HIGH PROFILE
A new VRM venture for mining from Metso and Loesche
Thanks to its efficient grinding mechanism, the Metso Loesche VRM( shown here as part of a potential plant installation) can deliver significantly improved mineral liberation which produces a steeper particle size distribution with minimal fines
On March 2, Metso Corporation and Loesche GmbH announced a landmark partnership agreement to introduce groundbreaking Metso Loesche vertical roller mill( VRM) dry grinding technology for a wide range of minerals processing applications. Now part of the Metso Plus offering, the Metso Loesche VRM can replace high-pressure grinding rolls( HPGR) and horizontal mills in primary and secondary applications and tertiary stirred mill applications, while at the same time simplifying the process and bringing savings in energy consumption and operating costs.
Downstream processes benefit from improved mineral liberation and steeper particle size distribution. Furthermore, advanced flow sheets incorporating coarse particle flotation, magnetic separation or other coarse beneficiation technologies can be facilitated, further reducing or even eliminating water consumption if fully dry processes are feasible.
The Metso Loesche VRM technology also features advanced wear materials to meet the demands of mineral processing applications and ensure high operating availability. Advanced process control is integrated to ensure optimum operation, easy stop-start, and rapid ramp up.
To get some more insight into the background of the partnership, and its potential in future flowsheets in mining, IM Editorial Director Paul Moore spoke to Managing Director of Loesche, Rüdiger Zerbe; and Christoph Hoetzel, Senior Vice President Grinding Business Line at Metso.
Q Loesche has a famous heritage in the cement sector but has also been active in mining for some years – a
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Vertical roller milling has huge potential in mining- and Metso and Loesche took a major step recently with a partnership agreement
good example being the Loesche Ore Grinding Plant( OGPmobile) deployed with New Steel for iron ore processing in Brazil. But this partnership with a global mineral processing technology company like Metso has the potential to bring Loesche Vertical Roller Mill( VRM) technology into mining at scale. Can you give some idea of the Loesche journey and indicate how significant a step is this?
RZ You are correct that we have been active in mining, and successfully, but our major business and what we are mainly known for, is the use of our VRM technology in limestone grinding for cement. Today we continue to offer I would argue the most advanced and efficient VRM solution in that industry. Our heritage goes back to 1906 with the very first Loesche mill patented in 1927. It featured a rotating grinding track that used centrifugal force to push the grinding stock outwards from the centre of the mill. The first four-roller mill went into operation in a plant near Naples in Italy in 1971 with a throughput of 214 t / h. With an increase in the size of the rollers and the grinding table, throughput of 425 t / h was achieved when the next generation was launched in 1975. In the 1990s, Loesche made another world record delivery with the sale of a 750 t / h raw material mill to a customer in Thailand. Moving to the 2000s, the Loesche Mill type LM 69.4 and LM 69.6 with product throughputs of up to 1200 t / h were sold to many customers. Sales of Loesche VRMs now exceed 2,400 units. But we also wanted to achieve the same success in mining where we believe the potential benefits are just as great – and Metso very much shared our vision on that, especially relating to efficiency and sustainability. The benefits are significant in mining – up to 40 % energy savings, enabling fully dry and reduced-
Christoph Hoetzel, Senior Vice President Grinding Business Line at Metso( left) with Managing Director of Loesche, Rüdiger Zerbe( right)
International Mining | MAY 2026