WEIR Group has sealed a number of deals to boost its presence in the mining and minerals equipment markets.

An exclusive licensing tie-up with German corporate KHD gives Weir direct control over the design, manufacture and distribution of high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) which are used in mineral processing.

Cologne-based KHD, which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, will also get royalty payments on equipment sales. Up to 10 of its specialist HPGR staff are being offered jobs at Weir.

In recent years, Weir has acted as KHD's agent for marketing HPGR equipment around the world, with orders averaging around €25 million in 2011 and 2012.

HPGRs were originally developed for cement processing but have been gaining popularity in the mining sector as they are regarded as more reliable and energy efficient than a conventional semi-autogenous grinding mill.

Separately, Weir is also entering the cone-crushers market through a tie-up with Taiwan-based Minyu Machinery Corporation.

The Glasgow engineering giant has agreed a distribution agreement to sell Minyu's existing range of equipment, which is used to break up large rocks.

Weir and Minyu have also formed a joint venture to develop machines with greater capacity for use in larger mining sites.

The venture, majority owned and operated by Weir, plans to launch the larger cone-crushers within three years.

In addition, Weir has acquired Australian centrifuge-maker Aspir, which employs 15 staff.

Queensland-based Aspir's "innovative technology" is said to be complementary to Weir's existing portfolio in minerals classification products.

Weir is spending £7m on the deals with a similar sum to be spent over the next three years.

The comminution segment of minerals processing – the first stage where solid materials are reduced in size – is thought to be worth around £3 billion for crushing, grinding and screening equipment and services.

Keith Cochrane, chief executive, said the deals boost Weir's "addressable market" by £750m.

He added: "These agreements represent the logical next steps in our growth strategy in minerals processing, providing access to attractive markets that we know well and can benefit from our capabilities and technology."

The company also indicated that it should benefit from the after-sales market, which involves providing spare parts and servicing equipment deployed in the field. Mr Cochrane added: "The group can leverage its unrivalled service network as we provide customers with market-leading innovative solutions."

Mr Cochrane indicated at Weir's annual results announcement in February, at which it was revealed that profits rose 12% to £443m on the back of an 11% hike in revenue to £2.5bn, that the company would continue to pursue acquisitions and organic growth.

At that time Mr Cochrane hailed a record revenue performance of £1.3bn in the minerals arm and stated he believed capital spending in that sector would continue to grow in the coming years.

Shares in Weir closed down 35p, or 1.6%, at 2101p