ABB to deliver two Gearless Mill Drive systems for Climax Mine in CO

Energy efficient drive solution for the world’s largest molybdenum mine

Baden, Switzerland, December 12, 2007 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth $20 million from Climax Molybdenum Company for gearless mill drive systems at the company’s Climax mine in central Colorado (USA).

Climax Molybdenum Company is the world’s leading molybdenum producer and supplier. Molybdenum is a metal used as an addition to steels, irons and non-ferrous alloys to increase strength, toughness and corrosion resistance.

For the Climax Mine restart project, ABB will deliver two Gearless Mill Drive (GMD) systems. One unit, rated at 15,000 HP (11.2 MW), will power a 34 feet (10.36 meter) semi-autogenous mill. The other unit, rated at 12,000 HP (8.9 MW), will drive a 22 feet (6.7 meter) ball mill. The GMD systems include ringmotors, transformers, E-houses, cyclo converters and a power factor correction and harmonic filter study. Highlight of the scope of supply is the delivery of ABB’s new powerful cylcoconverter controller AC800PEC.

The customer will benefit from the world’s most energy efficient drive solution for these two milling applications. ABB’s gearless mill drive systems are designed and engineered from the bottom up to deliver massive capacity, superior energy efficiency, unmatched availability and global, round-the clock support.

The Climax mine is located at some 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) above sea level along the Continental Divide, which caps the US Rocky Mountains. Discovered in 1879, the site once boasted the nation’s highest settlement and was traveled by many who joined the 19th Century “gold rush” wave.

The deliveries are scheduled to take place at the end of 2008.

ABB’s Process Automation division delivers integrated solutions for control, plant optimization, and industry-specific application knowledge and services to help process industry customers worldwide meet their critical business needs in the areas of operational profitability, capital productivity, risk management and global responsibility. These industries include oil and gas, power, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, metals, minerals, marine and turbocharging.

ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 110,000 people.