In the Know

How’d They Do That?

The location of the crushers at Highland Valley Copper is important—they must be close enough to the copper ore haul to be effective, but not so close that the massive units require frequent moves during pit expansions.

When the crushers do occasionally require relocation, it’s an incredible undertaking. The portable units can be disassembled into large pieces: the rock dump hopper and feed conveyor—each weighing around 1.5 millions pounds and measuring approximately five building stories tall—and the crusher system and main frame building. From there, a number of powerful lifting devices are used to move the pieces, including a mobile hydraulic crane, and a Self Propelled Modular Transport Unit, a diesel-powered hydraulically driven multi-wheeled machine used to carry heavy loads over steep terrain. In addition to the move itself, there is a huge amount of wiring, piping and support structures within the equipment to be disassembled and rebuilt correctly.

Most importantly, to carry out the task safely and on time, the project requires a great deal of planning and a committed project team, as was the case with this move a number of years ago that was captured on film.

“Teamwork, especially on a project of this size, can’t be emphasized enough,” says Rick Plovie, Support Equipment Planner, Highland Valley Copper. “The safe and enthusiastic approach that every member of the team brought with them every day to work was inspiring.”

Thank You

Download Connect Volume 19

Many thanks to those who contributed to and participated in this issue of Connect:

Catherine Adair, Community Relations Leader, Trail Operations; Ken Andersen, Mine Technical Supervisor, Highland Valley Copper; Mohammad Babaei, Senior Technical Analyst, IS+T Operational Technology, Line Creek Operations; Marsha Bradcoe (retired), Haul Truck Driver, Fording River Operations; Barbara Brice, Senior Human Resources Generalist, Pend Oreille Mine; Pamela Chait, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Santiago office; Rebecca Edwards, Communications Coordinator, Sparwood office; Francisca Gregorio, Communications Specialist, Corporate Affairs, Santiago office; Gord Kavaloff, Senior Reliability Specialist, Trail Operations; Hadden Kelloway, Blaster, Elkview Operations; Brian Kennedy, Project Director, Project Development and Engineering, Vancouver office; Peter Martell, Superintendent, Environment and Community Affairs, Highland Valley Copper; Cole Massaro, Equipment Operator, Greenhills Operations; Anna Mihalj, Technician, Mining, Engineering, Greenhills Operations; Nic Milligan, Manager, Social Responsibility, Sparwood office; Rick Plovie, Support Equipment Planner, Highland Valley Copper; Marisol Reategui, Executive Assistant, Exploartion (Americas), Surco office; Mark Richards, Manager, Mining Technology, Applied Research and Technology; Jacqui Schneider, Senior Community Affairs Officer, Highland Valley Copper; Herman Urrejola, Manager, Social Responsibility, Santiago office; Fritz Westlake, Community Relations Coordinator, Public Relations, Red Dog Operations; Richard Weymark, Dam Construction Manager, Highland Valley Copper; Alexa Young, Manager, Federal Government Affairs, Vancouver office

Man in hard hat and safety vest smiling, monochrome photo.

On the Cover

Sebastian Malagueño, Plant Manager, Quebrada Blanca Operations

Submissions

Have a story that you would like to share through Connect? Submit your article and high-quality photos to: connect@teck.com