Converteam Is Awarded the Largest Potash Mining Project Canada Has Seen in Decades

PITTSBURGH, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Power conversion specialist Converteam lands a major mine hoist project with one of the leading potash producers in the world, Mosaic Potash Esterhazy. The Esterhazy K3 mine expansion project in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, is the largest new potash mining project in decades for Canada. The Esterhazy mine site is the largest potash mine in the world.

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As the demand for food production increases worldwide, a key ingredient to maximize crop growth is fertilizer in the form of potash. As such, potash mining companies are increasing their investment in production equipment to meet world demands. Mosaic's $2.3 billion investment in their Esterhazy operations will increase the Esterhazy mine annual potash production to 7.0 million tons annually.

Converteam partnered with SIEMAG TECBERG, a leading global mechanical hoist company, to supply and install a complete service and production mine turnkey hoist package -- a comprehensive electrical and mechanical supply, training, commissioning and installation. Complete project scope includes a 6m Koepe hoist, a 4m Blair hoist, three induction motors and medium voltage MV7000 AC drives, transformers, switchgear, low voltage motor control centers, and a complete control and automation system.

Roger Noseworthy, Managing Director Converteam Canada Business, explains why this project is so important to Converteam, "The success of winning this major industry project maintains Converteam's position as a premiere supplier of complete engineered mine hoist solutions for the Canadian potash industry and underscores Converteam's commitment to continue to provide the global mining community with best-in-class technology that optimizes our customer's production and capital investments."

The Converteam hoist equipment package is to be installed at the Mosaic Esterhazy site by November 2014.

Converteam in the Industry Market

As a power conversion specialist, Converteam is a leading supplier to the metals, mining, material handling and test bench industries for the most advanced and innovative electrical solutions combining motors, variable speed drives and automation & process control. Converteam's strong intimacy with customers' processes allows the development of tailored automation solutions to achieve unique performances like the fastest tinning process, the deepest hoist mine winders, the most advanced container cranes, the latest generation of super-heavy-lift cranes for offshore wind turbine installation or the largest wind turbine test bench.

About Converteam

The Converteam Group is a world leader in power conversion engineering. Building on over a century of experience, it is firmly placed at the leading edge of technology and innovation with a global reputation for excellence in the conversion of electrical energy. Converteam develops and provides solutions built around three core components: electrical machines, variable speed drives, automation and process control. It serves specialized sectors as well as its six core markets in Renewables, Power Generation, Oil & Gas and Offshore, Marine, Industry and Services. With over 5,300 staff members in 17 countries, Converteam Group provides power conversion solutions worldwide in over 80 countries. In 2010 sales totaled 1,093M Euro with a year-end Order Backlog of 1,183M Euro.

Converteam's North American operation (Converteam Inc.) is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, employing over 500 people, with offices in Minneapolis (MN), Miami (FL), Houston (TX), Houma (LA), and Burlington and Vancouver, Canada. For more information, visit www.converteam.com.

SOURCE Converteam Inc.