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BUSINESS
2 / 2009 CONNECT 6
CoC Components: Urgent demand for AI outdoor switching unit lugs at Swedish copper mine
Express delivery of lugs from Malters to the Arctic Circle
PFISTERER SEFAG was assigned with delivering a substantial number
of outdoor switching unit terminals to Europe’s largest underground
copper ore mine on behalf of ABB Switzerland. Thanks to the exceptional
efforts of everyone involved we were able to fulfil the order on
time before the winter.
For decades, PFISTERER SEFAG AG has produced
outdoor switching unit lugs for a
number of customers at home and abroad.
The product range includes aluminium,
copper and bimetallic lugs for a maximum
voltage range of up to 750 kV. As well as
producing outdoor switching unit lugs for
largescale projects, we also produce lugs
in smaller batches, usually with a shorter
delivery date.
This autumn, our team proved once more
that speed is one of our core skills, right up
there next to quality and precision.
“The parts need to be assembled before
the winter sets in“,
Senior Project Manager Gerd Eisenhuth
from ABB Schweiz demanded of us on 2
September, with an open order for aluminium
outdoor switching unit lugs for
a project in Sweden. As the parts had to
be assembled before winter, the emphasis
was put on a shorter delivery time. Two
days later we shipped out the twelve alu-
minium outdoor switching unit terminals,
including reserves and screws. The order
from ABB Switzerland came in on September
8. The total order for 1‘791 lugs for the
Aitik 36 PFC Filter project came to a contracted
amount of around 90,000 francs.
The end customer was the Swedish ore
mining company Boliden Mineral AB. The
terminals had to be delivered to the Aitik
copper mine in Lappish Gällivare, right up
in the north of Sweden.
The schedule was met
Under immense pressure, we put together
the required processing papers and started
producing the lugs as soon as the first
rough cast parts came in. The foundry’s
ability to deliver and the flexibility of our
production unit were stretched to their
limits. The first batch was delivered on 5
October. The rest of the goods were collected
on the Friday evening, 9 October, by
minibus from our site in Malters. As early
as the following Monday, Gerd Eisenhut
Pre-winter assembly of the lugs in the new outdoor switching unit in northern Sweden (photo: ABB Schweiz).
Europe‘s largest copper ore mine
The Boliden Mineral AB’s Aitik copper
mine is located near the Swedish city
of Gällivare, around 60 km north of the
Arctic Circle. At around 2.8 km long and
400 m deep underground, it is Europe’s
largest copper ore mine.
The average copper content is 0.4 % and
small quantities of silver and gold are
also mined.
With investments of close to one billion
francs, the annual output of 18 million
tons has doubled to 36 million. This also
explains the need to build more power
stations.
The extension should prolong the mine’s
lifetime to 2025.
from ABB called us to say that the the
goods had arrived at the construction site
in Gällivare.
When you think that the distance from
Malters to Gällivare is 2‘400 km as the
crow flies, the minibus driver herself surely
deserves a medal for this. Just as the
delivery arrived, the first snow set in on 12
October. But this did not stop assembly
going ahead as planned.
Walter Koch
Bird’s eye view of the Aitik copper mine which has been
running since 1968 (photo: Boliden Mineral AB).