Metso Robotic Split Strip: cathode stripping design notes for copper plant engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Metso has launched the Outotec Robotic Split Strip, a compact hydraulic‑robotic system for separating copper cathode sheets from mother plates in electrorefining circuits, designed for both greenfield and brownfield plants. The unit uses robotic handling and flexible tooling to improve stripping precision and reduce sheet damage and copper waste compared with conventional mechanical strippers. For plant engineers, the modular layout and automation focus allow retrofit into existing cells with minimal footprint, supporting tighter process control and more consistent cathode quality.
Technical Brief
- Robotic Split Strip integrates hydraulic actuators with multi-axis robotic arms for synchronised cathode handling and separation.
- Flexible gripper tooling is designed to adapt to varying cathode sheet thicknesses and plate geometries.
- Compact frame and cell-top installation allow deployment above existing electrorefining cells without major civil works.
- System logic coordinates stripping sequence with crane or conveyor logistics to maintain refinery throughput continuity.
- Automated positioning reduces manual intervention at the cell, lowering operator exposure to acid mist and hot surfaces.
- Control architecture is intended to interface with plant-wide DCS/SCADA for recipe-based stripping parameters and traceability.
- Similar robotic-hydraulic hybrids are likely to extend to anode preparation and cathode handling in other base-metal refineries.
Our Take
Metso’s copper coverage in our database now spans both upstream SX‑EW plant supply for Southern Peru Copper Corporation and downstream cathode handling, signalling a push to offer end‑to‑end technology packages for leach‑SX‑EW operations.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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