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the operator to adjust parameters such as the reagent delivery . So , the accuracy of the Courier is crucial – and our monitoring helps ensure the precision of those analysers .” The site takes regular samples and use certified measurements of copper content in the feed and froth and the tails – Metso compares that with the Courier data and if there is any difference , even 1 or 2 % then the Courier is recalibrated . This recalibration is done normally once or sometimes twice a week . One Courier can have up to six flows and a major mine can have multiple Couriers .
The Performance Center is currently only monitoring Metso equipment – and beyond the recognised quality of the Metso equipment in the first place , having this prescriptive maintenance service helps to act as an added differentiator for customers . It is offered to customers as a value-added service – but also for some new equipment it is part of a warranty package for one year . It can also be added as part of an upgrade , or form part of a fixed maintenance or Life Cycle Services contract with a site . It is entirely retrofittable to existing equipment .
So , what has been added since inception and how will these services grow and evolve going forward in both Santiago and elsewhere ? “ We started only in 2020 with an MP1250 cone crusher . Now we have all the Metso MP crushers able to be supported from the Centers . We then added HP crushers and will soon offer these services for MKII and MKIII Superior primary gyratory crushers as well . We have the PSI and Courier analysers , as well as screens and pumps . We are adding more grinding mills – we already have two connected and are adding two more . This includes both SAG and ball mills , and both gearless and gear driven . In addition to these technologies , in Espoo , Finland , they are monitoring pressure and belt filters .”
The Performance Center in Santiago is not just monitoring equipment located in Chile . It is also monitoring crushing equipment in Panama , as well as supporting the monitoring of equipment for the Performance Center in Finland looking at signals for crushers and other equipment in Europe , South Africa and Finland . Likewise , if the Chile Performance Center were to connect a filter press – then Finland could perform a similar function . “ We work together to transfer knowledge and to share experience and best practices . All the infrastructure that we have is cloud based and you can see the information from anywhere .”
How does the Performance Center interact with the customer ? They have user interface visualisations : “ We have two comms channels – the customers receive email alerts that inform them on what we are seeing and what the potential failure could be and what could be the impact of that failure , plus the actions they need to take to avoid that failure . We also have regular scheduled meeting with customers where we summarise which actions they have impending . We also have some kind of contact with every customer on a daily basis .”
Usually , the main Metso contact at the customer site for these meetings is a senior engineer , who reports to the superintendent of the plant and ultimately to the plant manager ; but the superintendent is also part of any maintenance and operations communications especially for any serious or critical issues that arise during remote monitoring .
How fast is demand for these remote services growing ? “ At the beginning because it was new , customers were quite conservative , as is typical in mining . Or they wanted proof of the value before committing to it . So , we started offering it as a free add on as part of other services . Our first customer , a major Chilean copper mine , used the remote monitoring for seven months as part of a pilot then immediately recognised the value of the service and committed to continue on a paid for basis . Now we have more equipment supported with our customers , spanning a range of different technologies . And we are now in the process of starting monitoring for them at their other concentrator plant .” Zuniga emphasised the important of liaising with the right person at the site – ideally someone in
the maintenance team – to be able to demonstrate the value .
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