Specialists continue to implement automated process control systems (APCS) in the production shops of Northern Iron Ore. This year, projects are aimed at creating safe working conditions, stabilising product quality, and reducing resource consumption.
The implementation of APCS, the organisation of centralised automation, the development of control systems, service support, and step-by-step improvement of their technical condition are the main tasks assigned to specialists of the automation department at Northern Iron Ore. Employees of the automation department have been upgrading equipment in the majority of the enterprise's shops since 2021. All important processes are displayed in real time on monitors for dispatchers, operators, foremen, and shop managers. They can see data on the load of mechanisms, their speed, state of aggregates, process parameters, and more.
Among the key projects of 2024-2025 is the modernisation of the automated dispatch management system (ADMS) for the grinding and crushing areas of the pelletising shop No. 2.
"The old system was based on relay-switching circuits and had been in operation since 1978," said Vitalii KOBZAR, Head of the automation department at Metinvest Northern Iron Ore. "The modernisation made it possible to create a microprocessor-based ADMS for the grinding and crushing of bentonite and limestone using SIEMENS equipment. This ensured automated monitoring and control of facilities involved in loading, crushing, and transportation of crushed materials. As a result, the efficiency of operational dispatch management increased, along with the quality and speed of rejection diagnostics for maintenance personnel. In other words, with the introduction of APCS, processes that were previously performed manually by operators were simplified. Employees only need to enter parameters and monitor the process.
This year, specialists also continued the modernisation of the water flow control system of mills and classifiers at ore beneficiation plant No. 1. Nine new electromagnetic flow meters were installed on water supply pipelines feeding the mills and classifiers.
Specialists also conducted the installation and commissioning of APCS for hopper scales at weighing station No. 11 and No. 12 in the pelletising shop No. 2.
The commissioning of the automation system ensured fulfilment of quality requirements for the finished goods, as well as contributed to reduction in utilities consumption. In addition, in addressing the task of producing high-quality pellets, the need to increase the level of automation in sampling and quality control processes was identified. Therefore, specialists installed a modern microprocessor-based system using SIEMENS equipment.
"Despite the challenging wartime conditions, our team continues to perform its tasks responsibly," said Vitalii SOLOD, Head of the automation department at Metinvest Northern Iron Ore. "Experienced specialists have joined us, including nine professionals from Mariupol, Avdiivka, and Pokrovsk, as well as employees from Ingulets Iron Ore. Our department has also welcomed young specialists, for whom Northern Iron Ore became their first place of employment. The projects we have implemented represent state-of-the-art, modern equipment control models that comply with the best global APCS practices. Moreover, our automation solutions and experience are being replicated at other mining and processing enterprises."
