Highlights
- Control system solution integration underway on fourth boiler
- This is the fourth and final phase of the Yabulu Refinery boiler upgrade begun in 2003 to support plant expansion
- This phase is valued at AUD$2.1 million, bringing the total project to AUD$10.4 million over 3 years Edmonton, Alberta – October 20, 2006 - Matrikon Inc.
(TSX: MTK) today announced that its Australian division will be continuing its relationship with BHP Billiton’s Yabulu Nickel Refinery and has signed a AUD $2.1 million dollar contract for the final stage of a boiler upgrade initiative at the nickel and cobalt processing operation near Townsville (Queensland, Australia).
This latest deal represents the final stage of an AUD $10.4 million enterprise relationship between Matrikon and BHP Billiton.
Following the successful implementation of Matrikon’s solution at the No.1, No. 2 and No. 4 boilers, an agreement has been made to apply the control system solution to the third and final boiler.
Matrikon will integrate products from its ProcessSuite and MatrikonOPC suite for process simulation and operator training, alarm and event analysis and the communication infrastructure connecting various plant hardware and software systems.
Boiler No. 3 is part of a four-boiler enterprise that supplies steam for the process plant and generates electricity to run the 24-hour a day operation.
At the completion of this ‘total’ solution, boilers No. 3 and No. 4 will serve as the main duty boilers.
The remaining two upgraded boilers will have the ability to provide the entire operation with the steam and power requirements needed during scheduled shutdowns.
The upgrade of the boiler is intended to extend its life for a further 15 years and modernize the control system for reliable operations.
“Matrikon is committed to delivering value through our solutions and we are pleased that QNI has achieved positive outcomes,” commented Sam Crisafulli, Managing Director of Matrikon’s Australian Operations.
“The first boiler upgrade has had a positive effect on many operation factors.
Performance output is functioning above expectations, control is more responsive and alarms have been optimized.
These are significant improvements that are critical to the plant’s expansion.
Being involved in the process from the planning phase to the final implementation gives us insight to the impact our solutions have on improving the reliability, performance and ultimately the safety of the plant.”
About BHP Billiton’s Queensland Nickel Yabulu Refinery
QNI is the Queensland operation of BHP Billiton's international nickel business.
It is involved in the exploration, mining, processing, and marketing of high quality nickel and cobalt.
QNI's Yabulu Refinery, near Townsville in North Queensland, Australia , produces high-purity nickel and cobalt products that are used in the manufacture of stainless steel, specialty steels, alloys and chemicals.
The refinery exports around 32,000 tonnes of nickel and nearly 2,000 tonnes of cobalt a year to customers worldwide.
About Matrikon
Matrikon is a leading provider of integrated industrial intelligence solutions that enable manufacturing plants to achieve operational excellence by transforming production data into knowledge to predict and prevent problems and optimize operations.
Matrikon's customers achieve agile operations through the combination of external market and plant data to make informed, intelligent decisions in real-time.
With offices in major cities throughout North America, Australia , Europe and the Middle East and a global client base including industry leaders in a wide range of process industries, Matrikon's reach is global.
