After a lengthy four-year, highly competitive bid process, GE Motors in Peterborough Ontario has won a $30 million contract to supply 18 quadramatic motors to Taiyuan Steel, China. The motors will be used in the company's TISCO iron ore mine, predicted to be the largest in China with one of the highest outputs in the world. The order is the largest of its kind for GE Motors in Peterborough, and also the largest sold into China. The quadramatic motors will be built by mid 2011.
Throughout the bid process GE focused on driving greater technology efficiencies in order to reduce costs and energy requirements associated with the use of motors in the mining industry. GE worked with specialists from across the company located in China, the US and Peterborough. GE also worked with SGS Lakefield Research to better understand the nature of ore samples from the mine and their impact on motor speed and ore variability. "The process we followed required a detailed understanding of engineering applications, technology and testing," said Mark Revill, Manager Mining Commercial Operations. "GE put together an exceptional, experienced team that understands the benefits of improving technology to develop products for global markets. Our work has been recognized in the award of this large contract by Taiyuan Steel."
GE's quadramatic motors are certified under the company's rigorous third-party ecomagination process, requiring that products improve operating costs and reduce a company's environmental footprint. "Over the life of the mine energy savings are expected to exceed $2 million annually," said Dave Peters, Manager Systems Engineering.