Downer has recently invested in Carlson high precision machine guidance solutions to be deployed across four mine sites in Australia, the software solutions company confirmed.

In total, 27 machine systems will be installed across a fleet of dozers, excavators, drills, and supervisor vehicles to increase productivity and optimise mine site operations, Carlson said.

“As a leading mine contractor in Australia, Downer invests in technology and innovation to maximise safety, productivity, and operational efficiency across all stages of the mining lifecycle,” Carlson explained. “Supported throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia by Carlson’s Oceania distributor, Position Partners, Downer has implemented a tried and tested high precision machine guidance solution that is reliable, effective, and user friendly.”

Andrew Granger, Position Partners’ Mining Business Manager, said Downer and the company have worked closely on tailored mining solutions since 2014, when the company purchased its first Carlson high precision machine guidance system.

“Through a deep understanding of Downer’s requirements, along with a commitment by Carlson to listen to customer needs and design solutions to meet them, we were able to deliver a customised volumetrics module to get maximum productivity gains from their technology investment,” he said.

Carlson’s custom-designed volumetrics module is integrated into the Carlson Command software platform to provide office reporting tools to Downer on productivity and utilisation of high precision machine guidance systems.

“It’s a management tool that provides an in-depth understanding of machine and fleet performance,” Granger added. “It gives mine managers visibility into exactly how machines are operating, including the volume and location of material moved per hour.”

Nicholas Duggan, Technology Support Specialist from Downer, said: “Downer is committed to utilising innovative technology that delivers valuable insights and productivity gains to our mining operations. We partner with local companies where possible that have both technical capability and boots-on-the-ground support, which is why Position Partners with the Carlson solution is a preferred supplier.”

The Carlson Machine Guidance products purchased by Downer include:

• Drill Grade – Carlson’s guidance and monitoring solution for drills;
• Excavator Grade – Carlson’s digger guidance and monitoring solution for diggers;
• Dozer Grade – Carlson’s guidance and monitoring solution for dozers;
• Grade Supervisor – Carlson’s solution to allow supervisors to check production and see how they are performing against targets, and;
• Carlson Command – Carlson’s office database solution to capture all data coming in from the machines for real-time viewing, reporting, and data analysis.

Granger said: “Carlson’s high precision machine guidance, combined with a robust reporting capability, offers a proven solution for mine sites. The systems are reliable, the interface is simple, and the productivity gains are tangible.”