The 13 tonne magnet, developed and built at Bunting Europe facilities in the UK, will use high-strength magnetic forces to separate and lift damaging tramp metal from approximately 2.7 million tonnes of conveyed ore over a 12-month operating period.

When deployed at the the Agnico Eagle-operated mine, the large electro overband magnet will be suspended in a crossbelt orientation across the non-magnetic head pulley of a conveyor transporting mined ore. 

Tramp ferrous metal entering the deep and strong magnetic field is attracted to the face of the electro magnet and lifted up and onto the surface of a continuously-moving self-cleaning rubber belt.  Reinforced and heavy-duty rubber wipers on the belt catch the captured metal, transferring it to the side and away from the conveyed ore. 

"Large mining projects, such as this, often require bespoke solutions," explained Adrian Coleman, the general manager of Bunting's Redditch facility.  "Over 40 years we have gained considerable experience in designing and building large Electro Overband Magnets.  However, this was the largest we have ever manufactured at Redditch, presenting many challenges, which were overcome.  And the design and manufacturing process all took place during the Covid-19 crisis."

The overband magnet is 4.2m long, 3m wide and 2.2m high, and was built at Bunting's UK magnetic separator manufacturing facility.