GE's Converteam Supplying Six Quadramatic Systems to Mexico's Buenavista Copper Mine

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--A key element in the expansion of production capacity at the Buenavista copper mine in Sonora, Mexico, will be the supply of General Electric Company's (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut) Power Conversion Business (Converteam) quadramatic drive for Latin America's largest ball mill operation.

GE will provide Grupo Mexico S.A. de CV (OTC:GMBXF) (Mexico) with six 14-megawatt (MW) quadramatic systems, each consisting of two low-speed synchronous (LSS) motors and one quadramatic drive, plus one LSS spare motor. The company also will perform installation and commissioning services.

The advanced synchronous motor technology will add 84 MW of power to the Buenavista operations. The motors run at fixed speeds with minimum system losses to promote a high level of efficiency and lower energy requirements.

Buenavista, previously known as the Cananea mine, is one of the world's largest open-pit copper mines. It produces more than 164,000 tons of copper annually. Plans for the production capacity increase have been driven by the anticipated increase in global demand and high copper prices, which stem from infrastructure expansion in Asia. The expansion also will support the local economy in Cananea Sonora.

The GE motor systems will be shipped and installed over the first three quarters of 2013, and commercial operation of the equipment will be phased in from the start of the second quarter of 2013.

GE has been working with Grupo Mexico on the Buenavista expansion project since April 2010. Between 1982 and 1987, GE supplied the company with 11 LSS motors and has supplied wheel motors for the group's locomotive applications and medium voltage switchgear.

The top 40 publicly traded global mining companies plan to increase capital spending by a total of $140 billion in 2012, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Advanced motor and control technologies will feature strongly in the expansion and productivity drive of these miners.

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