ITSL Technology group employs around 100 people at Mississauga in Canada. Its long and proud history as a driving force for the world's nickel industry continues, progressively adapting to meet Inco's ongoing development needs._x000D_
The nickel industry, unlike many others in the minerals processing world, has not evolved into one or two narrow technology paradigms. Rather, each process requires a degree of optimisation to meet the characteristics of the ore._x000D_
Without a competent team to address this complexity, the uncertainties that arise can greatly increase the risk (and costs) associated with the nickel industry developments._x000D_
The development work carried out at ITSL Technology ranges from milling and metallurgical processing of ores through to development of value added products for the battery and electronics industries. It covers routine evaluation of ores for exploration (mine planning and greenfield), and provides on the ground support to bring specialist technical perspectives to site-based projects._x000D_
In recent years, ITSL Technology has had as its particular focus the process development and commissioning support for Inco's major projects. Over the next several years, Inco will commission its Goro laterite operation, design and construct the further processing facility for Voisey's Bay, undertake major upgrades at Sudbury, Thompson and PT Inco, and bring forward some additional resources currently in the exploration stage. The appropriate mix of both internal and external resources to effectively manage this project portfolio will prove critical to success._x000D_
The key to ITSL Technology meeting these development challenges has been in working closely with its internal customers to ensure alignment of the value proposition, to identify the critical issues to be managed, and to understand the deliverables required._x000D_
This paper discusses examples to reinforce these principles in the definition and development for two different projects; processing of Voisey's Bay ores and concentrates and resource optimisation at Thompson.