FLSmidth was recently awarded a contract from Oyu Tolgoi LLC for a Tripper Car Optimisation Project. Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia’s largest copper and gold mining company, operates an overhead self-travelling tripper car in the ore storage building, that was initially commissioned in 2012. In December 2018, FLSmidth began supporting Oyu Tolgoi due to constant operational problems (frequent wheel failures, deformed rails, damages of structure). A site visit, detailed inspection report and root cause analysis were performed, and FLSmidth proposed short term, mid-term and a long term solutions as part of this support.
This specific contract will implement the long-term solution that was proposed, and comprises a full structural re-design, improved conveyor profile/curvature, update of the electrical system, re-use of conveyor components, and a complex installation procedure due to site limitations (restricted maintenance opening and overhead crane capacity). The execution of such a complex project with a very tight time schedule is only possible with a very close customer relationship and a global project organisation. The project will be locally managed by FLSmidth Mongolia, and the design and engineering performed by FLSmidth Austria. The fabrication and installation will be locally performed by the FLSmidth Supercenter in Mongolia and service personnel within Mongolia.
The chutework will also be lined with FLSmidth’s own FerroCer® wear liners manufactured in Australia. These specially developed wear liners will have an increased lifetime of two to five times compared to traditional wear liners, which will maximise the utilisation and productivity of the plant. This project demonstrates FLSmidth’s full lifecycle service capabilities, including continued support and on-site audits and problem solving, leading ultimately to upgrade and retrofit projects that bring the latest in technology to increase a plant’s utilisation.
