Power and automation technology group ABB has announced the acquisition of Alstom’s ring motor business to enhance its gearless mill drive (GMD) system business. The business, based in Bilbao, Spain, has about 120 employees and will become part of ABB’s Process Automation division. ABB stated: “GMD systems are used in the mining industry for processing large quantities of ore to extract metals such as copper, gold, platinum, iron and molybdenum. The market for GMD systems is expected to grow due to rising demand for minerals in emerging countries undergoing industrialisation. Deeper mines with more complex ore bodies and lower ore grades require the grinding of increased amounts of material to yield the same volumes of metal. GMD systems are designed to address the need for extremely high ore throughput, reliability and availability of the grinding circuit.”

The motor power so far on GMD’s can go up to 28 MW. “The acquisition will combine the leading ring motor product from Alstom with ABB’s electrical offering for GMD systems, enabling ABB to enhance its position as a strong vertically-integrated systems provider” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “The acquired expertise and market strength will provide new opportunities for growth.” The company stated that the ring motor product and ABB’s current electrical offering for GMD systems can only work in combination and are therefore fully complementary: “The know-how, experience and technology that this acquisition brings will enable ABB to increase manufacturing capabilities and strengthen the ring motor business. In the long term, end users will enjoy the benefits of ABB’s enhanced product quality and system performance.”