Local operators had the opportunity to learn from Metso’s experts over the course of three showcase events throughout Australia.
Australian operators were treated to three educational showcases featuring Metso’s leading experts from its crushing and screening, development, and automation departments.
The original equipment manufacturer hosted events in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne during September, where attendees could learn about best practice approaches, the capabilities of Metso’s leading equipment, and preview what the manufacturer will release.
Quarry was invited to the Melbourne training day held in the heart of South Yarra at The Como Melbourne.
In a packed room featuring representatives from leading companies, including Boral, Heidelberg Materials Australia, Barro and Fulton Hogan, the full-day event covered Metso’s Nordberg HPe crushers, automation in crushing equipment, the Metso HRC 8, crusher optimisation, and plant optimisation, as well as a guest panel to close out the event.
Metso vice president of crusher solutions Pierrick Boulay, Metso director of automation Toni Peltomäki, Metso senior application and project manager Glenn Oldfield and Metso product manager for Nordberg HP Cone Crushers Ilkka Somero were in attendance at the events. As part of the knowledge-sharing event, attendees had the opportunity to engage with Metso representatives and participate in insightful discussions at the end of each session.
Boulay said it was important to Metso to engage its customers in a meaningful way.
“It is really important to show that as Metso, we’re investing a lot of time into these new technologies,” he said.
“It is about showing not only what we are building today but also what we will develop for the future. We want to shape the future with our technologies, and we want to show that to the sector as well.”
Boulay predicted the HRC 8 and the future HRC models would become important in markets like Australia. “It might be just beginning in Australia, but we are seeing more machines now, and that’s why the HRC is becoming important. With those applications like sand production and recycling, even if it’s not big now, it will be in the future,” he said.
“We are seeing a lot of demand for the HRC machines in those markets where recycling is growing. We’re already seeing it in South America; it has become really important, and there have been a lot of HRC machines sold there.”
The HRC 8’s design sees material pushed into the crushing zone between two rotating rollers. The rollers, one in a fixed position and another floating, generate extremely high pressure, extruding the feed material down to the desired smaller grain sizes. The quality product is achieved with minimal energy output due to the unique patented roller design, which delivers high pressure to the feed material.
This design means it excels in several applications, including recycling and producing sand, which can replace natural sand. It provides high-level gradation control and a consistent shape needed for concrete and asphalt sands. Due to this gradation control and particle shaping, it also excels in converting waste materials into high-value, sellable products like manufactured sand. Metso showcased the early results from its field tests in India with the new HRC 10, which is expected to be released in select markets in early 2026.
“We’re really excited for the HRC 10. The HRC 8 is a really good machine, but some customers are looking for higher capacities. With the HRC 10, it’ll be a bigger capacity. “In markets like Australia, it could be a really good option or also in the US or China, where they have bigger quarries with bigger capacities.”
“We can see that the competition in the crusher market is getting better and better, and we want to keep improving our machines as well to stay at the front,” Boulay said.
Somero demonstrated the HPe cone crusher range, as the evolution of the famous HP cone. The new line covers the entire size range of machines from the HP150e to the HP900e, incorporating many internal improvements without altering the external dimensions. The improvement results in better performance via new kinematics, higher power and hold-down forces. According to Metso, the new HP200e and HP350e models, deliver up to 20 per cent and 10 per cent more production than their predecessors.
The new HP450e features 13 per cent more power and 20 per cent more force for enhanced performance.
Additional controls and features such as head brake, automated ring bounce control ensure the new evolution range can be operated safely at maximum performance for any application. With its wide range of sizes, HPe models can be used in various stages of the crushing process including secondary, tertiary and quaternary crushing. It is also an environmentally friendly solution as backing material is not needed like in conventional cone crushers.
“Already most of the range is now released and installed around the globe, giving our customers improved performances in product yield and capacity,” Somero said.
“Our class design will continue to be supported with 85 per cent of the components shared with the new Evolution range.
“With the latest addition of the Nordberg HPe crusher series, we are able to offer customers the ideal balance of power and efficiency for their specific crushing needs.”
The HPe range has been a major drawcard for Metso throughout 2025. With six current HPe models, plus the option to retrofit HPe features onto HP crushers, 10 different chamber profiles and advanced simulation software. The HP450e was launched at bauma 2025 in Munich, Germany, where attendees got up close with Metso’s latest innovation. Using case studies from its global customer base, Metso demonstrated how it was integrating and utilising artificial intelligence (AI) in its crushing equipment.
Peltomäki led the discussion, which included a look forward at the suite of automation and AI solutions Metso was testing.
“What we’re doing is picking the right technologies that are a good fit for aggregates production. We’re working on a series of tools that use AI and machine learning and bringing them up to the level that is beneficial for aggregates producers,” he said.
“Remote monitoring is everywhere now, with excavators and OEMs all having their own systems. What we’re working on is providing better analytics tools that analyse the data for fluctuations and patterns.
“We’re also working on developing more advanced process controls, which not only keep safety and uptime at high levels but also take the next steps and maintain stable production levels in the plant. That’s where the technologies come into play.”
The three technical seminars also provided an opportunity for Metso representatives to receive feedback from their Australian customers. Boulay said this would be important when Metso planned further upgrades to its product lines.
“Along with this one in Australia, we had one a few months ago in the US. We’re constantly talking with our distributors and customers so we can understand this market and what they need,” he said.
“We want to create a portfolio of products that can cover any type of application, feed material or type for this market.”
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