Optimising wear Magotteaux

OPTIMISING WEAR

World leader in providing value added comminution solutions, Belgium-based Magotteaux has been extending its capabilities and its global reach since it became part of a Chilean group.

Advanced materials specialist Magotteaux develops, manufactures and markets products, services and systems that optimise the comminution processes of its industrial customers. Comminution is the process whereby solid materials are reduced in size by methods such as crushing or grinding. Magotteaux supplies a wide range of optimised solutions to industries involved in comminution, from mining, coal power stations, quarries and large-scale recycling to the dredging industry.

A pioneer in advanced metal, ceramic and composite materials, Magotteaux specialises in developing and manufacturing grinding products and wear resistant parts. Its capabilities are based on a deep understanding of the production processes of its different customers, the specific wear mechanisms (abrasion, corrosion, impact etc) involved and all aspects of the material. The company’s services cover everything from pre-sales (audits, analyses, diagnoses) and sales (installation, supervision, and fine-

tuning) to after-sales (performance followup, real-time mill management etc).

Based in Liege, Belgium, and originally operating as a foundry, Magotteaux pioneered the use of composite materials in the manufacturing of high added value products. This patented technology which combines an increased resistance to wear and shocks enables it to offer solutions differentiated from standard steel and iron foundry products. Starting in the late 1980s, the so-called Metal Matrix Composites family now includes several solutions applicable to specific fields:

Although Magotteaux is not an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), the Group designs and manufactures specific machines such as vertical shaft impactors, classifiers, filling sensors, automated ball addition systems etc, always with a view to optimize the customer total cost of ownership.

Today Magotteaux employs about 2,400 people and has a market footprint of above 450,000 tons of grinding media and castings. The Group operates through a network of 13 production units, located in Europe, North and South America, India, China and Thailand, and 27 sales offices worldwide as well as several Technical Centers. Total turnover amounted to approximately €550 million in 2011.

New horizons

In 2011 Magotteaux became part of the Chilean mining and industrial group Sigdo Koppers SA. This purchase significantly complemented Sigdo Koppers’ business and has made it the leader in the Chilean mining and industrial sectors as well as an important international player.

At the time of the acquisition Juan Pablo Aboitiz, CEO of Sigdo Koppers, commented:

“The purchase of Magotteaux represents a unique milestone in the 50 year history of Sigdo Koppers. It is a demonstration of the company’s aim to add value to the group for the benefit of all its stakeholders. We are delighted that Magotteaux will join our group. It is a superb internationally oriented company, with high quality management and excellent development perspectives. This is why we will retain Magotteaux’s successful existing business model, including its personnel, its brand name and its existing production, R&D and other sites. Magotteaux’s headquarters will also remain in Wallonia. The purchase of Magotteaux is consistent with the group’s decision to focus on the mining and industrial sectors. We plan, with our own resources, to help and support Magotteaux’s expansion plans, and to create a worldwide group provider of mining and industrial services for the benefit of our clients.”

Bernard Goblet, Magotteaux CEO and representative of the owner-managers declared: “The integration of Magotteaux into SK Group is a superb answer to the search initiated in 2006 for a long term industrial shareholding anchoring for Magotteaux. Magotteaux Group will be one of the main entities within the SK Group and will maintain significant autonomy. Our integration in the SK group brings new opportunities for our company and for the professional developments of all Magotteaux employees.”

Since becoming part of Sigdo Koppers, Magotteaux has made a number of strategic acquisitions that haven enabled the group to become the only global provider of the complete range of grinding media solutions including low chrome (cast and forged), high chrome and ceramics (beads that are used in ultra-fine grinding stirred mills).

The company’s global expansion also continues. Its most recent development is the opening of a new production unit in Thailand that is entirely dedicated to the manufacturing of vertical mill parts. n