Weir wins order to supply North America’s largest mill pump

The Weir Group PLC (Weir), a global mining technology leader, has been awarded contracts to supply its WARMAN® slurry pumps and CAVEX® hydrocyclones to Teck’s Highland Valley Copper (HVC) Mine Life Extension (MLE) project in Canada.

Teck’s Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension Project aims to extend the mine’s operational life by enhancing existing site infrastructure, addressing the growing demand for copper driven by the transition to a low-carbon future. The project is expected to yield approximately 1.95 million t of additional copper over its lifespan.

A cornerstone of this project is the WARMAN MCR® 760 pump, which will be the largest mill circuit pump in North America. This addition complements Weir’s existing and planned installations of equivalent-sized pumps in South America and Australia. The WARMAN MCR 760 pump was developed to meet the demand for mill circuit pumps that can handle unprecedentedly high flow rates, minimising the number of operating lines in a plant, and addressing the global trend of declining ore grades that require increased throughput for economical mineral recovery. The WARMAN MCR 760 pump is designed to maximise wear life in arduous mill duties and facilitate easy and safe maintenance, regardless of an operator’s maintenance schedule or approach.

In addition, Weir will supply CAVEX 800CVX and 650CVX hydrocyclones for the MLE Project. HVC, with their experience operating CAVEX hydrocyclones, has chosen this trusted solution for its consistently high classification efficiency, capacity, and low maintenance requirements.

The MLE project will be fully supported by the local Weir service centre in Kamloops, British Columbia, ensuring that mission-critical equipment at the HVC mine operates efficiently. The proximity of this service centre means that any maintenance or support needs can be addressed promptly, minimising downtime and helping the mine maintain its targets. This local presence is crucial for the mine’s operations, providing reliable access to necessary parts and expert service.

Quinton Sutherland, Weir, Divisional Senior Product Manager, Pumps said:

‘Weir has a proven track record of supplying and supporting the largest, highest capacity mill pumps on the market. Designing, manufacturing, and supporting pumps of this scale presents unique technical and engineering challenges, which is why Weir’s team of experts, drawing on decades of experience supporting customers across the globe, are the best choice when deciding who to trust with the most critical mill circuit operations.

‘It’s an engineering and manufacturing feat that’s not easily replicable, which is why it’s important that we can demonstrate to our customers that we’ve done this before, and they know that they can have absolute confidence in us.

‘With declining ore grades and increased demand, miners are increasingly looking for solutions to increase their throughput and our pumps play a pivotal role in ensuring they continue to meet their production targets.

Phil Blondin, Weir, Director, Capital Sales North America said:

‘Weir prioritises being close to our customers wherever they are in the world. We have a service centre in Kamloops – a close drive to HVC – and a local team that can provide service and maintenance support, as well as an inventory programme that encompasses the lifecycle of the products we supply.

‘This is the first mill pump this large in North America and, while Weir has manufactured and installed pumps this size in other parts of the world, we recognise that having a service network to support customers at every stage of the project is an essential part of what we’re offering.’