A big acquisition by a major quarrying name and several product introductions have created a lively global screening media market.
Metso, the Finnish quarrying and mining equipment market giant, is expanding its screening solutions in China. The initial investment includes an agreement to acquire Selm (Beijing) Technology Co, a privately owned company’s screening business, operations and key assets.
By combining the new offering with its own expertise in screening equipment, media, repairs and services, Metso can strengthen its services to better support mining and aggregate customers in China.
“The acquisition is a significant step in advancing our screening regional strategy of being closer to our customers, fostering a market-focused approach. We are excited to enhance our role in China as a leading provider of screening solutions for large projects like super quarries,” Metso vice president of screening Jouni Mähönen said.
“We warmly welcome new colleagues to contribute to our growth targets and improved customer service.”
Xiaofeng Liang, Metso president of the Great China market area, is happy to be acquiring a company with “products and services well recognised by customers in the mining and aggregates industries”.
“The acquisition will further enrich Metso’s product portfolio and strengthen our competitiveness and market position,” he said.
“This move will enable us to provide comprehensive screening solutions in China, where Metso has a strong customer base and service capability in the mining and aggregates industries.”
The acquisition is subject to conditions precedent and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2025. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value, which has no material impact on Metso’s financials.
Selm is a Chinese manufacturer of mining and aggregate screens and technologies, including micro-sizing screening solutions. The company has around 180 employees and operates in Shenyang, north-east China.
“We have been developing our screening business over the past years, building expertise and a strong reputation among customers,” Selm founder Huifeng Tang said. “Moving forward, the screen offering will benefit customers as part of Metso, and our employees will get a valued new employer.”
Metso’s screening solutions for aggregates and mining customers include banana screens, horizontal screens, inclined screens, mobile screens, portable screens, ultrafine screens, screening media, and capital screen-related parts, repairs and services.
Simplified screening
MAJOR vice president of global sales and marketing Ian Edwards explained how radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology is simplifying screening.
“Each aggregate and mining application is unique, meaning that screen media must be sized specifically to fit the quarry or mine’s needs,” he said.
“Traditionally, inventory management and ordering new screen media processes have been time-consuming and prone to sizing errors. To address these challenges, some manufacturers are integrating RFID technology, specifically near field communication [NFC], to streamline these procedures.
“These electronic tags are inserted into the polyurethane strips or frames for easy access. The tag can be scanned and read through an RFID reader or an app, which transmits data, including the inventory number for the screen media, the sizing of the wire, wire openings, and more.”
Edwards outlined the key benefits of RFID technology.
Convenience for inventory management
Many RFID inventory management systems require a specialised RFID reader. Operations should look for a manufacturer that includes an integrated RFID reader tool into its company app, allowing operators to use only their smartphones. This simplifies tracking inventory in a single, easy-to-use platform. If Wi-Fi is unavailable, NFC technology can store data offline and sync it once a connection is restored.
Some manufacturers also include inventory management alongside the RFID reader in their app. Features often include additional options like product ordering and the ability to calculate screening efficiency and open area.
Orders are recorded electronically, ensuring easy access to order histories and reducing the risk of misplacing essential information.
Sizing accuracy
Previously, operators manually measured each screen media panel with a measuring tape to determine the size of new panels to order or to ensure the correct panel was being placed.
In this situation, even the slightest error meant ordering or installing the wrong size screen media. Not only does this result in the screen media not fitting the screen box, it can also mean the final product doesn’t fit specification, leading to lost profit over time.
RFID technology reads the specifications of the screen media through the tag, which means operators can be sure they’re putting in the proper screen media before start-up.
The RFID reader also makes it easier to switch out screen panels with different open areas by recording the size of the screen media. If a screen media panel needs to be replaced, operators can use the reader to quickly pull up the specs of the screen media and the wire.
Simplified reordering
While traditional screen media specifications – including part numbers, sizing specs and inventory data – are printed on the side of the panels, these markings can wear off over time. RFID tags eliminate guesswork by providing digital access to these specs, ensuring operators always have the necessary information on their devices. In addition, this technology allows for custom notes and details tailored to each operation’s specific requirements.
Edwards notes that RFID technology makes inventory management simpler and more precise, regardless of the material being screened. He advises looking for a manufacturer who embraces this technology and provides easy-to-use, intuitive, app-centred warehouse management options.
Top-tier solutions
After a rigorous three-year testing period, FLS used Electra Mining 2024 to officially launch its NexGen polyurethane, a heavy-duty and hard-wearing screen panel for large particle applications. Combining the physical properties of rubber and polyurethane elastomers, NexGen offers excellent wear resistance in highly abrasive applications such as early-stage screens and trommels.
As part of its dedication to providing top-tier screening media solutions tailored to meet the demands of commodity areas, FLS has brought its NexGen polyurethane screen media panel to market. Designed to offer long wear life, the NexGen polyurethane panel is ideally suited for early-stage screens and trommels where high abrasion is the order of the day.
“Due to its extremely durable properties, it lasts longer than rubber or standard polyurethane in high-impact applications. In some instances, it has been proven to offer double the screen panel wear life of rubber in these high-abrasion environments,” FLS service line manager Chris Currie said.
One of the major benefits of long wear life is the reduction of costs. Frequent replacement of screen panels increases maintenance and operating costs while lowering equipment productivity. Regular replacement also means maintenance personnel have to spend a considerable amount of time on the screen changing panels, increasing the safety risk in the process.
“With increased wear life also comes a significant reduction in waste, not just in the material itself but also in the supply chain,” Currie said. “Less frequent panel changes mean that there is less energy used, less transport required and less stock needed, which in turn is a huge sustainability tick for our customers.”
According to Currie, screening efficiency is a very big factor in profitable operations with screen panels, which is why FLS maintains a minimum 95 per cent screening efficiency target in all of its designs.
The premium material used in the NexGen polyurethane panels means the company is able to run a smaller ligament that can provide more open area. A higher percentage of open area in screening panels improves efficiency and material throughput because it gives particles more opportunities to pass through the screen.
In several trials conducted during the test period, the NexGen polyurethane proved to be in a league of its own in terms of wear life. For example, at a major iron ore mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape, the NexGen polyurethane increased wear life by at least six times compared with standard thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) injection-moulded panels, injection-moulded rubber, and other open-cast polyurethane options.
In a coal application, the NexGen polyurethane panels survived for 10 weeks, compared to the five weeks most of the standard polyurethane panels lasted.
“Doubling the screen media wear life lowered maintenance time and media costs while increasing safety and productivity,” Currie said.
Informed decisions
The right screen media can unlock a new level of efficiency within an aggregate processing plant.
McLanahan director of sales in the UK and Ireland Donal McNicholl said the choice of screen media is influenced by material throughput, product quality, and operational costs.
“Understanding the various types of screen media and their applications is essential for plant operators aiming to enhance performance and profitability,” he said.
Screen media is primarily available as woven wire cloth, perforated and punch plate, synthetic media, including polyurethane and rubber, and self-cleaning screen media.
Each has various advantages depending on the application of the aggregate plant in which it is used, which is where businesses should consider the material characteristics, open area percentage, operating conditions, durability, and wear life in their operations.
Many operations need to consider balancing open area percentage, which facilitates greater material flow, against durability, which extends the wear life of the screen media. This balance is primarily determined by the operational priorities of the business, as well as the material characteristics of the application.
By considering all of these factors, businesses will be able to exert a greater influence on the long-term economic impact their screen media will have on the business, including maintenance and replacement costs.
“Selecting the right screen media is a multi-faceted decision that significantly impacts the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall success of aggregate processing operations,” McNicholl said.
“By thoroughly evaluating material characteristics, operational conditions, and economic factors, operators can make informed choices that align with their specific needs and objectives.
“Collaborating with experienced manufacturers and conducting regular performance assessments further ensures that the chosen screen media continues to meet the evolving demands of the industry.” AB
