining ’ s screening products including DU linear motion screens with double eccentric drive , circular vibrating screens , grizzles and the new multiple vibrating screen goovi ® which has several vibration modes ( circular , linear , elliptical ) by simple adjustments thanks to its innovative , patented drive concept .
Mikko Keto , FLSmidth Group CEO recently told IM on the day the deal closed on September 1 :
The combination of FLSmidth and TK Mining makes a new screening force to be reckoned with
“ Another strong part of the merged company is screening – where both FLSmidth and TK Mining had leading products and solutions and where following other consolidation in that market , we are now a very clear number two and we want to keep it that way plus grow further .” Of course there may be some decisions on whether to keep certain lines and facilities where there is overlap - a portfolio review is underway which will conclude prior to the FLSmidth Capital Markets Day on January 18 , 2023 .
Sandvik to add Schenck after Kwatani
Earlier in May 2022 , Sandvik Group signed an agreement to acquire the mining related business of Schenck Process Group ( SP Mining ). SP Mining is one of the market leaders in screening , feeding and screening media solutions in the industry . The company will be reported in Stationary Crushing and Screening , a division in Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions ( SRP ).
“ I am pleased that we continue to execute on our shift to growth strategy by expanding our core offering in a profitable niche , as well as strengthening the aftermarket share within rock processing . This validates our strategy when forming the Sandvik Rock Processing business area , and it allows us to bring value to a larger part of our mining customers ’ value chain ,” says Stefan Widing , President and CEO of Sandvik .
SP Mining is a global provider of high-capacity screening solutions , highly complementary to Sandvik ’ s offering , and with a strong aftermarket business which includes application support , screen refurbishment , product engineering design and manufacturing and digital support services . The two companies already had a global partnership agreement in place dating from 2016 that brought together Sandvik ’ s high productivity
cone crushers and Schenck Process ’ high capacity multislope screens .
Main R & D and production sites are located in Australia , with additional production units in South Africa , Brazil and China . “ SP Mining ’ s proven range of high-capacity screens and feeders will complement the Sandvik product range and enhance our position among key customer groups within mining rock processing . The transaction also gives Sandvik access to a broadened screening media offering , which will add significant potential to our aftermarket business ,” says Anders Svensson , President of Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions .
SP Mining has approximately 630 employees and in 2022 the company expects revenues of about € 200 million of which approximately 70 % is aftermarket , and an EBITA margin accretive to Sandvik Rock Processing Solutions ’ margin . Sandvik states : “ Strong synergies are expected to drive revenue growth of mid- to high-single digits above market growth . EV / EBITDA multiple including expected five year run-rate synergies is approximately 10x . Impact on Sandvik ’ s earnings per share will initially be neutral .” The transaction is expected to close during fourth quarter of 2022 and is subject to relevant regulatory approvals .
As detailed before in IM , SP Mining has delivered some of the most advanced and high throughput screening solutions for mining in recent years – a notable example being at First Quantum ’ s Cobre Panama operations and the largest multi-slope banana screen ever built – some 4.3 m wide and 9.7 m long . The excitation force of the new SLD4397DXX ‘ mega ’ screen is delivered by four DF704 exciters mounted on two unitary beams . The drive assembly incorporates a unique twin gearbox arrangement driven via a single motor , ensuring effective exciter phasing . This project followed one for mill discharge screens at the same mine , which are also among the biggest in the world with the design dubbed the ‘ Beast .’
The move follows Sandvik ’ s acquisition of Kwatani in South Africa in December 2021 . Competing with leading OEMs from around the world , Kwatani in August 2022 announced what it described as “ a mammoth export order ” for over 70 screens . The order was signed in April with a large copper mine in central Asia , which boasts a production rate of 35 Mt / y a year . According to Kwatani General Manager Sales and Service Jan Schoepflin , the machines will be rolled out and delivered over a tight schedule of just eight months . Kwatani says it is already hard at work manufacturing the large and medium-sized screens at its South African manufacturing facility .
40 International Mining | OCTOBER 2022