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Vale Partners with Swiss Engineering School, USP for Research
10/29/2009 - Vale signs an MOU with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the University of São Paulo to undertake structural studies of bridges and track along the Carajás and Vitória-Minas railways.
Vale has signed a memorandum of understanding with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of São Paulo (USP) to undertake structural studies of bridges and track along the Carajás (EFC) and Vitória-Minas (EFVM) railways.
The two-year project, which will be coordinated by Vale's Logistics area, aims to study the current maximum capacity of the railroads.
A partnership between Vale, USP, and EPFL, which will last for six years, was formed to carry out research into mining, ports, and railways, and is the result of an initiative led by the Vale Technology Institute (ITV).
"As well as bringing about technological solutions and operational improvements, the initiative will develop Vale's links with the academic world, contributing to knowledge transfer between Brazilian and Swiss researchers, which is undoubtedly of benefit to the academic communities of both countries," said the Director of ITV, Luiz Mello.
According to the MOU, technicians will assess loads that bridges, track, and sleepers are able to bear and point out any structural reinforcements required to cope with increased movements of iron ore from 2013 onwards. The study is part of the Logistics Capacity Raising Plan for Vale's North and Southeast Systems.
Vale says that the intention is to increase the volume of iron ore transported on the EFC, which links the Carajás mines complex in Pará state to the Port of Itaqui in Maranhão, from 130 million tonnes per year to 230 million tons per year.
The two-year project, which will be coordinated by Vale's Logistics area, aims to study the current maximum capacity of the railroads.
A partnership between Vale, USP, and EPFL, which will last for six years, was formed to carry out research into mining, ports, and railways, and is the result of an initiative led by the Vale Technology Institute (ITV).
"As well as bringing about technological solutions and operational improvements, the initiative will develop Vale's links with the academic world, contributing to knowledge transfer between Brazilian and Swiss researchers, which is undoubtedly of benefit to the academic communities of both countries," said the Director of ITV, Luiz Mello.
According to the MOU, technicians will assess loads that bridges, track, and sleepers are able to bear and point out any structural reinforcements required to cope with increased movements of iron ore from 2013 onwards. The study is part of the Logistics Capacity Raising Plan for Vale's North and Southeast Systems.
Vale says that the intention is to increase the volume of iron ore transported on the EFC, which links the Carajás mines complex in Pará state to the Port of Itaqui in Maranhão, from 130 million tonnes per year to 230 million tons per year.
The EFVM, used to transport iron ore from the Southeast System in Minas Gerais state to the Port of Tubarão in Espírito Santo state, will have its capacity expanded by 20%, from 100 million tonnes to 120 million tonnes per year.
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