ABB will design a new ore hoisting system for Xstrata’s Ernest Henry copper mine’s underground development.
The $11 million dollar order will it design, supply and commission all the electrical and mechanical equipment for a vertical tower mounted ore hoist system.
The hoist itself will operate at speeds of 16 metres per second, allowing it to lift 1020 tonnes of ore per hour from depths of up around 950 metres.
It will be powered by a 5000kW synchronous motor drive by an ACS 6000 drive system to control speed and torque.
The ore hoist system also provides additional reactive power during operations, minimising its impact on the surrounding power network.
ABB will also provide the bottom dump ore skips with inspection platforms, the rope deflection sheaves, and a skip dumping system.