2009-03-06 - ABB received a 2009 Plant Services Best Practices Award for the ABB Full Service® maintenance management at Vale Inco Newfoundland & Labrador in Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada.
ABB won the management best practice for its start-up services at Vale Inco, a $1 billion greenfield nickel mine and concentrator. The mine started operations in 2005 and handles the entire maintenance function by a partnership between ABB and Iskueteu, a local company that specializes in construction and operations support. Vale Inco’s commitment, ABB’s management expertise and the ABB Full Service® methodology produced the fastest ramp-up for the customer. As a result, Vale Inco achieved 90 percent of rated capacity for the mine concentrator in just three months after startup. To qualify for a best practice, companies must provide measurable proof of success and concrete examples that demonstrate the successful implementation of a process or technique as defined by the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP).