The importance of training and simulators – all the latest news and ideas

In an article in the December issue of International Mining, John Chadwick looks at some of the latest ideas in training and the growing global simulator population. In particular he considers the Murray & Roberts Training Academy (MRTA) in South Africa that is becoming a world leader.

There is also news of Fortescue Metals Group’s tenth anniversary of its pioneering Vocational Training and Employment Centre (VTEC).

Immersive Technologies stresses the importance of checking “if your operator training program [is] inefficient and failing to prove return on investment? Too often training is done ‘for the sake of it’ or only to fulfil a compliance requirement.

Wenco has released its latest mine performance solution, Wenco Learning. This online learning system was built in conjunction with corporate training consultants PRIME Learning.

In the simulator news of the article there are more examples from Immersive Technology and the example of how a leading Nevada gold mining company recently enhanced its training operations and capabilities by acquiring a new haul truck simulator. The 700MV simulator, purchased from Doron Precision Systems is installed in a custom mobile trailer and is used for training haul truck drivers at multiple sites in Nevada.

CM Labs says its new Motor Grader Training Pack “is the most advanced grader simulation available today.”

Normet uses custom-built training simulator solutions from Mevea. These solutions include a wide range of training exercises for operators and service personnel.

As part of the simulation package that ForgeFX developed for Joy Global’s (now Komatsu Mining) P&H mining equipment line, a custom training simulator shown in the article trains workers to operate a 4100XPC electric rope shovel.

Training for underground blasting took a technological leap forward with the installation and commissioning of Africa’s first virtual reality blast wall with rear-view projection, powered by Simulated Training Solutions, at the MRTA.

The MRTA has four of the latest generation ThoroughTec CYBERMINE simulators for the training of underground equipment operators. These include a Sandvik DD320 drill rig, DS310 bolter, Toro 40D ADT and an LH517 LHD.

Dassault Systèmes and Exa Corp, a global innovator in simulation software for product engineering, have signed a definitive merger agreement for Dassault Systèmes to acquire Exa. With the addition of Exa, Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform will provide customers, the company says, “with a proven, diverse portfolio of combined Lattice Boltzmann fluid simulation technologies, as well as Exa’s fully industrialised solutions and nearly 350 highly experienced simulation professionals.”