Weir Minerals won a £95 million ($128 million) order to provide aftermarket components and service to the Iron Bridge magnetite project in Western Australia. This follows the company successful order for original equipment for the Iron Bridge project in 2019, including its Enduron High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGRs) that enable dry processing of ore and use at least 30% less energy than traditional alternatives, the company said.
The Iron Bridge magnetite project is a $2.6 billion joint venture between Fortescue Metals Group’s subsidiary FMG Magnetite Pty Ltd. and Formosa Steel IB Pty Ltd. and is located in the Pilbara region, around 145 kilometers (km) south of Port Hedland.
“This is another landmark order for Weir,” President Ricardo Garib said. “Having helped design an energy and water efficient magnetite processing plant, we are delighted to provide operational support for Iron Bridge from 2022. It is an excellent example of the value that Weir’s innovative engineering and close customer support can create for all our stakeholders and reflects the key role we have to play in making mining operations more sustainable and efficient.”
Weir said its Enduron HPGRs are increasingly replacing conventional mills in comminution (crushing, screening and grinding) circuits. In addition to their energy and water savings, they also reduce grinding media consumption, while their wearable components last longer, reducing maintenance costs, the company said.
“This is an important project for Weir and for the broader mining industry,” said Stuart Hayton, managing director of Weir Minerals Netherlands, where the Enduron HPGRs are designed and manufactured. “We know comminution is one of the most energy intensive parts of the mineral process and with our Enduron HPGRs, we have a unique ability to offer significant cost, energy and water savings to customers around the world.”
Both the aftermarket order and revenues will be recognized over the seven-year period of the agreement which starts in 2022, in line with the project’s initial production. This latest contract award means Weir now has more than £200 million ($270 million) of orders from the Iron Bridge Project, including its HPGRs, pumps, valves and hydrocyclones. To support the project and future growth in the region, Weir will build a new service center in Port Hedland, Western Australia.
