ABB has won a $10 million order to supply a mine hoist system to Zarya Mine, Kryvu Rih iron ore plant in Ukraine. The hoist system will lift the ore from 1,717 m depth with 50 t skips at a speed of 12 m/s. The order consists of the complete mine hoist system, inclusive of mechanical parts and hydraulic disk brakes, two 3,700 MW overhung synchronous motors and an ACS6000 MV drive inverter as well as power transformers, medium and low voltage switchgears, a control and monitoring system 800xA, underground control equipment, shaft alarm, operator control panel and a combined operator and engineering station.

Igor Khilko, Manager of ABB’s Process Automation Division in Ukraine said “This project is very promising not only in terms of development of our company’s business but also for the whole Ukrainian mining industry. Mine operators are now in urgent need of production upgrade. The use of ABB products and solutions will thus not only allow the replacement of obsolete equipment but also to significantly improve energy efficiency, productivity and reliability of operation.”

The Zarya Mine had previously used an ABB mine system that was installed in 1960 and has since had no modifications. “This is not the first time we have chosen ABB equipment”, said Fedir Karamanyts, CEO of SC Kryvbaszalizrudkom. “Already in 2010 the plant started to use a modern electric drive, a control and monitoring system as well as disc brakes supplied by ABB with the hoist installed at Lenin Mine. With the launch of this hoist system, the plant is now able to hoist barren rock by increasing payload capacity to 35 tons and the speed to 14 m/s, while lowering hoisting energy consumption.”

ABB in Sweden is the main contractor for this project providing manufacturing and supply of the equipment. Parts of the project will be executed by local engineering and service centres of ABB in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian partners of the company.