AK Heavy Engineering commissions Nickel Rim South hoists

AK Heavy Engineering of Sheffield, UK, is nearing completion of its $25-million turnkey contract for hoists at Falconbridge‘s Nickel Rim South Project. The contract called for the supply of a new 5.5-m-diameter main shaft production hoist, a 4.6-m multi-rope service hoist, two new 3.1-m auxiliary hoists, and the refurbishment and testing of a 4.6-m shaft-sinking hoist. This is one of the largest contracts undertaken by the supplier in recent years.

The sinking hoist was purchased from an underground copper mine in San Manuel, Ariz. The dry desert air kept the original steel in excellent condition, and after shotblasting and painting, AK returned it to “as new” condition. It was commissioned in February 2005 and shaft sinking began.

All the hoists have PLC-based control systems. The service hoists are double-drum units driven by separate 3.3-MW AC motors. The drive and control systems were supplied by ABB. The auxiliary hoists are installed at the production shaft and the ventilation shaft. They feature economical gear drives and single drums.