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6 years ago

MDA Technologies 4/2016

MDA Technologies 4/2016

Lubrication solutions

Lubrication solutions for one of the world’s largest copper mines Advanced lubrication management systems and lubricant products, when looked at from a solutions-oriented approach can play an important role in optimising rotating equipment’s performance and improving cost effectiveness for the mine operator. MACHINE ELEMENTS Peru, officially the Republic of Peru is a country in western South America. The country has a population of more than 30 million and is an extremely bio-diverse country. With habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coast, peaks of the Andes Mountains to the tropical Amazon rainforest. Owing to its bio-diversity and rich mineral assets, this South American nation experienced an economic boom in 2 000 s, and is one of the fastest growing economies in the region. Currently It is one of the world’s biggest producers of base and precious metals. It is the third largest producer of copper and zinc in the world and also a major producer of gold and silver. In recent years, increasing demand for mining commodities has led to rapid and large-scale development of mining exploration and production activities in Peru. It has a steadily growing economy, largely driven by mining, which accounts for 12 % of its GDP. The high rates of production have attracted a large amount of inbound investment into Peru’s mining sector. An estimated $ 50 billion is expected to flow into the country over the next few years. New mines and expansion projects are expected to more than double its copper production to 2.8 million tonnes by 2016 For example, its Las Bambas mine, one of the world‘s largest producers of the metal. MMG Ltd, the Australia-based company, controlled by China’s Minmetals Corp, bought the Las Bambas project in 2014 for more than $ 5 billion. The mine, which is expected to churn out over 200,000 tonnes of copper in 2016, and close to 400,000 tonnes in 2017. The Las Bambas mine, located at 4,000 metres in the south of Peru, will also produce significant amounts of silver, gold and molybdenum over its 20-year mine life. Productivity: on top of every mining operator’s agenda Not just in Peru, but worldwide, the mining sector faces a host of industry challenges, including fluctuating commodity prices, slimming margins, and increasing expectations from shareholders and national governments. These factors have driven mining companies to focus not just on production volumes, but also on maintaining and improving productivity levels. In recent years, productivity growth in the mining sector has been on the decline, and addressing this issue is at the top of almost every mining executive’s agenda. Mining equipment has been the cause of some of the greatest declines in productivity. The biggest issue is that while mining operators understand the value of productive equipment, they do not have the right information to underpin their productivity strategies. For example, the payload inefficiency, which is often an overlooked variable in performance assessment, where as it can be one of the most helpful factors that can be used to assess equipment performance. Mining equipment actually represents a major opportunity for productivity gains within an operation. Another interesting example is the importance of equipment maintenance. Implementing best-in-class maintenance practices can be the difference between achieving acceptable equipment availability rates and achieving industry-leading availability rates of more than 90 %. There are a range of services available to mine operators that can arm them with the right information when it comes to improving equipment maintenance and performance. Here, lubricant products and services—when looked at from a solutions-oriented approach—can play an important role in improving the productivity. This is where the Swedish company SKF and its expertise come into picture. From Sweden to Peru The Swedish technology giant, SKF has recently secured a contract with the Las Bambas mine in Peru to provide lubrication management services for all electric motors in the mine’s concentrator plant. The two-year agreement with Las Bambas includes MDA Technologies 4/2016

engineering, planning and scheduling, execution and management of all lubrication-related activities for the electric motors. In addition, SKF will supply lubrication system components and tools to the mine. Engineered specifically for Las Bambas, the lubrication solutions will contribute to increased equipment reliability and cost effectiveness. “As part of its reliability programme, Las Bambas needed a worldclass lubrication system for its electric motors,” said Service & Upselling Manager Carlos Lahura of SKF Peru. “Mine personnel contacted SKF to develop a series of integrated lubrication solutions for their rotating machinery and were impressed by SKF’s technology and expertise. As a result, SKF was engaged to provide lubrication management services as well.” Apart from deploying SKF’s expertise in the copper concentrator plant, the Mine operator has also deployed the ultimate SKF Three- Barrier Solution, consisting of sealed SKF Explorer spherical roller bearings, housings and SKF Taconite Seals, for the mine’s overland conveyor belts, with shafts measuring between 500 mm About SKF The company SKF based in Goeteborg, Sweden, is a global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2015 were SEK 75 997 million and the number of employees was 46,635. Robust construction of sealed SKF Explorer spherical roller bearings, housings and SKF Taconite seals and 700 mm. The bearings and housings provided will have integrated sensor positions for condition monitoring that offer improved contamination protection needed in severe weather conditions. Photographs: SKF AB www.skf.com DERANTRIEB■ Reliable ■ Versatile ■ Global NORD DRIVESYSTEMS: ■ Worldwide available ■ Subsidiaries in 36 countries ■ Agents in 52 countries Please visit us! PTC SHANGHAI Hall E1 Stand B1 1–4 November 2016 www.nord.com/locator Headquarters: Getriebebau NORD GmbH & Co. KG Fon +49 (0) 4532 / 289-0 info@nord.com Member of the NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group The Gear Unit ■ Strong bearings ■ Quiet running ■ High power density The Motor ■ High efficiency ■ Global standards ■ All operating conditions The Drive Electronic ■ Compact design ■ Easy implementation ■ Scalable functionalities

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