Metso is on a mission to be number one in pumps.
Pump systems may not be the most attention-grabbing technology on a mine site, but inefficient or unreliable pumps can quickly cripple essential processes such as grinding, classification and dewatering. In the worst cases, they can bring the entire plant to a standstill.
Metso is tackling that challenge head-on. With more than 130 years of global pumping expertise and a significantly expanded local presence, the company is pairing robust pump technologies with a holistic support model.
This model is designed to help Australian mining operations lift throughput, reduce downtime and lower total cost of ownership.
“We are committed to proving our pumps and services can handle the most challenging duties,” Metso director of pumps in Asia Pacific Chris Barnes said. “And our aim is to be the number one pumps choice for customers here in Australia.”
While Metso is already a pumps market leader in Europe, the company has invested heavily in people, capability and infrastructure to build a strong local footprint across Australia. That investment underpins its ability to respond quickly, provide on-the-ground support and deliver full-lifecycle pump solutions.
And for Australian operations, the approach is proving its value.
When Aeris Resources’ Tritton copper operation in New South Wales needed more predictable pump performance and reduced maintenance burden, Metso stepped in to assess the existing circuit as Tritton’s older competitor pump required frequent rebuilds and tied up maintenance resources across the plant.
Metso’s engineering team conducted a detailed review of the operating conditions, including power draw, throughput levels, bearing performance and gland behaviour. This analysis confirmed that the pumps were frequently operating outside their optimal efficiency window.
The solution was an upgrade to Metso’s mill discharge metal MDM250 mill pump. Its thicker casings and liners offer improved durability, while enhanced hydraulics keep the pump operating within its best efficiency zone, reducing internal stresses and extending wear life.
For Tritton, that translated into reduced rebuilds from seven to four each year, a doubling of wear life, fewer unexpected maintenance events and a more predictable maintenance regimen. In addition to reliability improvements, the pump upgrade also delivered measurable gains in water and energy efficiency.
Beyond reliability, the MDM250 at Tritton also delivered meaningful water and energy savings. Equipped with Metso’s Endura and Enviroseal gland sealing technologies, the pump achieved a dramatic reduction in gland water usage, around six times less than the previous set-up.
Beyond the pump
Barnes also noted a growing shift across the mining industry: operators are moving away from transactional equipment purchases and toward long-term, performance-based partnerships.
Metso’s Life Cycle Services (LCS) model reflects that trend. These multiyear agreements bundle equipment, technical support, condition monitoring tools, trials, spare parts and inventory management into a single, predictable solution.
“Our customers want a partner who supports them throughout the full lifecycle of their pumps,” Barnes said.
“With LCS, we bring a performance-based approach, improving efficiency, enhancing safety and ensuring reliable pumping performance year-round.
“Under LCS, Metso can deploy trial pumps to support customer evaluation and introduce upgraded equipment as part of long-term service partnerships.”
The company will also consign components as Metso-owned inventory, reducing customer holding costs while strengthening parts availability.
Metso’s investment in Australia extends beyond pumps, covering a broader slurry handling portfolio suited to local mining needs. This includes MHC hydrocyclones, slurry valves, and slurry hoses and pipe systems, equipment that supports consistent, reliable material movement across the processing flowsheet.
Recent portfolio additions, including the acquisitions of Australian companies Jindex (slurry valves and flow control expertise) and Q&R (slurry hose manufacturing), further strengthen in country capabilities. These developments expand local manufacturing and support capacity, giving mining operations better access to regionally produced components, shorter supply chains and faster response times.
Digitalisation also features strongly in Metso’s pump strategy. Integrated condition monitoring and predictive analytics give operators real-time insights into pump health and slurry handling performance, enabling more accurate maintenance planning and helping to prevent failures before they occur.
These technologies are backed by Metso’s expanded regional service network across Asia Pacific. With service locations in Surabaya, Tomago, Mackay, Karratha and Perth, plus a dedicated pumps operation centre in Kalgoorlie, the company is well positioned to mobilise quickly and keep customer sites pumping.
This feature appeared in the April issue of Australian Mining magazine.
