Communications

Kiruna Wagon has won the procurement contract for relining when Rana Gruber now for the first time relines its wagon fleet since it was taken into production two years ago. Rana Gruber uses 40 Bottom Dumpers to transport primary sized crude ore, 0–300 mm in size and with a high quartz content, from the Kvannevann underground iron ore mine and satellite open pit deposits in the Ørtfjell area to the dressing plant and port in Mo i Rana. The fleet carries about 3.7 million tonnes of crude iron ore per year and this tough challenge calls for the wagons to [...]

Kiruna Wagon’s Helix Dumper system has attracted interest overseas. During August the company reached agreement with Australian RCR Tomlinson on the principal terms of an exclusive licencing arrangement. Perth based RCR is a major player in engineering and infrastructure with approximately 3,000 employees in Australia and overseas. The company has a long history in the design and supply of technology and equipment for mines and railways and through the licencing agreement, which extends for an initial term of 10 years, RCR plans to manufacture and distribute Kiruna Wagon’s Helix Dumper and associated unloading station throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast [...]

In the current phase of the EU-funded HERMES project, Kiruna Wagon is constructing a demonstrator wagon and unloading station for ICL Iberia's salt transports in Spain. The objective of the project is to bring European rail freight to an unprecedented level of reliability, flexibility and productivity. While rail freight transport has the advantage of being comparatively environmentally friendly, rail has lost much of the freight business to road transport due to its lack of flexibility. Other disadvantages associated with rail freight is the large costs involved in purchasing and operating freight wagons, and since rail transports can rarely be carried [...]

Kiruna Wagon’s Side Dumper has been commended by Sweden’s largest rail freight and logistics company, Green Cargo. Green Cargo operates Boliden’s trains with Side Dumpers from Kiruna Wagon, from the Boliden Aitik mine in the north of Sweden to the Rönnskär copper smelter by the Bothnian Bay. Mats Hellsten, Operate Account Manager at Green Cargo, said: “We are extremely happy with the Side Dumper and its performance. It is actually extraordinary compared to other wagons. Especially during the cold and snowy winters that we have in northern Sweden.” Kiruna Wagon has since 2009 delivered 33 Side Dumpers to Boliden and [...]

Kiruna Wagon has been awarded a contract by Boliden to deliver 14 additional ore wagons. Since 2009, Kiruna Wagon has manufactured and delivered 33 Side Dumpers to Boliden and the new contract represents a continued vote of confidence from the mining company. The high carrying capacity and the tightly sealed body of Kiruna Wagon’s Side Dumper make it the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transport option for Boliden’s fine-grained concentrate materials. Both the technology and the wagon have developed since Boliden’s first order in 2009 and Kiruna Wagon is continuously working to remain at the forefront of lightweight wagon constructions [...]

Kiruna Wagon has been selected to develop Europe's next generation of bulk wagons in an international project that is part of the EU's major investment in a competitive European industry, Horizon 2020. Also participating from Sweden are SSAB and the Division of Mechanics of Solid Materials at Luleå University of Technology, with particular focus on Solid Mechanics. The goal of the project, which is carried out as a collaboration between nine European companies and organisations, is to create the most modern logistics system possible for the Spanish potash and salt producer Iberpotash, and thus set a new standard in European [...]

The 40th and final Bottom Dumper wagon has been delivered to Norwegian iron ore producer Rana Gruber. The first wagon marked Alfa was delivered in January 2014, and today we delivered the last wagon marked Omega. "We are very happy with this project and our Bottom Dumper wagon. It is a robust and proven solution that we have managed to produce with really low tare weight and good flexibility for different discharge options," said Kiruna Wagon's Managing Director Fredrik Kangas. The Bottom Dumper is suitable for pellets, rock and other easily unloaded commodities and designed for high-capacity continuous bottom [...]

The final-year Sirius project course conducted at Kiruna Wagon in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology (LTU) has been completed with great success. The project resulted in technological advances that will greatly benefit our second-generation Side Dumper. Through the help of LTU’s technically skilled and creative students we have managed to reduce the weight of the Side Dumper and improve its opening mechanism. In addition, the number of components has been significantly reduced, which further simplifies manufacturing and maintenance. Two students from LTU will stay on at Kiruna Wagon to pursue degree project work. The focus of their work will [...]