Mining safely: Controls help operations, cut risks
-- Control Engineering, 6/10/2008
Austin, TX – "More mining operations are making automation a significant part of their strategy for excellence," said Djoko Corovic, director, metals and mining, Emerson Process Management. "Advanced automation can help predict and prevent abnormal situations that can cause damage to major equipment, loss of production, excessive energy consumption, and other problems. Extending the life of your assets and safely operating at greater production levels is critical to being successful in any market," Corovic said.Emerson's metals and mining experience includes providing automation solutions to Newmont Yanacocha, the largest gold mine in Latin America; a $2 billion expansion project at the Rio Tinto/Alcan Gove Alumina refinery; the Copper Guixi smelter expansion in China; the Xstrata Kazzinc upgrade project in Kazakhstan; and other mining operations globally.
The Emerson Smart Mine approach uses the predictive intelligence and automation technologies of the company’s open and interoperable PlantWeb digital architecture, including the company's Smart Wireless technologies, to improve operations. PlantWeb enables companies to detect process and equipment problems before they occur to maximize throughput, minimize surprises, reduce costs and maximize profits. Smart Wireless technologies reduce the number of "blind spots" in a plant, and allow more process measurements in areas that were previously unreachable with traditional wiring.
"The mining industry is a vital component of the Latin American economy," said Leo Rodriguez, president, Emerson Process Management Latin America. Of the company’s new global Smart Mine Seminar series to help mining companies optimize performance and improve operations, he added, "We are proud to kick off this global seminar series in Latin America and look forward to sharing our experience with participating local and national mining companies."
Seminars begin in South America this month and travel to South Africa and Australia later in the year. Free, full-day seminars include topics on optimizing mining operations, feed preparations, processing plants, and utilities that use Emerson’s Smart Mine approach. The schedule includes Santiago, Chile on June 17; Antofagasta, Chile on June 20; San Juan, Argentina on June 24; Lima, Perú on July 1; and Arequipa, Perú on July 4.
–Control Engineering News Desk
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