Swedish mining company LKAB set for future after major ABB-led hoists upgrade at Kiruna

April 29, 2025

  • The upgrade ensures continued operational reliability and safety at the world’s largest underground iron ore mine for at least the next 25 years
  • Seven mine hoists have undergone mechanical, electrical and automation system upgrades, crucial to iron ore extraction operations
  • ABB’s integrated solutions help LKAB maintain high productivity while enhancing energy efficiency and reducing operational downtime

VÄSTERÅS SWEDEN, APRIL 29, 2025 – ABB has completed a generational upgrade of mine hoists at LKAB’s Kiruna site in northern Sweden, a milestone in ensuring continued operational productivity, safety and longevity for at least the next 25 years. The Swedish mining company first awarded the key contract to ABB in 2014 and is now commissioning the project on schedule and below budget, marking a major achievement for both companies.

The world’s largest underground iron ore mine and home to the biggest installed base of ABB mine hoists globally, Kiruna has 13 mine hoists in total. With the newly upgraded infrastructure, LKAB can confidently secure its iron ore supply for decades, continuing to meet the growing global demands for the mineral, crucial to industries such as steel manufacturing and end uses in construction, transportation, machinery and consumer goods.

 

LKAB already mines no less than 80 percent of all iron ore in the European Union and this latest long-term strategic effort will further enhance operational reliability and maximize productivity. ABB’s upgrades to seven mine hoists include integrated mechanical, electrical and automation systems, which will support high-performance hoisting operations. This move is designed to ensure the safe and efficient lifting of ore in two stages from depths of 1,365 meters, a task essential to keeping production running smoothly at full capacity.

 

“Taking productivity to another level, this project is about maximizing safety, minimizing downtime and contributing to meeting global iron ore demand,” said Jan Moström, CEO at LKAB. “These mine hoists play an integral part of our operations and, by partnering with ABB, we’re ensuring the Kiruna mine remains a benchmark of safety and efficiency for decades to come.”

“Hoisting is the most efficient way to transport ore from great depths,” said Björn Jonsson, Global Business Line Manager for Hoisting at ABB Process Industries. “The solutions we have put in place have been designed around the need to future-proof one of the world’s largest and most productive mines. Working closely with LKAB, we have delivered an upgrade that ensures the flexibility necessary for the long-term success of operations for at least the next quarter of a century.”

 

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