MST Global tackles underground power supply problems with AXON range

MST Global has introduced a new range of uninterruptable power supply (UPS) products for use in harsh environments like underground mines.

The new AXON UPS range is designed specifically to further improve power management in underground networks in a cost-effective manner, a task that is becoming increasingly important as the use of remote operations and automation accelerates.

MST said: “Uninterrupted power is critical for the safety and productivity of all mines and tunnel operations, and in developing these industry-spec UPS, MST can now offer greater reliability and more holistic system solutions.”

The three solutions range from low to high level power requirements, with the highest, the AXON Force UPS (pictured), the most suitable for underground hard-rock mines and extensive tunnel networks.

Dmitri Fechine, Product Manager at MST, said: “More often than not, the supply of power to the digital network and client devices in the underground environment comes as an afterthought, after the purchase of the main network gear. The situation is then further complicated by the fact that the main power outlets are not readily available underground and their installation is typically very expensive.”

Bringing the power supply considerations upfront and offering a range of suitable power supply solutions suitable for various scenarios means MST can help customers reduce their capital and operational expenses as well as improve the overall system performance and reliability, he added.

AXON Mini UPS is a single-level solution for operational scenarios where the area needing power requires only one UPS per network node, where power loads do not exceed 60 W or where the focus is on tunnelling or non-complex stand-alone automation solutions, MST said.

AXON Connect UPS is a mid-level power supply that can enable voice and other IP solutions for tunnelling and hard-rock environments. It serves as both the power over ethernet (PoE) injector and the network junction device for a number of daisy chained PoE users such as Wi-Fi access points.

AXON Force UPS, meanwhile, can power-up IP networks and each unit is able to support multiple chained network nodes connected via composite cable. Additionally, AXON Force can be paired with a remote monitoring kit for enhanced manageability.

The three UPS solutions are built and fully supported by MST, and are designed to connect seamlessly with existing MST products.