All posts by Daniel Gleeson

TLT-Turbo

TLT-Turbo Africa reports on major PGM mine ventilation installation in South Africa

In a move that it says marks a significant technological advancement in the mining industry, TLT-Turbo Africa has announced the successful implementation of a major ventilation project within the Platinum Belt of South Africa.

TLT-Turbo Africa says its latest project emphasises its role as a leader in mining equipment provision, with the project, completed in two phases, including the installation and commissioning of bespoke bifurcated surface fan stations, each with a dual-stage 220 kW fan system. Designed to operate continuously, these fans address the high pressure and efficiency demands characteristic of underground mining operations, according to the company.

Complying with noise restrictions to minimise the impact on nearby communities was an important achievement for the project, the company noted.

Additionally, the use of TLT-Turbo Africa’s standardised, modular A&B Fan range highlights a shift towards streamlined manufacturing processes that, it says, significantly reduce lead times and promote local availability of spare parts, thus ensuring swift maintenance and repairs.

Katlego Nchabeleng, Sales Engineer at TLT-Turbo Africa, said: “Our ventilation solutions are engineered to ensure the safety, health and wellness of mining personnel while facilitating better underground conditions and ease of maintenance. These installations epitomise our approach to delivering quality and sustainable advancements in mine ventilation.”

With eco-design at the heart of their operation, TLT-Turbo Africa’s fans exemplify their alignment with global environmental standards, focusing on energy-efficient solutions that contribute to the broader environmental imperatives of the mining industry, it says.

The company’s ongoing projects include a notable initiative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a forthcoming installation of modular mine fans in South Africa.

Austin seals truck tray tie with ‘global truck OEM’

In a market update, Austin Engineering has confirmed its Chile-based operation has been awarded the first tranche of purchase orders for “OEM-style” truck trays worth circa-A$7 million ($4.6 million) to be delivered in the remainder of its financial year to June 30, 2024.

This is the initial order in a program discussed with the customer to last for up to nine years and was first announced to the market in February 2024 with the award of a test tray.

This test tray was approved by a major OEM, acting as an important step before the OEM placed further orders, Austin said back in February. It added: “Our discussions with the OEM are encouraging, and there is potential for it to place significant multi-year orders, commencing the second half of our 2024 financial year, dependent on a favourable decision by the OEM.”

In today’s update, Austin said the program was expected to be the first in a series of ongoing orders from the customer in several of Austin’s jurisdictions, with manufacturing to occur in Chile and Indonesia.

“The Chile trays subject to these purchase orders will be manufactured and delivered as part of the ‘first fit’ of trays for a global truck OEM,” it clarified.

Austin will source the required steel through its bulk procurement program, AustBuy, which is now supplying its operations in Chile, in addition to Australia and Indonesia.

Austin in USA, meanwhile, has signed an extension for up to five years (three years upfront and two one-year extension options) for its biggest ongoing single supply arrangement for truck trays, with deliveries into the US, Canada and Chile. “Austin’s track record of innovation and reliable supply, leading to positive returns on investment for the customer, was a key rationale for the extension,” it said.

“Initial purchase orders have now been placed which will lead to deliveries starting in this financial year and continuing into the 2025 financial year. This program is likely to be worth circa-A$20 million per annum subject to customer demand.”

In other developments, Austin in Indonesia has now delivered the first two refurbished haul truck chassis frames to its customer at the start of what is expected to be a multi-year, production program that will increase over time, the company said. A further frame is expected to be delivered this month with eight more now on order.

“In addition, the customer has provided initial purchase orders for new matching truck trays for the refurbished truck fleet which are expected to form the start of an ongoing production during future years,” Austin added.

The purchase orders for chassis frames and truck trays placed to date are worth approximately A$3 million. Additional larger purchase orders are expected shortly and are likely to be ongoing. “This is a new and valued program for Austin, which is expected to further increase the already high utilisation of the two manufacturing units in Batam,” it added.

The company concluded: “It is important to note that all three programs highlighted above are expected to provide regular recurring income over several years. However, as is usual for Austin customer arrangements they are subject to the regular placement of purchase orders. The programs do not commit the customers to minimum orders.”

DMC Mining to construct Clark exploration decline at South32 Hermosa

DMC Mining Services says it will construct the Clark exploration decline at the South32-owned Hermosa site in Arizona, USA, as part of a recent contract award.

In an announcement last month, South32 said the board had provided the final investment approval to develop the Taylor deposit, part of the wider Hermosa project, with funding of $2.16 billion. This followed the release of a feasibility study outlining a circa-4.3 Mt/y operation with average payable zinc-equivalent output of circa-253,000 t/y over a 28-year mine life.

Beyond Taylor, however, South32 has been working on its Clark development option, currently the only advanced project in the USA with a clear pathway to produce battery-grade manganese from locally sourced ore, according to the company.

In May 2023, South32 released the results of a selection phase pre-feasibility study (PFS-S) for the Clark deposit, which confirmed the potential for an underground mine integrated with Taylor, and a separate process plant, capable of supplying battery-grade manganese. Study work has progressed to a definition phase pre-feasibility study, with South32 confirming the commencement of construction of an exploration decline, due to be completed in late 2025, to enable access to ore for demonstration-scale production. This is where DMC Mining comes in.

In announcing this contract award, DMC Mining said: “Throughout the meticulous planning phase, South32 and DMC have been united by a shared vision and unwavering values, setting the stage for unparalleled success. Together, we’re not just setting the bar, we’re raising it, ready to redefine industry standards!

“This project not only underscores our commitment to delivering superior project solutions, but also signifies a significant stride in our dedication to serving our clients in the US market.”

Thiess to gain underground metals mining exposure with A$65 million PYBAR purchase

Thiess Pty Ltd, part of the Thiess Group, has signed an agreement with Metarock Group Ltd to acquire Australia-based underground metals business PYBAR Holdings Limited and its 100% subsidiary Pybar Mining Services Pty Ltd.

PYBAR will join the Thiess Group once the customary sale conditions are satisfied and the completion process is finalised.

The total headline consideration for PYBAR is A$65 million ($42.7 million), with all PYBAR employees to transfer with the business, including the senior management team led by James Glover, PYBAR CEO.

Thiess Group Executive Chair and CEO, Michael Wright, said: “This acquisition is an ongoing part of Thiess’ strategy to diversify our commodities and the services we offer our clients. We are committed to developing a global mining portfolio, with a strong focus on the metals and minerals critical to the global energy transition.

“The PYBAR acquisition is key to this. PYBAR’s specialist skills will expand the Thiess Group’s service offering to our clients, and open up a pipeline of opportunities in underground metals and minerals across Australia and globally.”

Mastermyne (as Metarock was previously known) agreeed to buy PYBAR Mining Services in a cash and share deal that came with an equity purchase price of around A$47 million back in 2021. The acquisition saw Mastermyne, a metallurgical coal-focused contractor at the time, gain exposure to PYBAR’s gold, copper, zinc and lead-related revenues.

Wright added: “PYBAR’s 30 years of expertise and proven experience in underground mining is well known and respected, and we appreciate the commitment of their dedicated workforce. We will retain the PYBAR brand and will work with the leadership team to support their current clients, and grow PYBAR’s strong brand within and beyond their current markets.”

The Thiess Group operating companies’ industry experience, complementary portfolio of services and geographical reach, places the group in a strong position to enhance PYBAR’s value proposition to both their clients and their people, Thiess says.

Metarock says the cash proceeds from the sale will materially strengthen the balance sheet of Metarock and provide a platform for the company to capitalise on the significant growth pipeline across its remaining business units, Mastermyne, Wilson Mining and MyneSight.

MEC Mining expands into environmental services sector with METServe acquisition

The Australian-based global technical services firm, MEC Mining, says it is continuing its growth strategy in the resources sector with the recent acquisition of environmental services company METServe.

The combined service offering will encompass all aspects of environmental services previously provided by METServe. This includes approvals, impact assessment, environmental management, closure and rehabilitation, ecology, social, GIS analysis, cartography and more.

MEC Mining CEO, Christofer Catania, said: “METServe has a 20-year history of working within industry on successful project approvals across the federal, state and territory levels in Australia.”

“It’s exciting to bring METServe into the MEC group. Our combined services offerings and mutual focus on supporting our clients as journey partners makes this a fantastic strategic fit. This step further strengthens our ability to support our clients at all stages of their mining projects.

“We have continued our growth and diversification path to better support our clients and mining industry, delivering first-class services and contributing towards sustainable solutions across industry.”

METServe General Manager, Dave Moss, added: “The acquisition not only complements our extensive history but also aligns seamlessly with our commitment to contributing significantly to sustainable solutions across various industries. Our role in potential exploration and mining projects, coupled with MEC’s diversified portfolio, reinforces our collective ability to offer comprehensive environmental services.”

Catania concluded: “With mining engineering, environmental, geological, geotechnical and advisory services, MEC is well positioned to offer end-to-end services across the full mining life cycle, leveraging our in-house expertise to collaborate and provide best-practice solutions to the resources sector.”

GHH extends dealer network with Türkiye-based Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis pact

GHH, the German manufacturer of machines for mining and tunnelling industries, has agreed a partnership with the Japanese machine and truck distributor Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis, in Türkiye, opening up growth opportunities for both companies far beyond the country’s borders.

As one of the major distributors of heavy machinery in Türkiye, Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis has already established a network of six locations with 270 employees and 50 sales and service centres, reaching as far as Azerbaijan and Georgia. Founded in 1983 and based in Istanbul, the company is part of the Marubeni Corporation of Japan, one of the world’s largest distributors of its kind with 45,000 employees in 463 companies.

This constellation of skills, experience and footprint is highly interesting for GHH, it said. As one of the world’s leading brands in the industry, the company already serves a significant amount of customers in Türkiye. However, the need for a stronger network for consulting, sales and service was identified as a key milestone to support the expansion of its product portfolio in the region.

LHDs, dump trucks and other vehicles, specifically designed for mining in soft and hard rock, are the domain of GHH, which aims to combine cost-effectiveness with robustness, ease of maintenance and driver ergonomics.

GHH, which is preparing to become part of the Komatsu family as part of a December 2022 agreement, is also strengthening its dealer network with this partnership. Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis is already a strong Komatsu dealer in the Turkish region, having worked with Komatsu in the Turkish market since 1983.

“GHH is very pleased to have reached an agreement with Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis in Türkiye; we are really looking forward to strengthening our position in the Turkish market together,” Matthias von Buzay (pictured on the left), CEO & CFO of GHH Group, said. “Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis has extensive experience in product sales and service and is therefore an ideal partner for us.”

Eşref Zeka, Chief Executive Officer of Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis A.S. (pictured on the right), and Burçak Birand, Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis Construction and Mining Machinery COO, agreed: “We are excited about the cooperation with GHH as it is a next step in our strategy to grow and strengthen our business in Türkiye and we look forward to a strong and fruitful partnership.”

The two companies sealed their partnership in February when Zeka and Birand travelled to GHH’s headquarters in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and spent time reviewing the offering and way of working, and strategising on business opportunities going forward.

The first deliveries are due to follow shortly. These might include vehicles such as the new LF-10 NEO, a 10-t loader with the highest tipping height in its class, or the MK-A20 dump truck.

Golding to add second 600 t excavator and 220 t haul truck to Jellinbah East fleet

NRW Holdings Limited’s wholly owned subsidiary, Golding Contractors Pty Ltd, has signed a variation to its existing five-year mining services agreement with Jellinbah Mining Pty Ltd at the Jellinbah East coal mine in central Queensland, Australia.

The scope of the variation includes operating and maintaining a second 600-t excavator and 220-t rear dump truck fleet to mine pre-strip overburden, increasing the full scope of the agreement to two 600-t mining fleets.

The variation is valued at approximately A$160 million ($105 million) and will commence in April 2024 using existing owned fleet and supplemented with hire equipment, NRW says.

NRW subsidiary Action Drill & Blast Pty Ltd has also been awarded the following contracts in Queensland:

  • Blasthole drilling services for Batchfire Resources at the Callide coal mine. The contract, valued at circa-A$52 million over five years has commenced and will use a workforce of some 40 personnel;
  • A 12-month extension to supply agreement with Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd for a Bowen Basin mine valued at A$30 million; and
  • A services agreement involing drilling for a central Queensland mine. This has a contract term of three years on an agreed rates basis with an estimated value of A$28 million.

These contracts will also use existing ADB-owned equipment where applicable, the company said.

EACON banks more finance for automation mission as it nears 1,000 truck milestone

EACON says it has received another $44.5 million in Series C++ financing, led by Zijin Mining and Minxi Xinghang, enabling it to scale up its technology, product R&D and mining area operation management as part of its autonomous haulage developments.

Including series C and series C+ financing, EACON has now completed equity financing of $97.3 million within six months.

Founded in May 2018, EACON calls itself a leading autonomous haulage solution company that empowers the mining industry with the most advanced technology. By combining cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with strong on-site operational capabilities, EACON provides an OEM-agnostic, field-proven solution for autonomous haulage and zero-emission truck engineering, it says.

Currently, EACON has deployed autonomous truck fleets in four of China’s top 10 open-pit coal mines. As of February 2024, there are 304 trucks running autonomously with a total mileage of 6.5 million kilometers, ensuring safe operation for six consecutive years, it claims.

Zijin Mining, meanwhile, is a leading global multinational mining group mainly engaged in mining copper, gold, zinc, silver and lithium.

Chen Jinghe, Chairman of Zijin Mining Group, said the advancement of ‘carbon peak and carbon neutrality’ objectives have sparked significant transformation within the global mining sector, where autonomous driving technology, coupled with new energy trucks, are playing a pivotal role.

Zijin Mining will leverage its industry resources alongside EACON’s solution for its domestic and overseas mine sites, according to EACON.

Minxi Xinghang’s business scope spans mineral metallurgy, equity investment, site construction, new energy and materials, water conservancy and power, and transportation operations. Chairman, Li Jian, expressed aspirations to seize additional business prospects both domestically and internationally alongside EACON in the future.

EACON has been actively promoting the development of zero carbon mining. As of February 2024, EACON had deployed 245 battery-electric and hybrid-battery haulage trucks. In 2023, EACON developed a zero-emission, fully-autonomous haulage fleet for a sand and gravel aggregate mine in Fushan, Shandong. The fleet has reduced carbon emissions by over 2,200 t while operating safely and stably for the past 350 days, it says.

Zhang Lei, co-Founder and Chairman of EACON, stated that the successful completion of the $97.3 million financing reflects the positive recognition of EACON by the market and industry. Zijin has many mines located on plateaus, which are not only remote but also feature low oxygen levels due to the high altitude. This environment can cause discomfort for mining workers unaccustomed to it. EACON says it hopes to provide solutions for mining operations in these areas through autonomous driving technology in the future.

By the end of 2024, EACON expects the number of deployed autonomous trucks to reach 1,000. This fleet expansion is likely to come from EACON’s steadfast deployment of new energy autonomous driving vehicles, enabling mines to achieve sustainable low-carbon operations, as well as the retrofit of existing fleets, providing drive-by-wire control kits and solutions for autonomous driving systems. Currently, a drive-by-wire kit for a Komatsu HD785-7 truck is under design.

In 2024, EACON plans to launch a pilot project in Australia to expand its global market.

Bell B40E

CPI, Sibelco, Bell and xtonomy launch UK-first autonomous ADT pilot project

Sibelco’s china-clay Cornwood quarry in Devon, UK, has, today, played host to the launch of an autonomous ADT designed to help future proof the effectiveness and competitiveness of extractive operations such as mining within the minerals and aggregates industry.

The development of autonomous driving capability opens the door to a range of operational efficiency, safety, environmental and employee benefits to underpin the sector going forward, according to the compaies involved.

The UK-first project was initially conceptualised by Chepstow Plant International (CPI) and Bell Equipment following long-term trials between Bell Equipment and technology platform specialist, xtonomy.

CPI identified Sibelco, a long-term valued strategic customer, as the ideal partner to bring the project to reality in a live-working quarry environment. Collectively, the four stakeholders have collaborated to develop and launch a quarry transportation proposition that has its eyes on the future.

The launch event for the venture today saw key industry guests invited to witness a full demonstration of the new autonomous solution within a working quarry setting. Presentations highlighted the on-board hardware and software technologies, including radar sensors from indurad, high-precision GPS, multi-channel communication systems and on-board processing hardware. They have been incorporated by xtonomy into a standard B40E dump truck to create an Autonomous-Ready drive by wire B40E solution.

As a result, the combination offers true and safe autonomy with a resilient navigation system that dynamically plans ADT paths and predictively controls the vehicle around the entire quarry site, the companies say.

Among the key objectives with this pilot scheme will be to demonstrate the potential to reduce vehicular incidents and subsequent accidents as well as upskilling then the existing workforce to further support the future of quarry operations.

Operational efficiencies will be enhanced as the autonomous ADTs are able to operate for longer periods during the working day, deliver highly accurate tipping results and ensure that the existing quarry shift patterns can be tailored to improve productivity. Further benefits will be available thanks to improved component life and reduced wear and tear on the Bell B40E dump truck, leading to improved asset availability for the quarry, they say.

On-board hardware and software technologies, including radar sensors from indurad, high-precision GPS, multi-channel communication systems and on-board processing hardware have been incorporated by xtonomy into a standard B40E dump truck to create an Autonomous-Ready drive by wire B40E solution

Environmental advantages will also be leveraged through the AI-enabled transformation. With enhanced driving accuracy and efficiency across the quarry, less fuel will be consumed, helping to ensure reductions in carbon emissions from a a quarry’s daily activities.

To further enhance the autonomous ADTs impact on the environment, the Bell B40E uses HVO instead of diesel.

John Corcoran, Managing Director, at CPI, said: “CPI is delighted to be involved in this exciting and UK-first collaboration; one that is focused on a next generation adventure to ensure UK quarries continue to maximise operational efficiencies and remain competitive. It is important that stakeholders come together in this way to drive advancements and support the industry’s future prospects, whilst continually remain committed to our safety standards and net-zero commitments.

“We are sure that this pilot project will deliver both progress, as well as further challenges. Both of which will provide the pathway towards the ultimate goal.”

Ben Uphill, Director Operations – Kingsteignton Cluster at quarry-owner, Sibelco, says: “We envisage many benefits from having access to this sector-first autonomous ADT solution. The minerals & aggregates sector must embrace technology as a way of continually delivering improvements across our daily operations and cost base. At Sibelco we strive for continuous improvement, with a focus on safety, and the environment through energy efficiency and CO2 reduction. Automation is used in many parts of our operations and business to maximise efficiency and to also manage areas of skills shortage. This has been a fantastic example of collaborative ethos from all partners and has resulted in a safe and productive autonomous driving setup for a key part of our operations.”

Nic Grout, Managing Director at Bell Equipment, said: “Bell Equipment is a leading supplier in the ADT market and as such is proud to be part of this exciting project. Its success can help transform the future of the quarrying sector and we are pleased that our evolutionary E-series and the B40E dump truck sits at the heart of this innovative project. The ability to transform our market leading vehicle through added technology functionality into a safe, robust, effective, and autonomous quarrying asset is welcome and sets the standard for future developments across our vehicle range.”

Christian Riedel, CEO at xtonomy, says: “Supporting the quarrying sector through the appliance of result-orientated automation platform solutions is a key commitment for the business. Expectations and needs are changing as the industry looks to transition to a future where improved efficiency, better safety and targeted environmental considerations are key priorities. Our AI technology incorporated onto the already successful Bell B40E dump truck evolves it to a next generation payload transportation blueprint.”

Johnson Controls launches ANSUL N-101 Clean Agent Vehicle Fire Suppression System

Johnson Controls has launched the ANSUL® N-101 Clean Agent Vehicle Fire Suppression System, a solution that is specially designed to protect energised electrical equipment inside unoccupied electrical cabinets on board heavy industrial vehicles.

Using a naturally occurring zero-global warming potential (0 GWP) nitrogen agent, the ANSUL N-101 system provides a sustainable and electrically non-conductive fire suppression solution for Class C and E vehicle hazards in mining, forestry, heavy construction and other industries, the company says.

Kristin Ryczek, Global Product Manager – Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems, Johnson Controls, said: “Heavy work vehicles operate for long periods in harsh, rugged environments and require reliable on-board fire protection to help safeguard the most vital, fire-prone electrical equipment. With ANSUL’s long history of using inert gases, like nitrogen for successful building protection applications, it makes sense for us to apply those same proven concepts to a system designed specifically for the rugged mobile equipment industry.”

The ANSUL N-101 suppression solution leaves no residue or by-products, according to the company. This means it will not cause damage to the protected electrical assets nor require clean-up because of discharge, making it a better option for people, equipment and the planet.

With an operational range of -54°C- 99°C, a simplified single-tank, single-nozzle design and heavy-gauge steel bracket construction, the system is engineered to withstand the harsh conditions found in rugged industrial environments. The system’s nitrogen cartridge is equipped with an electric-pneumatic actuator and is available in two sizes, 0.65 cu.m and 1.56 cu.m, to support a wide range of vehicle applications.

Johnson Controls has further enhanced the performance of the ANSUL N-101 Clean Agent System by using a hydraulic hose distribution line and 360° nozzle, it says. This equipment enables the system to flood the electrical enclosure quickly and efficiently, and reduce the oxygen content within that space, even when un-closable openings are present, the company claims.

Johnson Controls developed the ANSUL N-101 Clean Agent Vehicle Fire Suppression System for use with ANSUL CHECKFIRE detection and actuation systems. It can be used as a standalone system in combination with automatic detection/releasing, or as part of a complete vehicle protection solution.