ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih updated magnetic separation at Concentrator No. 2

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih has completed the modernization of the magnetic separation area at the second ore processing plant (ROF-2). The total cost of the investment project was UAH 63 million.

In total, ROF-2 has five technological sections, each of which includes three stages of grinding, fractionation and magnetic separation, as well as desliming and dehydration of the concentrate at the filtration section. Earlier, in 2009-2010, the magnetic separators were replaced in two sections, and in the remaining three - from May 2018 to March 2019. In a little over a year, 21 separators were installed instead of 69 old ones. The reduction in their number did not lead to losses in production, on the contrary, it was possible to increase it by 950 tons of concentrate per month for each section, for all five - by 5,000 tons. Mainly, due to a decrease in the iron content in the enrichment waste - from an average of 1.9% to 1.45%.

The new equipment of the Finnish company Metso is not only more efficient due to the strong magnetic field, but also energy efficient. The reduction in the number of engines operating in the separation section allowed the mill to reduce electricity consumption by 73 kW /h per day in each section. At the same time, separators remain in reserve, thanks to which it is possible to carry out maintenance of equipment without interrupting production, which helps to reduce downtime.

Both concentrators were designed with limited space. The modernization at ROF-2 made it possible to free up space and gain free access to parts and assemblies - maintenance is now much easier, personnel began to spend less time on it, devote more time to production technology. In addition, on each section, the load on the factory floors has been reduced by 70 tons, which increases production safety.

Vladimir Teslyuk, Deputy General Director for Production of the Mining Department of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih:

- Modernization of the magnetic separation section in 2018–2019. we performed on our own, including the installation of various equipment, which helped us significantly save on the services of contractors. Our goal is to completely renovate our concentrators, achieve an increase in the percentage of iron in the concentrate, thereby increasing our competitiveness in the market and providing ArcelorMittal enterprises with better quality iron ore raw materials.