
Valves and pumps for mining, metals and steel industry
Process reliability and productivity
We are an established and trusted partner in mining, metals and steel processing around the world. We offer a wide range of valve and pumping solutions to slurry, utility and severe service applications.
Benefits
Decades of experience in the mining and metals sector
Safety is always the highest priority for us
Reliable performance for demanding environments
Expert technical support and service in over 40 countries around the world
Common challenges
When handling abrasive slurries, reliability of the equipment is essential for economics and safety of the operations. Mining, minerals processing and metallurgy all have demanding process conditions. As it comes down to flow control and isolation for mining and other similar processes, it is crucial to carefully choose reliable equipment which guarantees continuity of the production process.
The initial price of a valve or pump is only the starting point. Most costs are generated during operation in terms of required maintenance, equipment spare parts, possible downtime and interference of process. Minor equipment breaks can quickly escalate to major issues, especially in remote locations.

Reliable flow control technology for demanding mining, metals and steel applications
Our expanded offering of solutions and services for mining minerals and metallurgical applications is more complete than ever. The leading technologies for demanding slurry applications strengthen Valmet's position in these industries. It ensures Valmet's continued strong capability to serve our customers basically in all commodities in the mining sector across the whole value chain from upstream minerals processing to downstream metallurgy. Our global presence is stronger than before, close to our customers.
We have decades of cumulated flow control industry knowledge and expertise in mining and metals industries. Our strong R&D and manufacturing capabilities for these industries are proven by the industry-leading heavy-duty pinch valves and knife gate valves as well as pumps.
Our expanded high-quality offering ensures lowest total cost of ownership in flow control for demanding slurry applications, e.g. in grinding, screening, cyclone separation, flotation, thickening, filtering and tailings applications. Our Neles™, Jamesbury™ and Flowrox™ valves and pumps are built to perform and handle demanding media – from abrasive slurries to the corrosive chemicals used in numerous refining processes. A significant proportion of global metals production flows through our valves.
In gold production, Valmet supplies valve solutions for processing plants using carbon-in-leach (CIL), carbon-in-pulp (CIP) or carbon-in-column (CIC) circuits. Our valves can handle the tough process environment created by autoclave pressure oxidation (POX).
In nickel production, Valmet valves are found in conventional nickel processing as well as in autoclave high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) circuits.
In copper production, Valmet offers valve solutions for copper concentrates production, smelting and electrolysis as well as for copper leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning.
We also work with many other minerals and metals processing plants including iron, aluminum, lithium, zinc, manganese, lead, silver, phosphate and potash to name a few. Contact us to find out how we can improve your plant’s flow control.
Valves and pumps for mining, metals and steel
Valmet offers a wide range of robust and reliable valve and pumping solutions for the mining, metals and steel industry.
Valves for different applications in mining and minerals processing
Valve and pump products and services
Insights into mining, metals and steel

Pumping 76% rock solids with Flowrox™ hose pumps
LKAB Svappavaara iron ore mine in Sweden chose Flowrox LPP-T100 transfer pumps for their pelletizing plant. They were looking for a solution that would allow them to pump effectively paste and high-density slurries. "The most important thing in terms of pump performance is that they function reliably. All the other benefits come after that. If a pump is not reliable, there is nothing else to benefit from either", the customer states.

Flowrox control and shut-off pinch valves succeed in ore and water treatment plants in a Spanish mine
After seven years of implementation of Flowrox™ pinch valves in a concentration plant, customer remains satisfied with the cost savings combined with reliable operation and easy valve maintenance. All 330 pinch valves were installed in an extension of their ore and water treatment plant. The project basically consisted of duplicating the size of an existing plant.

Rubber hose solves scaling issue -Increased uptime and process efficiency with Flowrox pumps
A smelting plant in Norway had a scaling problem. Their spill process water contains lots of carbonates which caused reoccurring damage to the previously used centrifugal pump. Another challenge for the new pump was to also empty the 3-meter-deep tank located underneath the pump’s location.

Valve management service provides production reliability for maintenance shutdowns at Outokumpu’s steel plant
The Outokumpu steel plant is an impressive sight next to the Gulf of Bothnia in Tornio. Despite being Outokumpu’s largest plant, it is very compact with everything close by. The plant produces stainless steel, and its history dates back to the 1960s. Its cooperation with Neles has spanned decades. “Cooperation has always been key,” says Aleksi Korteniemi, Category Manager, Outokumpu.
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Minerals and metals industry demands robust, reliable flow control
Major valve technology providers work with various customer industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to sugar and energy to minerals and metals. Indeed, the minerals and metals industry is increasingly found in the top positions of the list partly due to the fact that modern metals refineries resemble more of a chemical complex than a quarry, resulting in a significant need to optimize process flows.

How does Valmet's flow control business partner with customers in the mining, metals & steel industries?
Valves are needed in minerals and metals processing industries. We asked Heikki Kärki, Business Development Manager, FC P&S Business Management, to tell us more about the importance of valves in mining, and how we partner with our customers.

Correct valve installations double the operational lifespan at Tarkwa mine
Seemingly minor details can make a major difference in unplanned costs. Valves are small, yet essential part of mining industry processes, and if problems with the valves should occur, it can lead to unplanned downtime and the equivalent losses in output.

Availability service guarantees the delivery of valves to Terrafame mine in six hours
Availability service is a service format developed by Neles to guarantee that the client receives the necessary components within the required timeframe. Based on its agreement, Terrafame’s multi-mineral mine in Sotkamo gets new valves delivered within six hours.
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