Nord Minerals is supplying a replacement pelletizing drum for a mining plant in Kazakhstan, with manufacturing and delivery scheduled within 17 weeks. The project addresses two key challenges: replacing equipment after more than 20 years of operation and installing the new drum within the constraints of the existing facility.
The original 3.6 × 10 m drum was installed in 2005, when the pelletizing section was commissioned. After two decades of service, the equipment sustained critical damage and required replacement.
The customer initially approached the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), but the proposed delivery time of 44 weeks did not meet the project’s requirements. In addition, the proposed approach did not address the installation constraints at the site.
When the original drum was installed, the building had no roof, allowing the equipment to be positioned using a crane. Repeating this procedure today would require extensive dismantling of the existing structure.
To meet the customer’s timeline, Nord Minerals carried out reverse engineering of the existing equipment on an accelerated schedule. The replacement drum is being designed to match the existing process and maintain compatibility with downstream equipment.
One of the key design features is a spiral chamber in the discharge section. It ensures even distribution of pellets across the width of the downstream roller screen, supporting the continuity of the established process.
Nord Minerals also developed a dedicated installation concept tailored to the existing site conditions. The scope of supply includes a specially designed lifting beam that will enable the new drum to be safely positioned using the plant’s existing overhead crane, avoiding the need for major dismantling of the facility.
Pelletizing drums are not part of Nord Minerals’ standard product portfolio. However, the project demonstrates the company’s approach to engineering: developing solutions around the customer’s operational requirements and site constraints, rather than limiting the scope of work to established product lines.
By combining reverse engineering, tailored equipment design and a dedicated installation concept, Nord Minerals is addressing both the urgent need for replacement equipment and the practical challenges of integrating it into an operating facility.
