Order to support Iron Bridge magnetite project in Australia
22.01.2021The Weir Group has won a £ 95 m (US$ 130 m) order to provide aftermarket components and service to the Iron Bridge magnetite project in Western Australia. The aftermarket contract follows Weir’s success in winning a record £ 100 m (US$ 136.8 m) order for original equipment for the Iron Bridge project in 2019, including its innovative Enduron® High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGRs) that enable dry processing of ore and use at least 30 % less energy than traditional alternatives.
Enduron® High Pressure Grinding Roll in manufacturing
© Weir
The Iron Bridge magnetite Project is a US$ 2.6 bn joint venture between Fortescue Metals Group’s subsidiary FMG Magnetite Pty Ltd and Formosa Steel IB Pty Ltd and is located in the Pilbara region, around 145 km south of Port Hedland. Both the aftermarket order and revenues will be recognised over the seven year period of the agreement which starts in 2022, in line with the Project’s initial production.
Weir’s Enduron® HPGRs are increasingly replacing conventional mills in comminution (crushing, screening and grinding) circuits. In addition to their energy and water savings they also reduce grinding media consumption, while their wearable components last longer, reducing maintenance costs. Additionally, HPGRs contribute significantly to carbon dioxide emission savings.
This latest contract award means Weir now has more than £ 200 m (US$ 273.5 m) of orders from the Iron Bridge Project including its Enduron® HPGRs, GEHO® and Warman® pumps, Cavex® hydrcyclones and Isogate® valves. To support the project and future growth, Weir will build a new service centre in Port Hedland, in Western Australia, thereby providing employment and training opportunities in the area, with a particular emphasis on supporting greater Aboriginal representation in the broader mining workforce.
