FACE-TO-FACE
Leon Louw
2017 marked 60 years since Metso’ s manufacturing facility in Vereeniging began operations.
so I’ m busy doing a holistic study and footprint analysis for the organisation to see what our future set-up is going to look like in terms of resources on the ground. For example, do we need to set up a distribution centre specifically in Zambia, or do we need to start looking at micro manufacturing or at having strategic partners or distributors?
RG: Metso recently released a new cone crusher. Why did you choose to do it at this time? QA: The reason any company launches any new innovation or product is either to add value or to stay ahead of the market. In this case, for Metso it is a combination of both. We are basically coming out of a downturn for the mining sector, and end users are really focusing on optimisation, cutting costs, and improving the bottom line.
When you look at the energy curve for a mining operation, the crushing circuit is the highest consuming circuit, which translates to a high energy cost. The MX cone crusher uses less energy than other similar crushers, and also improves efficiency and optimisation. The whole design was also specifically focused on minimising the downtime needed for maintenance. All of this works together to give us a cone crusher with lower energy costs, improved efficiency, and minimised downtime, which is what our customers are looking for.
As Metso, we are aware that capital is a sensitive topic, which is why we have looked at alternative solutions. Metso has a variety of financing options to ensure that the customer does not have to capitalise it, such as the lifecycle services concept( LCS). We would generally offer this type of product with an LCS service product, which would then mean that the cost of the entire product could be amortised over a specific period. So, if we say 36 or 48 months, one option would be to calculate the repayment amount on a cost-per-tonne basis, which would link repayment of the investment to production, and to the top and bottom line for the end user.
RG: Metso is committing to reducing its CO 2 emissions by 20 % by 2020. How do you plan to accomplish this, specifically in your South African and southern African operations? QA: One of the ways that we can make a huge impact in terms of reducing our CO 2 emissions is by potentially investing in renewable energy. So, one of the key things that we are doing with the feasibility study, for example, is that we need to replace the sheeting on the manufacturing facility here in Vereeniging, and we are looking at whether we can put in solar panels. Then, depending on how much energy we require, we can see how much the facility can generate for its own consumption. What makes this a really interesting option is that we have a manufacturing concern that operates primarily between 08:00 and 17:00, with its peak hours between 10:00 and 16:00, which is really the optimal time to generate solar or renewable energy. There is also no obstruction at the facility that would hinder access to solar rays.
Another part of the feasibility study for the Vereeniging facility is looking at an energy-
38
MARCH 2018