ZURICH (Press release) – ABB has won an order worth US $44 million to deliver three gearless mill drive systems (GMDs) for a new copper mine to be operated by Kazakhmys in south eastern Kazakhstan.

ABB wins $44m gearless mill drive order in KazakhstanKazakhmys is the largest copper producer in Kazakhstan and the gearless mill drive systems have been selected to provide reliable, cost-effective ore extraction and processing for its new copper mine over a 40 year period.

A gearless mill drive (GMD) is a system consisting of a ringmotor and its associated equipment such as transformers and control systems. Its main application is to drive (rotate) mills in the minerals or cement industry.

ABB’s scope of supply consists of one 28 megawatt GMD for a 40-foot semi-autogenous (SAG) mill and two 22 megawatt GMDs for two 28-foot ball mills. Each GMD includes phase and excitation transformers, a ring motor with its associated local control panel, a containerised electrical house, including cycloconverter, grinding control software and full system protection and auxiliary distribution. The three GMDs ordered are among the largest units manufactured today in terms of power rating and density. ABB says that this scale of equipment will lead to good economies of scale.

“ABB won this order due to our innovative and advanced system solution, minerals industry expertise, as well as our long-term relationship with Kazakhmys,” states Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division.

This order follows a previous delivery in 2010 for three GMDs for Kazakhmys’ Bozshakol mine, with identical design and manufacture. With this order, Kazakhmys will also get interchangeable spare parts, equipment and service specialists between both mine sites.

Equipment deliveries are scheduled for the second half of 2013; with mine production projected to start in 2014.