Baden, Switzerland, November 18, 2002 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has received a US$ 6 million order for a large drive system from CVRD of Brazil. This will be the first so-called “gearless mill drive” in Brazil.
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce ( CVRD ), the global leading producer of iron ore and pellets, has taken a new strategic direction for the production of copper. In the past, the major mining area in Brazil has been in the state of Minas Gerais . But the most recent geological studies and exploration have uncovered enormous mineral deposits with high copper ore content in the Serra do Sossego region in the state of Pará in northern Brazil. CVRD as owner of Mineração Serra do Sossego has recently approved the construction of the largest copper mine ever in the country, along with a new copper concentrator. The total investment is over US$ 400 millions.
For the production of copper concentrate, the ore must be first reduced in size by grinding in SAG and ball mills. The throughput capacity of the SAG mill for this project is 1’800 tons per hour and requires a gearless mill drive system with a rating of 20 MW ( 29’000 hp ) and an extremely high torque of 21MNm.
The drive system will be delivered in 2003 to meet the plant operation start in 2004.
With this order, ABB not only demonstrates that its products are technologically world-class, but also expands its number 1 position as world leader in this market segment. The contract also includes assembly and start-up supervision as well as technical assistance.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. ABB has some 146,000 employees in more than 100 countries.