RHI Magnesita's York, Pennsylvania refractory dolomite mine adds new two stage crushing system including MMD Sizer

RHI Magnesita, the leading global supplier of refractory products, systems and solutions, recently announced that an innovative, new two stage crushing system has been installed at their main United States industrial site in York, Pennsylvania which mines dolomite for the production of refractory materials. The custom-designed, two-stage primary crushing system incorporates advanced technology to increase efficiency, optimise maximum material recovery, and reduce waste.

In more detail, the system has a 700 t/h capacity and includes a primary Metso Outotec jaw crusher and a secondary MMD Sizer – a 625 Series adjustable centres sizer designed for moderately hard materials. The engineering was completed by the turnkey package supplier, Steel Systems Installation Inc (SSI) located in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. Subcontractors to SSI included Kinsley (mechanical installer) and Thomas H. Clingan Electrical Services, LLC (electrical installer), both located in York, Pennsylvania.

The installation of the new crushing system will significantly extend the life of the mine at the industrial site. RHI Magnesita’s York, Pennsylvania facility is the primary source of dolomite in the US, an important raw material for refractory production. All operations from mining the raw materials, to production of the refractories, to customer installation and recycling, are related to dolomite at this site. This full supply chain control guarantees RHI Magnesita can maintain quality control offering the best material for its customers.

“The primary crusher project is a substantial investment, more than five years in the making, attributed to the vision of both former and current local leaders, to modernise our quarry operations, continuing the sustainability of the local operation,” said John Resh, Plant Manager at the York site. “With the support of our global & regional stakeholders, local government officials, and local business groups -the operations project team safely and diligently, drove the project to successful completion.”

The $8.6 million development and installation of the new primary crushing system was a major capital investment project for RHI Magnesita in support of its operations in the US. As a global leader in refractories, employing 13,000 individuals across 37 countries worldwide, RHI Magnesita’s York County-based industrial site plays a significant role in the company’s global success. This unit is responsible for roughly 47% of all dolomite products from RHI Magnesita in the world and employs over 400 individuals.

The new primary crushing system replaces the original equipment that was installed during the 1950s when the dolomite mine was in its early stages. The new system will play a critical role in RHI Magnesita’s goals of improving operational efficiency, continually driving improvements in sustainability, and extending the life of the mine. “As our dolomite hub in the Americas, York is one of our strongest plants around the world. It has been, and continues to be, a great asset to our company. We are excited to invest in this plant to help build modern, sustainable operations,” said Francisco Carrara, Executive Vice President of Operations -Americas.