Swiss-based automation firm, ABB Inc. announced it has completed the upgrades at Vale’s Clarabelle mill in Sudbury.
In a Feb. 6 news release, ABB said dual pinion semi-autogenous (SAG) mill is now in operation to serve Vale’s mines in the Sudbury basin.
The mill is used to reduce the size of the ore at the company’s nickel and copper mines. ABB said the project was completed on-time and on-budget “with an excellent safety record.”
The Clarabelle Mill accept nickel and copper ore from various sources and companies and to produce a nickel-copper concentrate and copper concentrate for further processing.
The contract was first award to ABB in 2010.
ABB replaced all of the electrical equipment including motors, converter, transformer, motor control centers, switchgear and mechanical auxiliary equipment such as the cooling system - pump skid, chillers and fin-fan heat exchangers.
ABB also built a structure next to the existing mill to house all the new equipment and integrate its system with the mill. Engineering and construction of the building extension included excavation, foundation, civil, structural steel and architectural works as well as insulation, fire system, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
