ABB to implement Gearless Mill Drive service program at Codelco copper mines in Chile

ABB GMD Connect to centralize and optimize operations at Ministro Hales and Andina mines, despite the sites being 1,500km apart

ABB and Codelco today announced their latest collaboration to optimize the maintenance program of the Chilean state-owned copper mining company. With Chile currently the world’s largest copper producer, this new long-term service agreement (LTSA) covers maintenance, remote diagnostics, and skills training to enhance the performance of its gearless mill drive (GMD) systems. Integrated into ABB’s advanced cloud-based platform, GMD Connect, the agreement will support a combined copper production of around 400,000 metric tons per year.

As part of the LTSA, ABB will provide ongoing lifecycle management for Codelco’s four key GMD systems—three at the Ministro Hales mine in the Antofagasta region and one at the Andina mine in the Valparaíso region. Although these mines are more than 1,500 km apart and differ in design, the contract brings both sites under centralized service management. ABB will help advance Codelco’s sustainability and innovation goals by improving operational efficiency, asset availability, and evolving technology solutions over time.

GMDs are increasingly critical to the operation of copper mining plants, ensuring efficient ore grinding while reducing energy consumption and emissions. With global demand for copper expected to rise over the next decade, maintaining the reliability of these systems is essential to meeting market needs. This agreement supports Codelco’s objectives to maximize uptime and asset availability while avoiding unplanned outages and sustaining productivity.

“Our collaboration with Codelco has lasted more than a decade. With demand for copper production set to increase, this latest contract allows us to strengthen that partnership through our expertise and technologies for supporting proprietary gearless mill drive systems,” said Francisco Herrera, Service Manager for Chile, ABB Process Industries. “ABB and Codelco share a commitment to integrating innovative solutions into Chilean mining operations, which is vital to meeting production targets efficiently and sustainably.”

ABB’s GMDs are designed to eliminate all mechanical drivetrain components and are used to operate some of the world’s largest grinding mills—essential mine infrastructure that crushes ore and separates valuable minerals from waste rock. These systems enable more efficient, reliable operations with lower emissions, helping the industry meet the growing demand for minerals critical to a low-carbon future. Maximizing the output of such critical minerals and metals is vital as the world moves toward electrification and decarbonization.