ABB has re-packaged its proven and tested service offering for gearless mill drives (GMD) remote diagnostic services with the launch of a newly created product package of two modules, GMDbeatTM and GMDfitTM. The basic module, GMDbeat, covers ABB’s SupportLine and online troubleshooting while the enhanced module, GMDfit, offers online condition monitoring, predictive analytics and periodic health checks from ABB system experts. The product will initially be launched in Peru and Chile, with other countries to follow in 2015.
“By combining separate service offerings into one package we can support our customers with a holistic approach,” said Remy Lanoue, Global Head of Service Mining, “This integrated service concept combines the past, the present and the future by utilizing system health checks, on-demand remote support and condition monitoring. It leverages the main advantages of each service to add more value to our customers.”
Earlier these services were all offered separately. Now they are packaged into one comprehensive offering including GMDbeat and GMDfit to combine remote connectivity, advanced monitoring and analysis tools with global technical expert support via a secure remote connection for faster response. In the case of a critical machine condition a notification is still sent to ABB and the customer’s maintenance team however now the incident is handled as a prioritized SupportLine case, even if no actual system failure occurs. Therefore, the two modules – GMDbeat and GMDfit – perfectly complement each other to ensure system availability and to increase the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of the GMD system.
The new package also brings additional features such as full control over the data and analysis tools for customers. They can now generate reports by themselves and easily access the data from any location in the world using ABB’s user-friendly, web-based application.
ABB’s expertise in the mining industry includes engineering GMDs for the largest autogenous (AG), semiautogenous (SAG) and ball mills in the world that also fulfil highest power requirements and are ready to operate under extreme environmental conditions. Since designing its first gearless mill drive in the late 1960s, ABB has accumulated over forty years of experience in optimizing gearless solutions for grinding applications. ABB says its GMD “is the most powerful mill drive system on the market.”
