ABB is set to revamp a production mine hoist for Boliden’s Renstrom mine in northern Sweden. ABB will provide mechanical and electrical equipment, and related installation services, to modernise the hoist, which has been in service for most of the mine’s lifetime. The revamp will help the hoist to operate at the highest levels of reliability and safety, while increasing the mine’s overall production output. The Renstrom mine started operations in 1952, and is currently Sweden’s deepest mine with a ramp down to 1,330 m underground.

The mined ore is polymetallic with zinc, copper, lead, gold and silver. Renstrom produced over 275,000 Mt of ore in 2011 and employs approximately 100 people. For the revamp project, ABB will dismount the existing mine hoist system, then install and commission the new mine hoist system. The new system includes an extensive scope of electrical and mechanical equipment for revamp of the skip/skip production mine hoist. Spare parts and training are also included in ABB’s scope of supply.

ABB said it was awarded this project thanks to the close co-operation with the customer, and excellent service support for the existing mine hoist as well as for other Boliden mine hoists. ABB has, together with the customer, developed the concept for the revamp of this mine hoist. The mine hoist was first installed in 1953 by ASEA (now ABB) with an original capacity of about 80 t/d. The first revamp of the hoist was done in 1996 by ABB, after more than 40 years of operation; the second revamp will further extend its lifetime for the years to come. Installation of new equipment in the new hoist room on the ground will start during spring 2013. Production will stop during July 2013 for the revamp of the hoist, when the hoist machinery will move from a tower mounted to ground mounted mine hoist system.