The company recently acquired Fairchild International, which manufactures underground mining equipment, and is finalizing the acquisition of Australian-based Industrea Ltd., a provider of safety and productivity-enhancing mining equipment and services. GE will reach a global customer base with enhanced products based on its clean propulsion systems, energy storage offering and world-class system integration capabilities. As the global mining industry expands to deeper, more remote and extreme locations, its challenges grow more complex. GE’s portfolio of products and services are uniquely positioned to maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better, allowing mines to:
 
- Generate, distribute and convert power more efficiently and at a lower cost
- Manage water quality, usage and wastewater runoff more effectively
- Improve productivity through more efficient transportation of materials and deployment of advanced software monitoring systems
 
“The continuing urbanization and growth in energy demand in the emerging economies bodes well for the long-term future of the global mining industry,” said Geoff Knox, CEO of GE Mining. “With mine operators rebalancing their investments to get more out of their existing assets, GE’s global mining business is well positioned to add value. We can help them maximize output through more efficient movement of their products, generate and distribute power more efficiently, and address their water management challenges.”
 
During this week’s MINExpo conference in Las Vegas, GE Mining will showcase solutions that address critical industry challenges, including:
 
• Power: Mining companies are increasingly under pressure to find and utilize electrical power more efficiently, reliably and safely. GE offers a full range of power generation solutions including steam, wind, biogas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered turbines, enabling organizations to utilize power from multiple sources and allowing for the lowest cost fuel option to be used at any given time. From its LM6000PF aeroderivative gas turbines, built from GE’s best-in-class aircraft engine technology, to its Jenbacher combined heat and power (CHP) systems, GE offers flexible solutions to meet a mine’s unique power demands. For safe and reliable distribution of electricity, our Arc Vault Protection System can stop an electrical arcing fault in a fraction of the time that traditional systems require. By reducing downtime and minimizing switchgear damage, it enables mine operators to maximize their return on investment – all while reducing the risk of on-site electrical injuries.
 
• Water: Water management is a key issue that all mining companies must tackle. As the mining industry looks to reduce its environmental impact, customers are placing a higher emphasis on implementing new equipment and chemical technologies that help maximize resource efficiency. GE’s AquaSel system is a breakthrough non-thermal desalination technology with extremely high water recovery rates. Mine operators that deploy this technology can achieve recovery rates of up to 98 per cent and reduce the volume of liquid brine that is generated seven-fold as compared to conventional reverse osmosis technology. GE is also one of the foremost suppliers of environmentally responsible road dust control programs that are tailored to reduce water and fuel usage, including the DusTreat and CoalPlus treatment programs.
 
• Productivity: GE offers a comprehensive portfolio of technologies to help operators protect investments and operate safer and more efficiently for both new and existing mining projects. For example, GE’s Proficy MaxxMine remote monitoring and diagnostic software solution combines process and asset optimization in a single offering, enabling mine operators to make timely and accurate decisions that balance process performance with equipment health. The company also provides highly reliable, efficient and adaptable power conversion systems engineered to meet customer needs. In fact, GE engineers are placing robust and dependable technological solutions with very little routine maintenance requirements in some of the world’s most challenging mining environments. Another example is the Quadramatic Drive System that has the highest efficiency for dual-pinion, fixed speed mill applications in the industry and provides the benefits of a single pinion, air- clutch connected, low-speed synchronous motor drive for today’s maximum mill ratings. The company’s Durathon battery offers best-in-class energy density and performance for a range of mining power needs. When connected to GE’s Invertex underground propulsion systems, the battery significantly reduces problems caused by heat, diesel particulates and emissions, driving down ventilation costs at underground mines. The Durathon battery and Invertex AC drive systems are being incorporated into Fairchild International’s underground mining utility scoop equipment less than one month after GE closed this acquisition.