All of Vale’s S11D truckless iron ore mining systems are operating, with their start-ups ahead of schedule. The four systems are already operating at over 80% capacity. The four systems each utilise the Sandvik PF200 fully mobile crushing station, each loaded by Caterpillar 7495 rope shovels. The IPCC systems are being used in the Serra Sul (S11D) block, a ridge of land 30 km long and around 1.8 km wide.

Sandvik’s Mining Systems business was recently acquired by FLSmidth, and when that deal closed, the Sandvik statement said: “The projects to be finalised during 2017-2019 by Sandvik, through an operational agreement with FLSmidth, will, however, remain reported in discontinued operations.” FLSmidth stated before this: “FLSmidth to provide project management and aftermarket services to Sandvik on the majority of ongoing projects to be delivered during 2017-2019.”