Metso is increasing its manufacturing capacity for large crusher wear parts castings used in minerals processing by investing in a second melting furnace at the Isithebe foundry in South Africa. The €3.5 million investment will ensure the availability of Metso's heavy crusher wear parts globally.

Joni Meronen, director of Mining Crusher Wears at Metso, said: “The demand for large crusher wear parts is growing in the mining industry. With this investment, we ensure we can meet our customers’ needs. Through the renewal of the foundry, we will improve our capabilities to deliver high-quality heavy wear parts.”

The renewed foundry will be able to manufacture wear parts for the Nordberg MP2500 cone crusher, as well as for Metso and third-party primary gyratory wear parts with full use of the latest manufacturing technologies. The first product deliveries from the new furnace are scheduled for May 2019. During the renovation project, production of castings will continue as usual in the existing facilities.

Jose E. Perez, senior vice-president of the Crushing and Screening Wears business line at Metso, commented: “We are the leading service partner for the mining industry, and the only supplier able to provide a full portfolio for comminution, from spare and wear parts to equipment and service. This investment is part of our development agenda to execute our commitment to ensuring availability and reduced lead times for our customers.”

The Isithebe plant is part of Metso's global foundry network, consisting of foundries located in Ahmedabad, India; Prerov, the Czech Republic; Quzhou, China; and Sorocaba, Brazil.