Can you introduce Valmet?

Valmet has five business areas. The first division covers the pulp and energy segment. The second division covers the segment of manufacturing equipment for paper production. The third business line includes a complete range of services and processes for each stage of the life cycle, from spare parts, maintenance, field services, process upgrades, etc, and the fourth line comprises the automation business, which includes automation solutions for a wide range of process industries. Finally, the fifth line includes the flow control segment; we have a complete portfolio of valves that allow us to offer integrated solutions for the flow control process. Chile is a strategic country because it represents an important market for our flow control business line. In 1997, we started working for the mining industry on a small scale, but we expanded over time and were finally able to start direct flow control operations in 2022, after opening our second service center in Chile, in Antofagasta. Valmet nowadays works in the main mining operations in Chile and Peru, such as Collahuasi, Escondida, Centinela, Los Pelambres, Antamina, Las Bambas, and others.

How important is mining for Valmet?

When we were Neles, we acquired the complete portfolio of the Finnish company Flowrox, which consisted of valves and pumps in high demand in the mining industry for crushing and grinding processes. Now mining represents 35% of our market in Chile and it is a key industry for us. However, we still have considerable growth potential thanks to all the solutions we have developed in recent years.

There is a trend to minimize the use of groundwater, so there is a great demand for our products and solutions to transport water from the desalination plant to the mine. This is an area of great potential; however, this process requires special equipment with high corrosion resistance, which translates into higher input costs. These trends have prompted Valmet to work on new technological developments to adapt our valves to the industry's new requirements. We also offer solutions for mineral processing, energy, chemical plants, and electricity, among other process industries.

How can valves impact efficiency in the mining processes?

Valmet has focused a lot on leakage control, which can cause environmental impact and can lead to financial losses in the process. In this regard, Valmet has developed flow control equipment for valves, such as intelligent positioners that allow for more precise flow control. In addition, we have developed software platforms to identify the factors in the controllers that are affecting the efficiency of the flow process.

How are you incorporating digitalization?

Our valve automation offering ranges from limit switches to actuators and intelligent valve controllers with third generation diagnostics, which collect data on the operation and condition of pumps, valves, and other components to analyze the variables affecting the process and offer alternatives for improvements and optimization. Preventive maintenance can result in 70% savings on corrective maintenance. With this technology, customers can monitor not only the function of the valves but also the conditions of the control loops, allowing them to assess how these components are working, even in extreme process environments.

What differentiates Valmet from other companies?

We have a solid presence in the south of Chile, with our service center, and now also in Antofagasta. Our goal is to continue expanding our presence throughout the country. Finally, Valmet has a broad portfolio of products that enable us to provide solutions for the different needs of the industry, for example for handling tailings and other materials. We have peristaltic pumps that can be more effective than centrifugal pumps for conveying large quantities of materials in some specific applications. We also supply filter fabrics that can be used in the treatment of minerals and tailings.

What are your main goals for the rest of 2023?

After acquiring the Flowrox portfolio, we expect to double our revenues from the mining industry by 2023 and boost our flow control line with local stock. We will also launch API6D valves, which are in high demand by the mining industry. Another important objective is the development of a digital workspace called Valmet Customer Portal to integrate all the detailed information about the valves and equipment on a single platform, always with a focus on improving our customers performance.