ABB has released a new version of ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance for grinding which is a unique advanced digital service to maintain, assess and analyze gearless mill drive (GMD) systems.

• Global technology company ABB has updated ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance for grinding, moving it to a cloud-based platform enabling new features including additional trend monitoring and analytics
• New Grinding Connect app allows mine operators to check gearless mill drive performance from anywhere via smartphone or tablet
• ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance helps extend asset lifetime and avoid unforeseen downtime

The upgrade means that ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance for grinding is now cloud-based instead of sited on premises and includes a brand-new mobile application that allows real-time notifications on fleet status. The Grinding Connect mobile app, available for iOS and Android, means that mine operators can monitor performance at any time and from any place.

ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance for grinding provides easy access to GMD system parameters and allows visualization of performance considering past activity and real-time data and assesses future maintenance requirements. It aims to extend the lifetime of grinding assets through better use of resources and to support non-stop operation and to avoid unforeseen downtime.

The new ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance facilitates greater data gathering. The data sample per mine is increased and analytics and trends are more reliably defined. The solution offers a new user experience with fully customizable dashboards, alarms and events all available on the mobile app.

GMDs are the preferred grinding solution at mines characterized by higher-capacity production coupled with low ore grades. By eliminating bolt-on mechanical components such as ring-gears, pinions, couplings and gearboxes, GMDs offer ore producers unrivalled availability, efficiency and durability, while reducing OPEX.

“A gearless mill drive is a major investment and its availability is essential for the process,” said Angeles Fernandez, Global Product Manager for Grinding Service in mining at ABB. “Unscheduled shutdowns and system failures can lead to significant losses in production.”

“ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance for grinding is a state-of-the-art service for analyzing system data, assessing the current condition of the equipment and applying predictive methods. The new version is unique in the market and the new Grinding Connect app means you can check that your GMD is performing through your phone or tablet -  it is as familiar as the many personal apps we use for monitoring our health, catching up with the news, or checking on the home or children.”

ABB draws on 130 years of experience in the mining industry and is a pioneer in the integration of electrification, automation and digitalization in mining. The world's first gearless mill drive was delivered by ABB in 1969 and is still in operation. Since then ABB has sold more than 150 units in 23 countries and currently has over 50 percent market share.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.

ABB’s Process Automation business is a leader in automation, electrification and digitalization for the process and hybrid industries. We serve our customers with a broad portfolio of products, systems, and end-to-end solutions, including our #1 distributed control system, software, and lifecycle services, industry-specific products as well as measurement and analytics, marine and turbocharging offerings. As the global #2 in the market, we build on our deep domain expertise, diverse team and global footprint, and are dedicated to helping our customers increase competitiveness, improve their return on investment and run safe, smart, and sustainable operations.