Mine hoist maintenance strategy can boost annual production

A new ABB study has found that mining companies could gain significant production uptime through defined maintenance strategies.

Automation company ABB has carried out a study to benchmark current hoisting maintenance strategies, observing that, on average, mining companies have the potential to achieve more than a month of additional production time annually by following recommended predictive maintenance strategies. 

Using inputs from mining companies across six regions and eight different industry sectors, including diamond, gold, copper and potash, to better understand the state of hoist maintenance strategies globally.

The results highlighted that mining companies using reactive maintenance could make up a gap of around 15% in availability compared with those already following more proactive approaches.  

As demand for resources increases but ore grades at existing mines become depleted, deeper mining is required and mine hoists offer the most efficient way to transport heavy loads to the surface. 

The project reinforced the value of predictive maintenance. Results show that companies facing the highest levels of availability loss had, on average, dedicated less of their maintenance strategy to proactive approach versus reactive (75%and 25% retrospectively). Of those surveyed, only 16% had applied continuous predictive monitoring to their mechanical systems.     

Taking these results, ABB has devised its World Class Maintenance Standard for hoists. The Standard aims to improve hoist longevity. Predictive maintenance should make up the largest focus to achieve the highest availability levels.    

 ‘Hoists are one of the most expensive and vital assets within a mining operation, so keeping them running optimally is crucial for an effective mining operation,’ said John Manuell, Global Service Manager for Hoisting, ABB Process Industries.