- ABB and global manufacturer of construction and mining machinery Liebherr to develop technology to accelerate the transition to all-electric mines
- Focus will be on electric trolley applications for mining companies, one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions
ABB has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Liebherr Mining Equipment to collaborate in bringing solutions to market that will reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with heavy machinery in mining.
The two leading technology companies will explore the development of state-of-the-art equipment and digital solutions for overall electrification of mine sites, with particular focus on trolley support. Bringing together complementary areas of expertise, ABB and Liebherr will also address the demands of remote industrial applications in their quest for net zero emissions mining machinery.
Under the agreement, the companies will study and evaluate the possibility of future projects, using technologies available to them now and those becoming available in the coming months and years. Working closely together will improve understanding and awareness of which existing solutions they might combine and where new research and development opportunities might be.
Oliver Weiss, Executive Vice President R&D, Engineering and Manufacturing at Liebherr-Mining Equipment SAS and Max Luedtke, Global Head of Mining at ABB Process Industries, agree to develop solutions for net zero emissions mining machinery 
ABB and Liebherr share a commitment to developing solutions for net zero emissions mining operations
“The ABB team is covering a very large footprint in the surface mining industry with a strong reputation in the supply of electrical infrastructure solutions,” said Peter Hoeher, Liebherr Mining Equipment Newport News Managing Director. “Trolley applications will be the key technology to reduce the overall GHG emissions from surface mining operations in the fastest way possible whilst maintaining all the benefits of haul trucks in terms of performance, cost, and operational flexibility. We also consider trolley as a key technology for fully electrified haul truck solutions.”
“The Liebherr Mining Equipment team shares our commitment to developing solutions for mining operations that have net zero emissions at their core,” said Mehrzad Ashnagaran, ABB’s Global Product Line Manager – Electrification and Composite Plant. “Building from our trolley assist infrastructure, which can reduce GHG emissions greatly, we can be part of wider electrification plans and help set bold targets for the near-term future.”
The announcement today follows a call from ABB earlier this year for more collaboration between OEMs and the key technology suppliers. The mission of developing combined solutions is to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of customer businesses, contributing to the reduction of CO₂ and supporting a sustainable society. ABB is collaborating with some of the world’s most innovative mining customers, OEMs and technology innovators to accelerate the decarbonization of operations. ABB is committed to playing a fundamental role in the transition towards zero emissions industrial machinery, drawing on its domain expertise in electrification, digitalization and automation solutions, to support this objective.
ABB is celebrating 130 years of pioneering experience in the mining industry and delivers complete electrification, automation and digital solutions, industry-specific products and lifecycle services across every stage of the mining cycle. ABB’s digital applications draw on advanced libraries and software solutions to reduce process complexity and can integrate with existing equipment and technology. ABB Ability™ MineOptimize is a digitalized portfolio of connected solutions that is already improving the energy efficiency as well as productivity and optimization of CAPEX and OPEX of open pit and underground mines worldwide.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
ABB’s Process Automation business is a leader in automation, electrification and digitalization for the process and hybrid industries. We serve our customers with a broad portfolio of products, systems, and end-to-end solutions, including our # 1 distributed control system, software, and lifecycle services, industry-specific products as well as measurement and analytics, marine and turbocharging offerings. As the global #2 in the market, we build on our deep domain expertise, diverse team and global footprint, and are dedicated to helping our customers increase competitiveness, improve their return on investment and run safe, smart, and sustainable operations. go.abb/processautomation
