For years Tenova TAKRAF’s relationship with Vale has been growing, as the company supplies reliable equipment that combines robustness and state-of-the-art technique.

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, the world’s leading iron ore mining company recently rebranded as VALE, has selected once more Tenova TAKRAF (the new name of the Mining and Bulk Handling Business Unit of Tenova ) for a new expansion step of its Brazilian Northern Iron Ore System.

The global development plan of VALE is bound to expand the Northern system shipping Terminal, Expected to reach an iron ore export capacity of 130 millions tons per year, as well as to improve the up-stream production capacity at its Carajas mine. Within this framework, Tenova TAKRAF was awarded a first contract for a turn-key supply of two identical Stackers of 16,000 tph, 55 m boom length each, at Carajas mine site.

Furthermore, at Sao Luis iron ore shipping terminal, Tenova TAKRAF obtained another contract for one Stacker machine of 20,000 tph capacity, 55 m boom length, and one Reclaimer of 11,000 tph capacity, 50 m boom length.

Recently the 3rd ship loader supplied by Tenova TAKRAF to Vale in Sao Luis Pier III was commissioned and is now in operation. The new ship loader (CN05) of 10,000 tph design capacity, substantially identical to the two ship loaders already operating with full satisfaction of the customer on the CVRD (Companhia Vale do Rio Doce) Pier III of Sao Luis (Brazil), has successfully begun the loading operations before starting the performance tests.

The ship loader, designed as “travel type” loading equipment and able to load out material into ships up to 200,000 DWT (Capsize vessels), is the fifth ship loader ordered by CVRD to Tenova TAKRAF for the Sao Luis Terminal.

Once more, Tenova TAKRAF is proud to have successfully met CVRD’s specific demands in this latest important expansion plan; the long-lasting and fruitful cooperation between VALE and Tenova is best exemplified at Northern Sao Luis Terminal where all ship loaders in operation have been supplied by Tenova during the past 30 years.

Furthermore, Tenova TAKRAF has won a contract from the leading Italian steel producer Riva Group for the turn-key supply of a grab ship unloader for iron ore and coal to be installed at ILVA plant Taranto (Italy). The new unloader will be one of the biggest in the world both in terms of its operating capacity – 3,300 tph – and its size: it will be able to unload ships of up to 330,000 DWT.

The contract was awarded after fierce competition with the most prestigious European suppliers and it is expected to be operative as from the end of August 2009.