Metso Delivers Recrushing Plant to Chilean Contractor

Metso has delivered a FIT™ Recrushing Plant to its contractor customer, Mantencion Proyectos Montajes (MPM) in Chile. The plant is now operating for a copper producing end-customer.

The project began in 2021 when MPM approached Metso needing a new crushing and screening plant. The FIT Recrushing plant was specified to handle between 400 – 450 tonnes per hour. The objective was to boost the capacity of the main circuit's SAG mill by processing material suitable for return to the primary circuit.

A significant challenge for MPM was the delivery timeline. The FIT Recrushing plant was intended to process hard SAG pebble material. A prompt operational status was crucial for enabling both MPM and the end producer to realize benefits sooner.

Further operational challenges emerged, including processing material different from the initial specification and a higher-than-expected quantity of steel media balls from the SAG mill. These factors limited operational efficiency. Through collaborative efforts, process adjustments were implemented by Metso and MPM, improving plant availability and achieving performance targets.

Metso also provided training sessions for MPM personnel on plant operation and maintenance. Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the project achieved record times for installation, commissioning, and start-up.