Mining hoist goes from ABB to Xstrata Zinc

28 November 2011

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The Spanish zinc producer ordered the $24m hoist in the third quarter of 2011 to increase production rates at the George Fisher Mine by 30% in 2013.

ABB’s friction mine ore hoist system will be mounted on the ground to lift ore from 1,135m at 16m per second, enabling it to lift 600t of ore per hour.

ABB will run the hoist’s 9,000kW synchronous motor using an ACS 6000 medium voltage drive system that automatically controls torque, controls speed and enables energy-energy efficiency, while minimizing the system’s impact upon the surrounding power network.

The company will design and supply the bottom dump ore skips and skip dumping system. It will engineer custom inspection platforms and rope deflection sheaves.

The 800xA AC800M industrial controller provided by ABB will manage and control the system’s activities from the moment the ore reaches the loading conveyors to the surface dump station.

A key factor in winning the contract, ABB said, was its provision of reliable ongoing maintenance and lifecycle support services, critical in a high-stakes mining operation.

“ABB won the order for this expansion project because of our strong track record, commitment to serving the mining industry and unique position as a sole-supplier of complete mine hoist systems,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s process automation division.

“Our leading-edge technologies, combined with our global and local industry expertise, ensure the efficiency, reliability and safety of these critical mining operations from day one.”

ABB says it will deliver the completed mine ore hoist system in the second half of 2013.