ABB Launches Gearless Mill Grive Service Program at Codelco

ABB has entered into a long-term service agreement with Codelco, Chile’s state-owned copper company, to support gearless mill drives (GMDs) at its Ministro Hales and Andina operations. The contract unifies service management for both sites, located more than 1,500 kilometers apart, through ABB’s cloud-based platform, GMD Connect. Covering maintenance, remote diagnostics and training, the program is designed to enhance system availability and contribute to combined annual copper production of around 400,000 metric tons.

The agreement provides lifecycle management for four GMD systems, three at Ministro Hales and one at Andina. These systems, which eliminate conventional mechanical drivetrain components, are used to run some of the world’s largest grinding mills. ABB highlights that the technology supports more efficient ore processing with reduced energy consumption and emissions, aligning with Codelco’s goals to maximize uptime and strengthen sustainability performance.

“Our collaboration with Codelco has lasted more than a decade. With demand for copper production set to increase, this latest contract award enables us to build on that partnership through expertise and technologies for looking after proprietary gearless mill drive systems,” said Francisco Herrera, Service Manager for Chile, ABB Process Industries.

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