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Minelco is internationally active in the market of industrial minerals with a leading position within a number of product applications. Minelco's customers exist in multiple business areas and the Group offers a wide range of selected mineral products customised for industry to a worldwide market and to various end use applications. Minelco, whose headquarters are in Sweden, conducts worldwide business through the Minelco companies across Europe, the USA and Asia, which ensures that the Group is able to serve customers on a global basis.
Through worldwide locations, a network of manufacturing sites and an excellent logistics system, Minelco is always available to its customers in most parts of the world. Minelco is an industrial mineral supplier. Minelco offers magnetite, iron oxide, bentonite, olivine, ultracarb and many other industrial minerals, to various end applications such as flame retardants, aggregates, civil engineering, chemical industry, construction, polymers, refractory, foundry, steel, chemicals and oil. Our products gives benefits in light weight and high density. Minelco are represented and have customers in Europe, USA and Asia.
The Minelco Group is part of the Swedish company LKAB, one of the world's leading producers of highly upgraded iron ore products providing over 20 million tonnes annually to a worldwide market. LKAB started operations in 1890 and is a high-tech processor with a strong commitment to new technology, research and development.
Minelco's people and know-how make the difference. As a knowledge-based company, Minelco strongly believes that skills development and its human capital are fundamental to the company's long-term success. Expertise in materials and processes comes from Minelco's experienced people working around the world and from the parent company's extensive R&D operations. Business concept: Minelco develops, produces and markets selected minerals customised for industry worldwide. Integration of world-class assets forms a foundation for long-term stability, making Minelco a strong and reliable partner.
From Mine to End User. Since Minelco was founded in Sweden in 1989, the company has developed into an international concern with multifaceted expertise of industrial minerals. Minelco's role is to develop specialist applications for selected quality minerals customised for industry. The philosophy is to build growth upon a foundation of high-quality, world-class assets, direct contacts with customers and deep application knowledge. Minelco demonstrates efficient processing, crushing, drying, grinding, and efficient logistics systems and strives for control of material from source to end user ensuring quality and consistency. Delivery is performed in big bags or in bulk. From direct sales to end users, Minelco can ensure that customers enjoy excellent value.
Quaility, reliability and sustainability. Quality is the guiding principle in everything we do at Minelco and is monitored throughout all aspects of our operations. This is why we are introducing computerised quality management systems that comply with the ISO 9001:2000 international quality standards. The purpose of the Quality Management System is to make information easily accessible and help us to keep the focus on total quality and continuous improvements. As a logical step in Minelcos ongoing quality improvements, we are preparing for ISO certification in accordance with ISO 9001:2000.
Quality Policy: Minelco will exceed customers present and future expectations by involving all employees in continuous improvement.
We will strive for zero defects in everything we do, and each employee is responsible for the quality of his or her own work.
One of the cornerstones of sustainable growth is the focus on Research and Development and the development of new products that add value to customers. Accordingly, Research and Development plays a key role at Minelco. Minelco has access to LKABs own R&D laboratories and pilot plants. The flexibility of utilising all the available research facilities ensures that the latest technology is at our disposal, creating opportunities for the development of new and existing products to better satisfy customer requirements. We also work in partnership with various universities, research institutions, consultants and customers in the development of new products and applications. Our goal is to offer products that help our customers to become more profitable.
High awareness of the environment. Wherever possible we prevent or minimise harmful effects of the Group's operations on the environment. We strive for a non-toxic environment and sustainable management of natural resources. Minelco's products have advantages that in different applications contribute for example to healthier drinking water, less pollution from sewage plants, reduction of over-growth of lakes, watercourses and coastal waters. We also support plastics recycling and assist customers in establishing the re-use of products containing our mineral products.
Environmental policy: By means of constant improvements in the internal and external environment, the Group's activities shall contribute towards sustainable and profitable development. This policy covers both the internal and external environment and applies to both the Group and suppliers active in the Group's business areas. Existing laws, statutes, regulatory requirements and other obligations supported by the Group are our minimum requirements. The Group shall strive for a working environment that is safe and stimulating and our employees shall be given continuous environmental training. The Group shall work with long-term environmental, health and safety plans and this work shall be characterized by constant improvements and preventive measures. Environmental and occupational health aspects as well as energy efficiency shall be taken into consideration in connection with investments and the introduction of new technology and new work methods. New technology and new scientific findings shall be evaluated with respect to environmental and occupational health aspects as well as resource efficiency. Suppliers outside the Group's business area shall be persuaded to follow our policy. The Group shall strive for internal auditing of high quality and shall pursue systematic efforts to improve the working environment. Our attitude shall be distinguished by openness and objectivity in our dialogue and cooperation with government authorities and the community.
Minerals customised for industry, processing from mine to end user. Minelco is a global business with manufacturing assets, warehousing and logistical facilities strategically located around the world. Ownership of mineral mines and long-term relations with selected mineral suppliers alongside our diverse range of processing activities ensure we can provide both standard products as well as products that are customised to exact needs. Our customised special application and specific customer products are based on selective mining and special treatments such as crushing, screening, milling, upgrading, drying, packaging etcetera.
Supplying customers with products of the right quality at the right time is critical to our success. Execution of our supply chain from mine to final destination is of paramount importance, and our experienced logistics team ensures that products are transported efficiently. We can provide bulk or bagged products, small or big bags, transported in containers, by truck, rail, boat or air.
New Minelco companies: As of 1st January, Minelco Ltd, Fergusson Wild & Co Ltd and Quay Minerals were united as Minelco Minerals. At the same date Microfine Minerals Ltd, Fordamin Company Ltd and the International Trading and Logistics division of Fergusson Wild became one company renamed to Minelco Specialities.
Recycled glass helps to clean the Challenger yacht: EcoGlass, produced at Minelco Minerals' Foxfield site, has been chosen for the removal of the anti-fouling coating from the hull of the Challenger - round the world yachts. The product is an abrasive grit blast made entirely from recycled glass. From time to time the anti-fouling coating on the hull of the famous yachts (there are 12 Challenger yachts in total) need to be renewed. This involves stripping the old coating off, however beneath the coating is an epoxy layer which must remain intact. The contractor, K-Blasting of Brixham, performed a number of trials on wet-blasting abrasives of which EcoGlass came out top as giving a good combination of cutting power without affecting the epoxy resin. The boatyard were also very pleased with the low level of dust created and they found that EcoGlass cleans faster than other types of cleaners and is more economical - each yacht taking about one tonne of abrasive and one and a half days to clean.
Agreement with Crew for Seqi Olivine Project: An agreement has been signed with Crew Development Corp., a mining and exploration company owned by institutional and private investors mainly in Norway and Canada, to develop a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) for Crew's Seqi olivine project in Greenland. Crew will be responsible for the management of further drilling and for the BFS, whereas Minelco will cover all costs. Furthermore, as a part of the agreeement, Minelco has an option to buy 51 % of the Seqi project by carrying all capital expenditures related to the development of a mining operation as defined by the BFS. The Seqi project will be organized in a separate Greenlandic company owned 51 %
by Minelco and 49 % by Crew. Seqi is a large, homogenous olivine deposit made up of 97 % olivine. The deposit is located only 600 m from tidewater in a protected fjord, which
provides all-year access. The location and relatively simple nature of the operation allows for short lead-time to production. Initial assessments indicate that a production rate between one and two million tonnes per year is viable. Gravimetric studies have indicated a resource potential in excess of 100 million tonnes, which means that the reserves will ensure production for at least 50 years. Subject to approvals from relevant authorities, drilling is expected to commence in August and continue into September.
High density magnetite improves weight/volume ratio, Offshore Magazine, March 2003 - reprinted with permission. Following the start-up of new magnetite separation equipment last December, Minelco is now looking to further customize grading of the grains. With its improved ability to tailor magnetite to enhance the properties of high-density concrete, the company is looking to conduct tests with major pipecoaters, Bredero Shaw, Eupec, and EB-pipe coating use its products. Offshore applications include the Ekofisk II, Armada and Interconnector pipelines off northwest Europe. Minelco's range of iron ore and iron oxide products is based on the mining operations carried out by parent company LKAB in Kiruna and Malmberget in northern Sweden. "There is no lack of material" said sales manager Lars Vikström, as Kiruna is the world's largest underground iron ore mine. Magnetite, a natural iron oxide, is non-porous. It exhibits a high density ranging from 4.7 to 5.1 metric tons/cu m. The black oxide, which is pure with a low level of inclusions, has ferrimagnetic properties. While it does not have a magnetic field, a magnet will stick to it in the same way that a magnet will to carbon steel. The particles range from 30 mm to powder fineness. The higher the required density, the smaller the grains, as only magnetite remains in the finest form - rocks are filtered out. "Everything below the sea surface is a potential application for magnetite," Vikström said. With magnetite it is possible to make concrete with densities up to 4 metric tons/cu m, about 60 % more than standard concrete. In water, the difference is even more pronounced when the high-density concrete is up to 100 % heavier. The high density of magnetite results in decreased volume for a given weight or, alternatively, an increased weight per given volume.
70,000 metric tonnes for South Arne: Magnetite can additionally be used as concrete aggregate or loose ballast, in the manufacture of anchor blocks and breakwaters, and caisson ballasting. Minelco has supplied 70,000 metric tonnes of magnetite for structural concrete and ballast for Amerada Hess' South Arne Platform GBS and 25,000 metric tonnes for Veba's Hanze platform storage base. The material has a 40 % higher heat capacity than ordinary concrete and a 40 % higher heat conductivity. Magnetite in pipecoating retains heat longer than pipes with other forms of concrete coating. Less "artificial" heating is therefore required because it takes longer for outside temperatures to cool the contents of a pipe.
Project performances: The Öresund Bridge - linking Scandinavia. On 1 July, 2000 the Öresund Link between Sweden and Denmark was inaugurated. The Öresund Bridge is composed of a high bridge and two approach bridges and was constructed by the joint venture Sundlink Contractors. The high bridge has the longest cable-stayed main span in the world for both road and rail traffic. The pylon and anchor pier foundations are made up of concrete caissons. Minelco supplied 60,000 tonnes of magnetite for use as ballast material in the caissons.
Minelco AB, LULEÅ, Sweden. President and CEO:Per-Erik Lindvall. Minelco AB, the headquarters of Minelco, is situated in Luleå, Sweden. Sales of our products in northern Europe is managed by our sales unit .Minelco Norden, Lars Vikström, Sales Manager.
Minelco Minerals Ltd, Flixborough Industrial Estate, Flixborough, North Lincolnshire,
England. Managing Director: Robert Boulton..
Minelco Specialities Ltd, Raynesway, Derby, England. Managing Director: Stuart Larbey,. The aspirations of Minelco Specialities Ltd is to become a major global force in the supply of speciality mineral products. Through high quality raw material sourcing and the use of cutting edge processing technology Minelco Specialities is able to offer a wide range of products tailored to individual customers' needs. Minelco Specialities serves a large number of markets including construction, oil, surface coatings, rubber and plastics, as well as agriculture, chemical, water treatment, foundry, refractory and ceramic industries.
Minelco Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio USA. President: Mats Drugge.
Minelco B.V., Moerdijk, The Netherlands. Managing Director: Peter Duifhuis. Minelco B.V. is strategically located in Moerdijk, The Netherlands. The quay next to the site can handle vessel sizes up to 20,000 tonnes and the location is next to motorways in all directions. On site Minelco B.V. has storage, milling, screening and packaging facilities for minerals.
Minelco Czech Republic, Representative Office Ostrava, Ostrava-Vitkovice. Representative: Jan Koutny. Minelco GmbH, Essen, Germany. Managing Director: Ian Yates. Minelco Asia Pacific Ltd., Hong Kong. Managing Director: John Engel. At Minelco Asia Pacific we supply a range of raw materials for the ceramics, zirconium and cobalt chemicals, refractory and metallurgical industries. World-class sourcing capabilities ensure our customers continuity of supply with high-quality feedstocks.
FSTM, Tianjin, P.R. China. Tianjin Jindalai Mineral-Processing Co. Ltd, Tianjin, P.R. China. Managing Director: Bin Zhou.
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