Mineral Processing Provides Consistent Opportunities

The cyclical nature of the mining industry cannot always be predicted, but some areas have remained sustainable enough to find success even in difficult periods. Metso operates primarily in mineral processing, which is an essential part of any mining operation. “Mexico’s mineral processing sector has not yet experienced any downturn as all mines in the country are still active, so business with our existing customers is still going strong,” states Leif Lindholm, Vice-President for Mexico and the Caribbean of Metso. Despite this fact, Lindholm stresses that the company has felt some delays in regards to new projects. Even so, as mines continue to progress their operations, Metso’s customer base continues to demand more efficient, cost-saving products and services. Mexico is up to date on its mineral processing techniques, although, like most aspects of mining, companies are looking for solutions that provide greater cost-efficiency. “This is a big advantage for us as we possess a wealth of knowledge about ways to achieve that goal,” states Lindholm. “Our existing equipment is designed to perform with the utmost efficiency, while new Metso lines such as process monitoring equipment allow for better control over said processes, resulting in a further increase in efficiency.” The company’s Process Technology division regularly carries out site audits on mines to determine both existing and potential issues. One factor that can impact process integration is the conflicts that sometimes arise between the operations and maintenance teams in a mine site. “More often than not, these two divisions do not have the same targets, so we have to find a way to integrate our solutions in a way that keeps everybody happy,” explains Lindholm

“One of the main bottlenecks in the processing chain is the discovery of suitable talent,” says Lindholm. “For many years, Mexican mining schools only taught a handful of students, making it difficult to find the right people when the industry started to grow. Now that growth has slowed down and universities are producing a welltrained Mexican workforce, it has become much easier to recruit, but not everybody has the necessary experience in the field. Lindholm explains that Metso can train these individuals through specific programs, getting them out of a classroom and into the company’s own facilities. He mentions that not all of the students end up working at Metso, but they are provided with a good basis to go on and develop mining careers.

Metso owns only one plant in Mexico that manufactures mill linings. This plant has been operating for 32 years, and is as efficient and modern as the company’s other 11 rubber plants around the world. Metso’s mill linings represent one of its greatest successes in Mexico, but the company anticipates that its lifecycle service contracts will represent the next success story. These contracts integrate the company’s processing technology with its solutions and its entire equipment portfolio, and are intended to position Metso as a one-source supplier for its customers, both old and new. “Inside plants, I have found that operations in Mexico are at the same levels as in most countries,” describes Lindholm. “Our direct contribution to automation can be seen in the running and monitoring of the mills, crushers, and flotation. Even so, automation is not just linked to manufacturing, it is also linked to the public perception of mining. Our new monitoring systems will take away much of the manual oversight of mining processes, bringing the sector in line with many other industries.”

Metso maintains a significant local presence in Mexico while counting on its global resources, allowing the company to tailor solutions to the specific issues encountered in each market. That local commitment is translated in the number of people Metso employs in Mexico, as well as their level of training; something which Lindholm claims no competitors can match. Beyond that, it boils down to customization. “Every project is different, so we have to be able to adapt to all circumstances,” he states.

The Mexican mining sector currently contributes around 15% of Metso’s overall profit, but this is expected to grow as the company develops its services division. “Even when the industry is in a slump, mining companies are always in need of our most popular services, such as preventive maintenance,” explains Lindholm. “For the last seven years, we have had contracts with major companies to inspect all of their equipment. This is the case with Peñoles where we annually inspect all of their mills. Our inspections allow us to identify problems before they become critical issues, such as cracks in gears or mill shells, and help to fix them before the machines break down. Such inspections make sense in times where cost efficiency and productivity are high priorities. Demand is also growing for other products like mills and crushers. There are worldwide developments in mining that are coming to Mexico and contributing to a rise in demand for these types of equipment.”