Latin American zinc, copper and lead producer Nexa Resources has appointed Swiss automation company ABB to provide state-of-the-art industrial automation systems for new and existing operations.
The company explains that ABB was selected to partner with Nexa for an ambitious digital transformation programme in Latin America.The first step will be the modernisation of existing mining and smelting process installations in Brazil and Peru, which will form the foundation of digitalised and cost-effective operations.
Aligned with Nexa’s Directive Automation and Information Master Plan, ABB will install ABB Ability System 800xA as part of a five-year agreement. It is, reportedly, the most powerful distributed control system platform in the market and is the highest ranked technology of market research firm ARC Advisory Group, over the last 20 years.
This technology is the basis for the operations’ digital transformation and will support all technology upgrades as the plants evolve.
“One of the main immediate gains will be employee safety as the modern automation platform allows remote monitoring and control. The platform also increases productivity by applying modern control techniques and creating value for the company and local community,” said ABB aluminium and cement product line manager Marcos Hillal.
In addition to automating existing sites, ABB will be responsible for the delivery of automation platforms at the Aripuanã site, the new Nexa expansion investment in Brazil.
The Aripuanã project is a polymetallic extraction of zinc, lead and copper.
The scope includes a comprehensive automation platform, based on ABB Ability System 800xA, and equipped with ABB Ability MineOptimize solutions such as the minerals process control library, power control library and camera connection.