Honeywell Announces Joint Venture with World's Largest Copper Mining Company
SANTIAGO, Jan. 29, 2007 - Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced a joint venture with Codelco that will provide process automation technology and services to improve the performance of the Chilean mining company's concentrator plants. The joint venture named, Kairos Mining, will help Codelco - the world's largest copper producer - improve plant process stability and business performance.
"This strategic venture is more than a project, it is a long-term alliance that will help Codelco achieve greater process-efficiency levels through high automation standards," said Juan Enrique Morales, vice president, Codelco. "These innovative automation technologies will help Codelco optimize asset use, improve operation continuity, standardize automation processes and technologies and implement technology update programs. We wanted to partner with an international technology leader, and Honeywell was the logical choice."
"For large manufacturers like Codelco, standardizing practices across operations is one of the most effective ways to make processes more efficient, and therefore, more profitable," said Jack Bolick, president of Honeywell Process Solutions. "This program will help Codelco maximize the use of its concentrators, which will increase productivity, reduce costs and improve business sustainability for the long term."
Codelco workers will be trained to use Honeywell technology to reduce process variability in the crushing, grinding, collective flotation and thickening processes used in the concentration plants. The program will start this year at Codelco's Andina Division, where initial testing was performed. The initiative will gradually be incorporated into the company's El Teniente and Codelco Norte divisions over the next five years.
Kairos Mining also will provide process automation and control services for Codelco's other mining and industrial activities, as well as provide technology and software licenses. It also will coordinate and provide associated services to support automation system lifecycles. Similar services and solutions will also be available to other mining companies in the future.
Kairos Mining will implement solutions such as Honeywell's main process automation and control technology, Experion® Process Knowledge System (PKS), which integrates critical subsystems within concentrator plants and gives operators better information about how processes are functioning. Additionally, the joint venture will implement instrumentation, control and information applications and lifecycle support services. The instrumentation, applications and services also will be provided by Honeywell, as well as third-party vendors.
Codelco produces 1.8 million tons of fine copper per year, about 15 percent of the world's production.
Honeywell International is a $31 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges.
It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com. Honeywell Process Solutions is part of Honeywell's Automation and Control Solutions group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Process Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/ps.
