Although it only opened in 2021, plans are already underway for an extension at the Karaganda site that will see it double in size by 2025. So, what’s so good about a service centre and what do they offer mining companies that the mine owners can’t do for themselves? We interviewed the new Head of the Karaganda Service Centre and the Head of Professional Services, Ilya Fedkin and Mikhail Kirienko, to find out.
“Service centres provide a one-stop-shop for all a mining operation’s service needs,” explains Ilya Fedkin. “We stock and supply spare parts, we offer high-quality field services, we take in equipment that needs repairing and we can manage that work on site. It reduces the burden on mining operations, while also increasing the efficiency of service provisions. People don’t have to wait as long, and the cost of services is lower because it’s local. These are significant benefits, and this is why the service centre at Karaganda has been such a success.”
“Before the service centre, in some cases mine operators would have to choose between attempting their own repairs, using local repair shops with limited connections to the OEM technical knowledge, or a long wait for new parts to be delivered, any of which could mean lost production and a loss of earnings,” says Mikhail Kirienko. “Now they have a technical partner they can rely on, and we’re close enough to be available whenever they need us.”
The Karaganda Service Centre
The Karaganda Service centre is equipped to carry out a range of services – from one-off repair jobs and some components manufacturing to complete production for some equipment. Thanks to the expertise of the service centre team and the state-of-the-art equipment, the service centre can take on responsibility for a mine operator’s spare parts stock or help to establish and sustain a preventive maintenance strategy. The depth and breadth of service expertise is unparalleled in the region.
“Karaganda was chosen for the site of the FLS service centre because it is at the heart of a busy mining region and has good transport links to the largest mining operators in the country,” says Mikhail. “FLSmidth has been able to capitalise on these links by forming close relationships with our customers. We visit them onsite and provide field services like inspections, so we have a good knowledge of their operation and their needs, and they also have the opportunity to get to know our teams better and build trust in us.” FLS Karaganda Service Centre Facility
Growing with the local mining industry
“Many things have changed since the service centre opened in 2021. We have four times as many employees; we have expanded the range of capabilities and services provided, and of course now we are planning a major expansion of the site,” says Ilya.
The Karaganda service centre offers services including:
- Repair and restoration of HPGR units, gyratory and cone crushers, shafts of various types and purposes, mills, screens, flotation machines, etc. up to a maximum weight of 120 tons.
- Repair and maintenance of industrial gearboxes and bearings.
- Exchange and repair program for pumps, cyclones and valves.
- Manufacturing of steel parts and components of mining/metallurgical equipment using modern wear-resistant materials: shafts, couplings, half-couplings, hubs, bondages, fasteners, bushings, armor, beaters, liners etc.
- Manufacturing of welded elements and parts, in a finished assembly weighing up to 50 tons, such as: frames, hulls, carriages, supports, containers, wells, drums, rollers, masts, etc.
“The service centre houses a wide range of heavy and medium-sized machines for metalworking, including a vertical machine, lathes, gas-plasma CNC portal, and a number of milling and drilling machines, metal cutting and bending machines,” says Ilya. “It is without doubt the most well-equipped service centre in the region.
But it’s not just about having the right equipment – we’re investing heavily in skills through our competency development program, which helps us onboard and upskill newly qualified employees. We’re committed to developing local talent, and we regularly conduct training on our equipment for both internal team members and customers, with the support of international FLS specialists. You can’t learn about this equipment online – you have to be able to lay your hands on it. Again, this is a unique offering in Kazakhstan and in the region – even worldwide. We’ve had engineers from places as far afield as Australia and South Africa come for providing training at our facilities.”
New expansion plans
“Our tools and technologies have been growing from day one, particularly with the acquisition of MT Mining Technology,” says Ilya. “The recently announced expansion plans will more than double our footprint, with an additional 2700 m2 workshop space and 2800 m2 additional warehouse area. We’re already leaders in the field of HPGR services, but this project will increase our capacity for these services and for other heavy mining products like gyratory crushers and big roll sizers. The increased warehousing capacity will allow for a broader local product portfolio and even faster delivery of core spare and wear parts to local customers. We have built a reputation as a one-stop-shop for mining services; this expansion project ensures we can meet our customers’ needs as they grow.”
We are recruiting from the local labour market and offering broad development opportunities to regional talents.
“Our customers appreciate working with a local service centre where there are no obstacles in terms of language, transportation, currency, etc. It saves them money and time and ensures the expertise they need is always close at hand,” says Mikhail. “We’re happy to be in a position to serve this crucial industry, and look forward to further developing our relationships with customers across the region.”
Last but not least our local service approach for the mining industry is reducing the carbon footprint of our clients and our own operation and protecting the environment in accordance with our worldwide FLSmidth MissionZero program.
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