New life for Canadian mine - Atlas Copco

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Technically speaking >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Technical solutions aimed at increasing productivity in undergroundoperations are constantly being developed. Know-how, on the otherhand, is a resource that can be hard to find.Know-how at your serviceNew Applications Team offers solid underground competenceAs more mining and constructioncompanies realize the benefits ofa total solution approach to theiroperations, the technical expertise requiredto put those solutions into practice in themost cost-effective way is not always readilyavailable.In the fast moving “heat” of the workingday in underground excavation, drivenby production commitments and economictargets, there is often little time for a broadbasedoverview of operational efficiencyand cost effectiveness.That’s where Atlas Copco’s ApplicationsTeam comes in, the company’s group oftechnical advisors, which was recentlystrengthened with the addition of four newmembers.The new members are:Anders Östberg: tunneling specialist,most recently Plant and Machine Managementwith Veidekke, the Scandi navianconstruction company.Andy Ndulubila: mining specialist,responsibl e for Africa. Ndulubila is alsoMarketing Manager at Atlas Copco inZambia.Johannes Hansson: tunneling specialist,most recently at Ramböll Sweden, partof the leading international design andengineering consultancy.Åke Kruukka, mining specialist, mostrecently Manager New Technologies Miningat the iron ore mining company LKAB.Together with Senior Advisors LarsBergkvist (mining) and Gunnar Nord (tunneling),the team now offers more than 100years of collective knowledge in undergroundmethods, equipment, technologyand solutions.The team operates within the company’sdepartment for Global Projects Marketingbased at the division Underground RockExcavation in Örebro, Sweden. In time,regional advisors may also be appointed,depending on demand.Broad-based approachBergkvist explains the motive for thisboost in technical competence: “We haveidentified a growing demand from miningcompanies and civil engineers workingunderground for broad-based advisory servicesthat go above and beyond individualproduct purchasing and price negotiations.“These are customers who are beginningto look at the total efficiency of theiroperations and they want a speaking partnerwho understands the need for increased productivityin combination with lower overallcosts, and who can make proposals for thiswithout getting bogged down in productrelatedissues.“Obviously, as a leading global supplier,we can offer a huge variety of cutting-edgetechnical solutions. But what matters ishow to optimize these solutions in orderto achieve the best possible overall result.“I aim to show that AtlasCopco understands andis prepared to liste n to ideas.”Åke Kruukka, Application Specialist, Atlas CopcoThat’s why we have built a team with differentcompetences acquired from the real-life,down-to-earth world of underground rockexcavation – in short, people with dirt undertheir nails. There are not many guys aroundin the world who have their experience andwe are proud to have them on board.”Gunnar Nord, a senior advisor to AtlasCopco customers on tunneling technique,adds: “There is greater awareness today oftotal efficiency where the total running costof equipment is more important than thecost of each individual unit.“This is a growing trend. More customersare interested in our views on this and weknow that they prefer to talk to people whocan speak their language, know their businessand problems and are not just focusedon selling. This group will help to speedup that process. In addition, with customersall over the world, we are also able totake cultural and linguistic differences intoaccount.”Against this background, what do thenew members of the team have to offerAtlas Copco’s customers?Anders Östberg: “I am interestedin machines and production and this14 Mining & Construction – 3 / 2011
The advisors: From left, Johannes Hansson, Lars Bergkvist, Gunnar Nord, Anders Östbergand Andy Ndulubila. The team also includes Åke Kruukka, facing page.combination has followed me throughout mycareer. I focus on how to manage people andoptimize the work that they do, and havingbeen an Atlas Copco customer I understandhow the customer thinks and can speak thesame language. I also have the knowledge todiscuss detailed technical issues for a civilworks project for example, which is not soeasy for a salesman. The most advanced systemcan cause problems if you don’t knowwhat it is or how to use it. My philosophy isto be as efficient as possible.”New opportunitiesAndy Ndulubila: The mines are gettingwiser and more cost-conscious and we canhelp them in this process. Technology isnow making it possible to mine marginalorebodies – gold, copper, platinum – andto do it at a good profit. I can contribute byhelping the customer achieve more taskswith the same equipment in the same application.For example, the drill rig BoomerT1 D, which replaces the Boomer 104 usedin narrow vein mining, is now capableof doing two jobs. It drills in the normalway but by using our long-hole kit it canalso be converted to do the same job as theSimba 157.“Another example is the FlexiROC T 15which has a roll-over boom, enabling it to drillupwards as well as downwards and can alsobe used underground. These possibilities arevery interesting for many mines as a way ofoptimizing their operations.” (Read more onFlexiROC T 15, page 23).Johannes Hansson: “One of my main taskswill be to help tunneling customers to optimizetheir processes. Calculating and designingtunnels often takes a disproportionat eamount of time in relation to the projectitself. I plan to use my knowledge to helptunnelers reduce the time it takes from planningto implementation. This is the first steptowards optimizing the work.”Åke Kruukka: “I aim to expand AtlasCopco’s contacts within the global miningindustry. I want to demonstrate that we reallyunderstand the mining business and that weare always prepared to listen and respondto the customer’s ideas. After 22 years atLKAB in a variety of mining-related areas,and especially the past nine years workingdirectly with mining equipment technology, Ibelieve that my experiences will be valuablefor Atlas Copco’s customers. In addition, myknowledge of geology, rock transport systemsand other fields has given me a goodall-round picture of what’s involved in runninga mining operation.”Lars Bergkvist concludes that theApplications Team will strengthen the rolethat Atlas Copco already plays in itscustomer s’ businesses. “The focus is shiftingfrom productivity to optimization andthe goal is how to achieve smooth operationswith no disturbance,” he says. “Butthis is not going to happen overnight. It isa long term project based on globalteamwor k.”Contact The teamThe Atlas Copco Applications Teamcan be contacted via all Atlas CopcoCustomer Centers worldwide.Mining & Construction – 3 / 2011 15
Page 2: EditorialContents383FeaturesA new r
Page 6: his recommendation that the latest
Page 9: BORSSmallerholes andsound retention
Page 12 and 13: The raise boring machine to the rig
Page 16 and 17: Products & progress >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Page 18 and 19: Under the Span18Mining & Constructi
Page 20 and 21: Reinforcing the Torrebaso tunnel: S
Page 22 and 23: Rolling out the red caThey came, th
Page 24 and 25: What theoperators sayMatthias Sjök
Page 26 and 27: Marketplace >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Page 28: Introducing the T-WiZ drilling syst

New life for Canadian mine - Atlas Copco

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