Swiss technology company ABB has released a cloud-based updated version of its ABB Ability Predictive Maintenance for grinding, including an app that allows operators to monitor gearless drive performance remotely.

The company said the upgrade means that ABB's customers can view real-time notifications on fleet status on the Grinding Connect mobile app and analyse gearless mill drive (GMD) systems.

Furthermore, the new app and software "provides easy access to GMD system parameters" and allows "visualisation of performance" considering past activity and real-time data to assess "future maintenance requirements" to prevent downtime.

According to ABB, the app "facilitates greater data gathering" as the data sampler per mine increases and analytics and trends are more "reliably defined," according to ABB.

According to Angeles Fernandes, global product manager for grinding service in mining at ABB, unscheduled shutdowns and system failures can lead to "significant losses in production."

Fernandes said the new version is "unique in the market." The new app enables customers to monitor GMD performance through a phone or tablet.

"ABB Ability™ Predictive Maintenance for grinding is a state-of-the-art service for analyzing system data, assessing the current condition of the equipment and applying predictive methods," Fernandes claimed.

"It is as familiar as the many personal apps we use for monitoring our health, catching up with the news, or checking on the home or children."

In December 2021, ABB signed an agreement with Amazon World Services to develop new solutions for digitally integrated all-electric mining operations to help the industry meet net-zero emissions goals.

The next edition of Mining Magazine includes an interview with ABB on mining automation. There is also a contributing article from the company on future trends in the mining industry. Subscribe to the magazine here.