Latest from Materials

Fraunhofer IFAM
The thin, structureless layers of UltraPlas allow both nanoscale surface structures, e.g., for the nanoimprint process, and mirror-gloss surfaces to be perfectly reproduced.
Photo 78234546 © Moreno Soppelsa | Dreamstime.com
Aleksandr Matveev | Dreamstime
Thiti Tangjitsangiem | Dreamstime
'Availability of new foundry sand is already becoming a challenge, along with the need of providing new solutions to waste management,” according to the director of a metallurgical research center.
Branimir Ritonja | Dreamstime
Automotive cast parts.
Seesea | Dreamstime
Fire photo
Jacek Sopotnicki | Dreamstime
With deoxidized base iron, carbon levels can be increased to 3.30% C and alloying can be completely or nearly eliminated at the same time.
Crushing mills like this unit produced by Metsos recent acquisition Shaorui Heavy Industries are critical components for mining operations By acquiring a new steel foundry in China we are able to better serve the needs of our Chinese customers according to Metso Mining and Construction president Andrew Benko

Metso Buying Chinese Steel Foundry

Feb. 11, 2013
A “complete range of capital equipment and wear parts” 15,000 mtpy of castings for OEMs

Metso Oyj, a Helsinki, Finland-based manufacturer of heavy machinery has acquired a manganese steel foundry in China, aiming to improve its delivery of wear parts to the Asian mining and construction industry. In addition to mining and construction, Metso builds machinery and supplies other services worldwide for pulp and paper operations, energy companies, and oil-and-gas exploration and processing.

Metso already operates five foundries, and the Quzhou Chixin Machinery (JX) foundry, in Quzhou City, Zheijang province, reportedly has been a castings supplier to Metso.

“The acquisitions of JX and Shaorui Heavy Industries Ltd. and the joint venture with LiuGong Group Corp. Ltd, announced last November, significantly strengthen our supply capabilities for mining and construction industries in China,” stated Metso Mining and Construction president Andrew Benko.

“Metso now has a complete range of capital equipment and wear parts covering a wide range of customer requirements. By acquiring a new steel foundry in China we are able to better serve the needs of our Chinese customers,” Benko continued.

The cost of the new purchases will not be announced, Metso noted. It expects to finalize the purchase within a few months.

Metso is buying the assets of Quzhou Juxin Machinery Co. Ltd (JX) and Quzhou Chixin Machinery Co. Ltd from the current owners.  Founded in 1987, JX has a 12,000-sq.m. plant on a 30,000-sq.m. site, and produces up to 15,000 metric tons/year of castings. The operation is ISO9001:2000 certified, and includes a melt shop, molding lines, machine shop, heat-treating equipment, and an inspection lab.  According to Metso, the foundry and its affiliate (a fabricating and marketing operation) have a total of 275 employees.

The foundry produces high-manganese steel castings, including mantles, concaves, jaw plates, hammers, and wedge plates; high-chromium alloy iron castings, such as wear-resistant rings for coal milling machines, impact hammers, and impact plates; and carbon steel castings, such as crusher bottom shells, top shells, and straight gears.

Most of the JX foundry’s products are produced for export. In addition to Metso, it lists Sandvik SRP, Trio Crusher, Shenzhen Deyuansheng, North Industry, and Juhua Group as customers.

Metso's other foundries are in Ahmedabad, India; Isithebe, South Africa; Prerov, Czech Republic; Sorocaba, Brazil; and Tampere, Finland.

Metso has been in business in China for 80 years, and recently established a joint venture with LiuGong Group Corp. Ltd. to manufacture construction equipment. Late last year, it purchased Shaorui Heavy Industries Ltd., a mining equipment manufacturer.

“We already have the most extensive services hub and distribution network in our industry,” stated Metso’s João Ney Colagrossi, president of the Mining and Construction Services business line.

“With this acquisition we will strengthen our manufacturing presence in China and further develop our services business. We will improve our capability to supply wear parts to our mining and construction customers close to their operations and increase the flexibility and resilience of our wear products supply chain. We intend to use the acquired site as platform to further develop our services capabilities in China,” he added.

About the Author

Robert Brooks | Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others. Currently, he specializes in subjects related to metal component and product design, development, and manufacturing — including castings, forgings, machined parts, and fabrications.