EACON Mining has recently secured its first iron ore project by partnering with Xichang Mining, a Baowu Group company, to automate operations at the Taihe iron mine, which marks a significant step for EACON as it expands its footprint from coal, aggregate, and gold mining into the iron ore sector.

The project will automate six SANY electric mining trucks, with a payload capacity of 70 tons, reinforcing EACON’s leadership in sustainable autonomous mining solutions. This is the first phase of the mine’s automation, with plans for a full site rollout following successful implementation.

In this project, EACON Mining will provide its OEM-agnostic autonomous haulage solution (AHS) ORCASTRA® for the fleet of SANY battery electric trucks, each equipped with drive-by-wire systems per EACON’s requirements and standards. Alongside the onboard AHS system ORCASTRA® Pilot, EACON will deploy its full suite of AHS capabilities, including the fleet management system, ORCASTRA® Conductor and the crewed equipment & vehicle system, ORCASTRA® Crew. ORCASTRA® Conductor will also schedule the charging cycles of electric trucks for optimal efficiency and ensure operational continuity.

The Taihe iron ore mine poses unique challenges, particularly in its crusher zones and loading area. The autonomous trucks have to share one crusher pocket and loading area with crewed trucks. And the limited space in these areas leads to overlapping paths and complex traffic flows.

By offering flexible and adaptable automation solutions with a low entry barrier, EACON says it provides a strong value proposition for miners seeking to enhance safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. With the global shift towards automation, EACON adds it “is poised to lead the next wave of innovation in mining technology.”