Case Study: Metso Uses HID RFID Technology to Power Its Smart Tag System

Metso Supercharges Its SmartTag™SystemWith HID RFID Technology Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, offering end-to-end solutions andservices for aggregates, minerals processing, metals refining and recycling industriesglobally. A partner for positive change, its innovative digital and automated solutions and Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso’s nearly 17,000 employees in 50 countriesgenerated annual sales of almost €5 billion in 2024 with digital solutions designed to keepcustomer operations running smoothly and efficiently. Innovative intelligent instrumentsand software solutions enable customers to extract more value from their processes “HID helps future-prooftracking processesby providing the best T H EC H A L L E N G E S In the field of digitalization, Metso’s strengths lie in understanding customers’business and data, and utilizing that knowledge to analyze, automate and optimizeprocesses and performance. The company strives to enhance customers’ One of the tools Metso uses to achieve this goal is mine-to-mill optimizationstudies to determine how different types of ore are blasted and then processedin the plant in the most efficient way. The findings revealed that, as blastedmaterial passes through handling stages, including stockpiles, the link between Michael Wortley This led to the creation of the Metso SmartTag™ System, which physically tracksore as it passes through the various stages of processing. Though it was initially “Once this happened, a case for commercializing the system was put tomanagement,” said Michael Wortley, Manager of Ore Tracking Systems for Metso.“At the time our only concern was that a tracking system might be used for mine-to-mill optimization studies by a competitor. But it was decided that the benefits to S O L U T I O N The RFID tags used initially could not be customized, which Metso quicklyrealized was an essential requirement for the system to reach its potential andone that the original supplier could not meet. After evaluating various supplier Designed to survive blasting, haulage and crushing, the HID RFID tags integratedinto the SmartTag System use passive low-frequency RFID technology and featurea globally unique identification number. As such, they have no maximum lifespan The Metso SmartTag System integrates three sizes of HID tags: •Large — For open pit hard rock mining by placing them in the upper stemming columns•Medium — Primarily added post-blast, but can also be used in the blast holeupper stemming columns Handheld readers log tags and add them to the ore, recording the tag ID, as wellas the location and time of addition. Fixed detection points detect tags once theyare on conveyor belts and pass antenna panels. Then, software transfers recorddata from handheld and fixed detection points to a central SQL database, where “We originally purchased bare tags from HID. However, after working togetherfor a time, they now supply the final tags, which simplified a complicated supply “We originally purchasedbare tags from HID.However, after workingtogether for a time, they Currently, 20-30 permanent Metso SmartTag Systems have been deployedglobally. An additional 50 sites have used the system temporarily to conduct Since implementing the SmartTag System, featuring HID RFID solutions, Metsohas achieved substantial savings in administrative time and costs, thanks to a An underground mining customer in Mexico has reduced the volume of wastesent to the processing plant as ore by 40%. Along with lower costs, the trackingsystem has had a significant environmental impact, reducing wasted energy by Michael Wortley Additionally, mine-to-mill studies can increase throughput in a processing plantby anywhere from 3% to 8%. When those studies are enhanced with the RFIDtracking system, the results can be even more significant. One Metso customer,was able to achieve — and maintain — for its hardest ore types, a decrease Based on the results to date, Metso is planning to expand the areas wheretags can be detected in the mining process. HID RFID solutions will be used to “The tags HID supplies are a better product, can be sourced in sufficientquantities and are competitively priced,” said Wortley, adding that HID helpsfuture-proof tracking processes, “by providing excellent customer service andthe best RFID tags for different applications.” hidglobal.comNorth America: +1 512 776 9000 | Toll Free: 1 800 237 7769Europe, Middle East, Africa: +353 91 506 900Asia Pacific: +852 3160 9800 | Latin America: +52 55 9171 1108For more global phone numbers click here© 2025 HID Global Corporation/ASSA ABLOY AB. All rights reserved.2025-12-12-cc-hid-rfid-metso-smarttag-cs-en