Metso is set to provide an HRC-3000 for Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold’s Morenci copper mine in Arizona, USA. This HRC, which will be the world’s largest machine of its kind, is Metso’s new concept in high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) technology.
The HRC-3000 will perform tertiary crushing in the comminution circuit, which includes crushers and ball mills (also supplied by Metso) and will provide a highly efficient solution for this application.
“Operating costs are increasing throughout the industry, with power being a key component,” said Andy Lingenfelter, Metso’s global key account manager, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold. “Our customers are looking for more efficient technology to achieve the best returns in these circumstances.”
The HRC’s ability to meet the demands of this application is a result of its innovative design, which improves throughput and efficiency of the existing HPGR technology. More than 8,000 hours of testing including 4,000 hours in a pilot plant operating at Morenci have proven the design and efficiency of the HRC.
Scheduled to be online by early 2014, the HRC-3000 will be operating: high-tonnage tertiary crushing of hard rock. The incentive for operators—thanks to improvements in efficiency at increased throughput—is cost savings. “One of the reasons (our customers) are looking at HRC technology is because they see how our design can provide long-term benefits in operating costs,” said Lingenfelter.
