TPT January 2012

T echnology U pdate

Orbital welding

Challenges met by AUMA

A ROBUST actuation solution capable of performing at high altitudes has been supplied by AUMA to the Collahuasi copper mine in a mountainous region of northern Chile. Sixty modular electric actuators automate valves controlling materials that travel through pipelines starting 4,300m above sea level. The mine is one of the world’s largest non-ferrous projects, set in an area with a rich copper mining history. Commissioned in 1999, an expansion programme at the mine has given a long-term capacity of 500,000t/yr of copper. Process facilities include a 60,000tpd sulphide concentrator and a 50,000tpa cathode copper oxide heap leach-SX-EW facility. After grinding, the ore is treated by flotation and concentrate regrinding to produce a high grade concentrate that is transported 200km in a slurry pipeline from the mine to a port. AUMA’s actuators with

three phase AC motors and gearboxes are installed at the pipeline’s ‘choke station’, so- called because material needs to be slowed down after it has accelerated in transit. Challenges met by AUMA’s actuators included climatic environmental conditions, very low temperatures at night and extremely high temperatures during the day. Economical three phase motors carrying alternating currents and corrosion protection were important product features that benefited the application. A track record for AUMA supplying modular electric actuators for mining installations includes an installation at the ‘Los Bronces’ mine, also located in Chile. AUMA Riester GmbH & Co KG – Germany

GULLCO’S Pipe Kat ® automated pipe welding system with integrated wire feeder unit incorporates a 40 IPM welding carriage design with quick action mounting for ease of installation. The carriage is equipped with a high speed return feature for faster repositioning of the carriage. The Pipe Kat is also equipped with a linear oscillator with adjustable weave width and weld joint centreline adjustment, and all electronic motorised functions incorporate jog settings. The system comes with a main control box with 7,620mm (25ft) umbilical, wire feed spool capacity of 4.5kg (10lb), with a maximum wire speed of 89-226cm/min (35-633 IPM) and a wire size range of 0.8 to 2mm. The welding torch uses standard consumables. Gullco International Ltd – Canada Website: www.gullco.com

Fax: +49 7631 809 1250 Email: riester@auma.com Website: www.auma.com

  

www.LAP-LASER.com

BOOTH 7A/B13

MEASURING INSTEAD OF SCRAP MELTING

Save time and money by high precision laser measurement of diameters and profiles.

                

64

J anuary 2012

www.read-tpt.com

›

TPT_87x125_01.indd 1

13.12.11 15:05