Metso held its 2013 Quarry Solutions & Industry Knowledge Expo last week at its facility in Colombia, S.C. The Expo was designed to focus strongly on education, training and showcasing their newest equipment to distributors and customers. Rock Product’s Assistant Editor Josephine Smith attended the event.
The company has held the Expo sporadically over the years; consecutively for the past two years. Adrian Quigg, Metso’s vice president of distributor sales – Americas, noted that it was a bit of a phenomenon. “The last two years we decided to resurrect this event. It was a hard decision last year when we did so because we are in pretty hard times still in the North American aggregate market so getting people to give time and spend money to come visit us is quite a tall order. Our attendance is up 20 percent from last year. It’s a real testimony to the commitment our distributors have and the relationship they have with some of their customers. We are very proud and we would love to see this as an annual event from here on in, if we can maintain the interest and make it interesting enough for people to come.”
Presentations showcased the technology and applications of the Nordberg GP Cone Crushers, Metso ES Series screens and Lokotrack LT1213/LT1213S mobile impactors. Seminars focused on cost reduction and increased productivity with sessions that included: In-Pit Crushing; Crusher Liner Analysis & Optimization; Cost Reduction: Conveyor Solutions; and Producing a Consistent Product: 8 Tips for Success.
Ongoing demonstrations on the factory floor included installing screen media, pump failure analysis and the GP220 cone crusher. Additionally, attendees were able to view the new rubber injector press for modular screens that was recently installed. The automated machine will produce 25,000 panels per year.
In addition to the festivities in South Carolina, Metso recently celebrated expanded operations and facility renovations at its conveyor idler plant in Clarksdale, Miss. The investment decision to renew the Clarksdale facility is part of Metso’s strategy to strengthen its service’s business capabilities for its mining and construction customers. The investment, worth more than $4 million, creates 30 new jobs in Clarksdale in addition to the 61 existing positions.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant was guest of honor at the ceremony. “Today is a great day for the Clarksdale community as Metso officially opens its renewed manufacturing operations, which have provided new job opportunities for the area’s workforce,” Gov. Bryant said. “I appreciate the Metso team for choosing to invest in its Mississippi operations, and I congratulate the company on this milestone event.”
“On behalf of Metso’s management, I would like to thank the Mississippi government and all contributors for favorable support and assistance,” said João Ney Colagrossi, president of Metso’s Services Business Line, Mining and Construction. “The central location in the North American marketplace, our long history in the area, as well as our skilled and knowledgeable people makes Clarksdale an ideal place for the consolidation of our Conveyor Solutions production.”