ABB launched its Grinding Connect digital service on June 16 for mining companies operating gearless mill drive (GMD) systems. It’s available globally and is designed to improve visibility across grinding assets, reduce unplanned downtime that can reportedly cost up to $500,000 per hour and support more efficient maintenance planning. 

Grinding Connect is also expected to deliver more remote-expert support, maintenance and continuous performance via one cloud-based service built for ABB’s GMD systems. It leverages ABB’s knowledge from more than 160 GMD projects worldwide, which is combined with secure cloud analytics and service workflows. This lets users to view system conditions, access service records, submit service requests, and interact with ABB experts via one platform.

The service includes other ABB digital solutions, such as Asset Health and Condition Monitoring analytics, Trendex diagnostics and troubleshooting, and GMD Copilot, which is ABB’s AI‑powered virtual support assistant. Within Grinding Connect, mining operators can access prescriptive maintenance recommendations, supported by more than 180 trend signals, as well as alarms, events, transient recording integration and signal correlation.

The platform is also designed to provide anomaly detection, frozen-signal detection and smart notifications, alongside recommended actions from ABB experts to support continued operations. By supporting remote diagnostics and expert collaboration, Grinding Connect reduces the need for reactive, onsite intervention, helping service teams to prioritize actions more effectively. It also aligns with ABB’s cybersecurity standards and IEC 62443-related product development practices, including penetration testing during verification.

“Mining operators are looking for practical ways to improve availability, reduce response times and make better-informed decisions to maintain production-critical assets,” says Mikel Torre, global business unit manager for grinding in ABB’s Process Industries division. “Grinding Connect brings ABB’s service and GMD system knowledge into one digital environment, meaning users can work with a complete view of asset condition, service history and expert support. Only with this level of visibility will operators make progress in the industry’s transition to increasingly autonomous, more efficient mining operations.”