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ABB Continues to Support Mining Industry Through Software Solutions and Training

September 14, 2020 by Stephanie Leonida

ABB aims to help mining processes in South Africa for Anglo American Technical Solutions with the Ability System 800xA.

ABB recently provided software services and technology to Anglo American Technical Solutions (TS) in Johannesburg. This facility is the global mining company’s technical and analytical support center. 

 

ABB Aims to Support Mining Operations

ABB provided its in-depth automation expertise, licensing, software solutions, and training. They installed ABB’s Ability System 800xA and integrated it into the existing laboratory infrastructure at TS’ Extractive Metallurgy department.

 

Base metals research dashboard. Image courtesy of ABB.

 

The Ability System will be applied to hydrometallurgical leach experiments and enable metallurgists to modify their experimental processes more accurately. The system encourages laboratory expansion, more fine-tuned laboratory set-ups, and more accurate control functionality.

Using the Ability System’s capabilities regarding advanced process control, methodologies are optimized and primed. Each experiment accommodates for specific and unique chemical, mineralogical, and mineralogical complexity. Furthermore, the Ability system allows experiments to be run for much longer and without supervision. 

In a recent news release John Manuell, Head - Local Division (Process Industries), ABB, South Africa, provided his views on ABB Ability System: “The installation of ABB Ability™ System 800xA ensures that Anglo American Technical Solutions now has the most modern, feature-rich system available on the market. It will enhance and complement the current testwork packages.”

Manuell went on to say that the Ability System “brings new process control features that will optimize testwork initiatives and enhance functionality to enable metallurgists to interact with the system in a far better and more user-friendly manner, which will ultimately allow for more accurate experimental data to be collected.”

 

ABB and TS

The TS facility brings analytical support to commodities and customers for process development, testing, or evaluation within minerals processing and hydrometallurgy disciplines. ABB is a valued and trusted partner in the mining industry. Together, the companies systems, staff, and equipment aim to make mining operations and practices safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective. The goal is for ABB’s Ability System to support continuous smelting and refining operations in South Africa by allowing continuous laboratory testing and process development.  

 

Installed infrastructure for Anglo American Technical Solutions. Image courtesy of ABB.

 

John says that ABB “is committed to providing innovative best-in-class technology solutions to the Technical Solutions team members to support their center’s digital transformation. This flagship automation platform from ABB will provide a base for many future digital initiatives, such as advanced data analytics, KPI visualization and reporting, and enterprise connectivity.”

 

ABB Expanding Resources

ABB has also extended its services to Brazil and Peru, hoping to make South Africa mining operations more sustainable. In August, the company announced that it will install ABB Ability System 800xA for mining company Nexa Resources and its smelting process installations in South America. This initiative is part of a five-year transformation program.

 

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