MMC Norilsk Nickel says overall 130 non-protectable IP assets (process improvement proposals) have been implemented in production by the company in the first five months of 2013 with a resulting savings rate of 26.5 million rubles.
The Russian mining outfit said the bulk of improvement proposals are lodged by the Polar Division with 88 filings on process improvement, equipment and devices in use received since the beginning of the year. 85 proposals have been implemented with a subsequent financial benefit of 25.9 million rubles. Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant, Oktyabrsky Mine, Copper Plant, Nickel Plant and Norilsk Rail Service are at the forefront of drafting and implementing of the proposals.
Proposal to change the structure of the Vanyukov furnace, resulting in lower repair costs is an example of successful implementation at the Copper Plant. New anti-stick coating of copper molds is going through tests at the Copper Plant Smelting Workshop which could potentially lower anode copper production costs by 9 million rubles per annum.
“Developments contributed by the company’s employees help not only save financial and labor resources, but allow to raise production volumes, safety and equipment service life. Such initiatives are definitely supported by the management resulting in a stable number of improvement proposals submitted every year. Employees of the Polar Division, Norilsk Supply Complex LLC, OJSC Norilsk Taimyr Energy Company are the most active in general” – says Nina Brazhnik, Chief IP Officer of the R&D Department of MMC Norilsk Nickel.
The best process improvement proposals across the company’s subsidiaries: manufacturing aerating mixer in-house by the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant Elemental Sulfur Treatment Workshop at Norilsk Supply Complex Mechanical Plant instead of procuring it “on the continent” and installing balancing valves at the return heat supply manifold for bulk heat supply system clients TEVK NTEK). The proposal will result in a more efficient use of hot stream and will benefit the hot stream hydraulics across the city.
Southern section of Taimyrsky Mine skip shaft No3 to go in operation beginning of July
The company also revealed that the first stage of hoisting equipment renovation is nearing completion at skip shaft No3 (SS-3) of the Company’s Polar Division Taimyrsky Mine. The project goal is replacing the deteriorated equipment with resulting production capacity increases at SS-3 of 500 thousand tonnes and a total of 4 million tonnes per annum.
The shaft mine winding units South and North were commissioned in 1984 with the bulk of the remaining obsolete operational equipment in use since 1980s.
The first stage of renovation is focused on replacing equipment in the South section of SS-3. During repairs most of the ore hoisting workload was shifted to North winding unit and the ventilation skip-shaft of the mine. The required equipment has been successfully installed in the South section of the shaft. New winding unit has been installed, distribution substation has been repaired, skips, conveyors, weight-batcher drive and feeder have been replaced at the level of 1,345 meters below surface.
After launch of the South shaft section of Taimyrsky Mine, the next renovation stage will commence with completion of North SS-3 section slated for 2015.
