Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr
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SUPPLIERS REPORT open-pit copper mines in the world and produces more than 164,000 tons of cop- per annually. "We selected GE's Quadramatic motor technology to help us boost production and take advantage of record high copper prices driven by Asia's strong infrastructure expan- sion activities," said Manuel Tellez, corpo- rate purchasing director, Grupo Mexico. For the Buenavista expansion, GE will supply Grupo Mexico with six, 14-MW Quadramatic systems, each consisting of two low-speed synchronous (LSS) motors and one Quadramatic drive; one LSS spare motor; and installation and com- missioning services. The equipment will be shipped and installed during the first three quarters of 2013. Commercial operation of the equip- ment will be phased in, beginning in the second quarter of 2013. GE said it has been working with Grupo Mexico on the Buenavista expansion since April 2010. Previously, GE supplied the company with 11 LSS motors between 1982 and 1987. GE also has supplied wheel motors for Grupo Mexico's loco- motive applications and medium voltage switchgear. Boart Longyear Expands Service Network Locations Drilling products and services provider Boart Longyear opened a new parts and service center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, in early October. The new facility, accord- ing to the company, will provide aftermar- ket equipment support for Boart Longyear's third-party customers in the mining indus- try through technical support, repair and rebuild services, preventive maintenance, and training programs. The 20,000-ft2 (1,858-m2) facility includes a 15,000-ft2 shop and 5,000 ft2 of office space. The Salt Lake City location was chosen for a parts and service center due to the large number of customers in the area. "By opening the Salt Lake City location, we are better able to service the mining industry in the Great Basin region of the U.S.," said Michael Norris, senior manager of after- market products. Boart Longyear said it has recognized the need to have the right spare parts and services available in more convenient regional locations. Expansion of their parts and service centers globally, along with an enhanced global distribution network, allows regional centers to service Boart Longyear rigs faster than before. www.e-mj.com Boart Longyear's new Utah parts and service center, shown here, will enable a higher level of support for the company's customers in the western U.S. The Salt Lake City location adds to the existing parts and service centers in Adelaide, Australia and Nottingham, United Kingdom. Global expansion of Boart Longyear parts and service centers also includes the further development of the North Bay, Ontario and Lima, Peru markets. Facilities at those locations will be upgrad- ed to full-capacity parts and service cen- ters. The company said it also plans to open new parts and service centers in Santiago, Chile; Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Johannes- burg, South Africa; and Khabarovsk, Russia, by the first quarter of 2013. FLSmidth Expands Autonomous Equipment and Gear Products Portfolios FLSmidth announced in mid-October that it had acquired technology and products from the German company iSAM AG relat- ed to unmanned operation and process optimization of stackers/reclaimers and train loading systems. The technologies and products acquired, said FLSmidth, will enable it to supply complete, unmanned integrated bulk handling solutions to mining, stock- yard and port facility customers in line with FLSmidth's One Source strategy. The tech- nologies and products will be integrated into FLSmidth's operations in close coordi- nation with iSAM AG to ensure undisrupt- ed service of the markets, said the Copenhagen-based supplier of equipment and services for the mining and cement industries. "These well- proven technologies can be used worldwide within [our bulk materials business] and will strengthen FLSmidth's offerings to its customers. The trend is moving toward unmanned operation and the technology can be easily integrated with FLSmidth's current business," Group CEO Jørgen Huno Rasmussen said. In another development, the company's MAAG Gear unit recently expanded pro- duction capabilities at its facilities in Poland, where major investments in new machinery will enable it to manufacture bevel gear sets that will be sold through the FLSmidth Group global network. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place recently at FLSmidth's MAAG Gear unit in Poland, celebrating installation of new gear fabrication machinery. NOVEMBER 2012 • E&MJ; 125