CAE has acquired the Datamine Group, a leading supplier of mining optimisation software tools and services, to further CAE’s entry into the mining sector. This acquisition is part of CAE’s long-term strategy to leverage its modelling, simulation and training capabilities in new markets that have the same imperative to reduce risks and enhance operational efficiency as the civil aviation and defence sectors, where CAE is a world leader.
This acquisition follows CAE’s announcement last June to invest, with the participation of the Quebec government, up to C$274 million in research and development, over seven years, in three new growth areas: healthcare, mining and energy. CAE is already providing professional services to the mining industry as well as expertise in human factors, modelling and simulation, and process optimisation.
With 29 years of experience in the mining industry, Datamine has an extensive product and consulting portfolio ranging from exploration data management and geological (orebody) modelling to mine planning and mine operations management. CAE says Datamine “is the recognised leader in multi-parametric orebody modelling in open pit optimisation where its solutions map not only mineral grade and geological structure but also geotechnical and geometallurgical parameters in order to determine the optimal strategic mine plan.”
Datamine has customers in over 70 countries across the globe including all of the major mining houses. The company has its research and development centre in the United Kingdom and a workforce of 110 employees in nine sales and support offices in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Peru, India, South Africa, the UK and the US.
“We welcome Datamine’s employees to the CAE team. By combining Datamine’s expertise and credibility in mining with CAE’s 60-year experience in modelling, simulation and training, we will develop the industry’s most compelling technology and services to increase safety and efficiency of mine operations. We will introduce simulation-based mine planning, scheduling and training in an industry where safety is paramount and costs of training are very high,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE’s Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development. “As with our healthcare and energy initiatives, these are early days but we are convinced that we can develop a meaningful position in these areas over the long term.”
“I am pleased that Datamine is now a part of a world leader in modelling, simulation and training solutions,” said Nick Beaton, Chief Executive Officer of Datamine. “We immediately recognised CAE’s strengths for large dataset management, scenario simulation and operator training. Mine planners need simulation to validate production schedules, and then, just like in aviation, the operators need to be trained extensively to follow the plan while using the equipment safely and efficiently. CAE’s capabilities will expose equipment operators to a virtual mine environment in order to gain both competence and confidence while reducing the cost of training on real equipment.”
CAE is a world leader in providing simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defence forces around the globe. With annual revenues exceeding C$1.6 billion, CAE employs more than 7,000 people at more than 90 sites and training locations in more than 20 countries. We have the largest installed base of civil and military full-flight simulators and training devices. Through our global network of 29 civil aviation and military training centres, we train more than 75,000 crewmembers yearly. We also offer modelling and simulation software to various market segments and, through CAE’s professional services division, we assist customers with a wide range of simulation-based needs. http://www.cae.com/
