OREANDA-NEWS. September 10, 2014. Commissioning tests of a semiautomatic line for cobalt cathodes’ cutting and packing have been initiated at Kola MMC (the subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel MMC).

The state-of-the-art equipment by Dutch company Darley consists of two vertical scissors, two feed tables, two manipulators, several conveyers, additional equipment and a barrel fill and weighing station. The semiautomatic line of cobalt cathodes’ cutting allows to get the end product in the form of strips and blocks (squares). Concurrently it complies with all current safety requirements. For example, the line is equipped with special electric motion sensors. If a person comes into the area of a sensor ray, when a cutting machine is tuned, the process will be stopped immediately. The representatives of the manufacturing company participate in the initial commissioning tests.

The decision to render the equipment operational will be made once tests are completed. The Kola Peninsula production of electrolyte cobalt is a strategic investment project of Norilsk Nickel to expand the company’s product range by means of high added value products.

The implementation of the project will make it possible to create a one-of-a-kind Russian industrial production of high-quality and globally competitive premium grade electrolyte cobalt. The volume of investments in the project are estimated at approximately 2 billion rubles.