Metso Technology to Support Advanced Beneficiation Testing at GTK Mintec Pilot Plant

Metso Technology to Support Advanced Beneficiation Testing at GTK Mintec Pilot Plant

(IN BRIEF) Metso and the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) have signed an agreement for the engineering and delivery of process technology for GTK Mintec’s new pilot plant in Outokumpu, Finland, which will expand GTK’s research and service offering for the mining and minerals industry. The new facility will support pilot-scale testing and optimisation of minerals processing and circular economy technologies, including HPGR, ore sorting, grinding, flotation, crushing, classification, physical separation, side-stream processing, dry stacking of tailings and closed-loop process water circuits using advanced water treatment and filtration. Two process lines with different capacities will enable both larger-scale plant testing and smaller-scale work using drill core samples in early mining project phases. The plant will also feature advanced digitalisation and automation, with automatic process data collection to improve analysis, data quality and customer reporting. GTK Mintec’s new pilot plant is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2028.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESPOO, 1-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Metso and the Geological Survey of Finland, or GTK, have signed an agreement for the engineering and delivery of process technology for GTK Mintec’s new pilot plant in Outokumpu, Finland.

The new pilot plant will focus on minerals processing and circular economy materials.

Once operational, it will significantly expand GTK Mintec’s research and service capabilities for the mining and minerals industry.

The process lines have been designed in close collaboration with GTK experts.

Metso will be responsible for delivering the plant.

The value of the order has not been disclosed.

Metso said the order has been booked in the Minerals segment’s orders received for the third quarter of 2026.

Saku Vuori, Director General of GTK, said GTK Mintec is one of the organisation’s strategic spearheads.

He said minerals processing research services play an important role in advancing the circular economy.

Vuori added that the renewal work is progressing well and that the agreement represents a significant step in strengthening the services offered to industry.

Piia Karhu, President, Minerals at Metso, said Metso and GTK have worked together for decades in research, testing and development of minerals processing solutions.

She said the new GTK Mintec pilot plant in Outokumpu builds on this long-standing partnership.

Karhu added that the facility will provide an excellent environment for developing and testing minerals processing and circular economy solutions that support the industry’s goals of improving resource and energy efficiency.

Pilot environment for beneficiation technology testing

The new pilot plant will provide a modern environment for pilot-scale testing and optimisation of process technologies.

In addition to conventional beneficiation technologies, the facility will support the development and testing of energy-efficient solutions designed to reduce water and chemical consumption.

These technologies include High Pressure Grinding Rolls, or HPGR, ore sorting, primary grinding circuits, fine grinding technologies, and both coarse and fine flotation applications.

The pilot plant will also include a broad range of crushing, classification, grinding, flotation and physical separation technologies for material upgrading and recovery.

The facility will also enable piloting of solutions for side-stream processing, dry stacking of tailings and closed-loop process water circuits.

These will use advanced water treatment and filtration technologies.

Two process lines and digital automation

Two process lines with different capacities will be built at the facility.

This will allow both larger-scale plant testing and smaller-scale test work.

The smaller-scale capabilities will support studies using drill core samples during the early stages of mining projects.

The pilot plant will also include an advanced digitalisation and automation environment.

Process data will be collected automatically from equipment and measurement points across the plant.

This will accelerate analysis of test results, improve data quality and provide customers with more comprehensive reporting capabilities.

GTK Mintec’s new pilot plant is expected to begin operations by the end of 2028.

Once completed, it will further strengthen GTK Mintec’s position as an internationally recognised developer of circular economy and minerals processing solutions.

Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. We improve our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increase their productivity, and reduce environmental risks with our product and service expertise. We are the partner for positive change.

Metso is headquartered in Espoo, Finland. At the end of 2025 Metso had close to 18,000 employees in around 50 countries, and sales in 2025 were about EUR 5.3 billion. Metso is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

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Media Contact:

Mikko Rantamäki, Senior Sales Director, Integrated Solutions, Europe and Central Asia, tel. +358 400 259 544, mikko.rantamaki(at)metso.com

Metso Media Desk, tel. +358 20 482 1930, email: media(at)metso.com

SOURCE: Metso