All posts by Paul Moore

New Atlas Salt strategic partnership with Sandvik includes electric mining fleet

Automation, Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Industrial minerals, Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral project development, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, Sustainable mining

Atlas Salt Inc has announced the signing of a comprehensive non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions. This strategic partnership establishes Sandvik as the preferred underground mobile mining equipment supplier and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Partner for the Great Atlantic Salt Project.

Great Atlantic is described by Atlas Salt as a state-of-the-art ‘Salt Factory’ which would be the first new underground salt operation in North America in nearly three decades. Only one new mine has been built in the last 60 years, creating more than a dozen ageing mines and it argues contributing to a significant domestic production shortfall. Atlas has a target date of the first half of 2025 for securing project financing. Surface construction would commence in late 2025, then the boxcut, portals and decline development from mid-2026, the conveyor install from April 2027, with mine commissioning and operational readiness coming in 2028.

The mine will be accessed through two declines driven to 240 Level (nominally 240 m below surface) where the process plant and related infrastructure will be located. Internal declines will be developed as necessary to sustain the initial production rate of 2.5 Mt/y over an initial 34-year mine life. A total of seven production levels supported with internal declines and level-specific infrastructure will be constructed to support mining activities on each level. Room and pillar production mining will be executed in four cuts of 5 m height, resulting in a maximum room height of 20 m. Rooms will be 16 m wide, separated by 25 m square pillars. Processing of the salt will take place at a crushing and screening plant located within the underground mine and it will be transported to the surface via conveyor belts. On surface, a series of conveyor belts will transport the rock salt from the mine site to the port.

This partnership with Sandvik it says s a significant step forward in the development of the Great Atlantic Salt Project, enhancing the project’s operational capabilities with state-of-the-art equipment designed for safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Sandvik’s offerings include the integration of its AutoMine® automation system, which will elevate the mine’s operations through tele-remote and autonomous functionalities, thereby reducing operational risks and increasing productivity.

Key highlights of the MOU include firstly the purchase of advanced electric mining equipment. As part of this partnership, Atlas Salt will acquire a fleet of cutting-edge mining equipment from Sandvik. This includes three MB670-1 high-capacity continuous miners, one MT521 roadheader, five TH550B 50 t battery-electric haul trucks, two Toro™ LH518iB 18 t battery-electric loaders, and one DS412iE battery-powered bolter. The CM and roadheader are cable electric. The bolter charges its battery via cable while drilling then runs on battery for tramming but can also draw additional electric power for drilling from the onboard battery pack.

Included with the mining fleet will be the development of the AutoMine system for core fleet automation. This system will enable tele-remote and autonomous operations, making underground mining safer, more sustainable and productive. Additionally, the fleet will feature a suite of Newtrax hardware and complementary software products designed to provide proximity detection, collision avoidance, and data-driven productivity and safety modules, ensuring safe and efficient equipment operation. Supporting this digital transformation is Ambra Solutions’ advanced network infrastructure, which ensures seamless wireless communication and data distribution throughout the underground environment.

Sandvik’s innovative Battery Management Service will power Atlas Salt’s fleet with the latest battery technology, minimising downtime and enhancing productivity. This sustainable energy solution aligns with the project’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. Sandvik will also provide a comprehensive Full Maintenance Program, ensuring the continuous operation and peak performance of all equipment. This program includes preventative maintenance, regular inspections, and rapid response repair services, all designed to maximise equipment uptime and minimise operational disruptions.

To optimise the design and development of the Great Atlantic Salt Project, Sandvik will leverage Deswik’s leading mine design software and engineering consulting services. This will ensure that the mine’s layout and operations are fully optimised for Sandvik equipment, promoting efficiency, safety, and sustainability throughout the Life of Mine (LOM).

Finally, leveraging the expertise of DSI Underground, the partnership will implement customised ground support solutions and grouting services, tailored to the unique geological conditions of the Great Atlantic Salt Project. These solutions will ensure stability and safety in underground operations.

Sandvik will establish local warehousing facilities in Newfoundland to ensure the immediate availability of critical parts and components. Additionally, a dedicated technical support team will provide on-the-ground assistance, ensuring quick resolutions to any operational challenges that arise.

In connection with the product and service offering, Sandvik has offered a $73 million financing arrangement to support the acquisition and deployment of Sandvik’s advanced mining technology, equipment, and service solutions. The financing offer remains non-binding pending completion of the final purchase documents and is subject to customary due diligence.

Richard LaBelle, CEO of Atlas Salt, commented: “We are excited to partner with Sandvik, a leader in mining technology, to equip the Great Atlantic Salt Project with the most advanced underground mining systems available. This collaboration, along with the financing, marks a major milestone in our journey to establish Canada’s next salt mine.”

Peter Corcoran, Vice President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions Canada, added: “Sandvik is proud to partner with Atlas Salt on the Great Atlantic Salt Project, bringing our cutting-edge mining solutions to one of the most significant salt developments in Canada. Our focus on automation and digitalisation aligns perfectly with Atlas Salt’s commitment to safety, efficiency, and sustainability.”

Lawrie Williams – a sad loss to the mining journalism community

Communications in mining, Mining events, Mining people

The mining world and in particular the mining journalism world lost a real giant recently with the death of Lawrie Williams last month. He was an old-style raconteur in the best sense of the world, always had a sparkle in his eye, and had a great sense of humour which made him good company – he was someone you always saw in a crowd at a conference or mining function and made a beeline for.

His career history was impressive and extensive. Founder and former owner of International Mining, John Chadwick, who also worked with Lawrie for many years at Mining Journal Ltd, said: “The global industry has lost one of the great characters of mining publishing. Lawrence (Lawrie) Williams passed away on August 9 this year. Lawrie started in mining in South Africa after graduating from London’s Royal School of Mines. He worked in gold at Western Areas before joining Rustenburg Platinum Mines in 1968. He was then Senior Mining Engineer with Dowson and Dobson before returning to the UK and joining Mining Journal Ltd in 1971.”

There he became CEO and masterminded much expansion of that company and its publications, including Mining Magazine, World Tunnelling and Mining Environmental Management. He left in October 2007 and took on the role of CEO and Editorial Director of Mineweb.com. Chadwick adds: “He and my wife Jan took that online publication to great international prominence. Under his guidance it became among the most widely read international mining news online, generated from South Africa. After that, he moved on again, he wrote for Sharps Pixley and lawrieongold.com and was still offering his thoughts on gold in 2022.”

And not to forget that his journalism and publishing skills were not only restricted to mining. He founded the lifestyle type quarterly glossy magazine for the 4,000 plus residents the Barbican in London, Barbican Life, which he went on to edit for 15 years.

On lawrieongold.com he expressed his thoughts on many topics, including when Mining Journal went from a weekly to a fortnightly publication back in 2016, which he felt was a retrograde step. He also felt that the sector was no longer employing the people with the technical background that really understood the industry’s nuts and bolts.

He said on this subject: “Time was when Mining Journal Limited under Michael West’s guidance from the 1960-90s and then later under my own for the final decade of the 20th Century and into the beginning of the 21st, employed no less than 15 qualified and experienced mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists and mineral economists to run the publications and its various divisions – more than most London-based mining consultancies at that time. We would not take editorial staff on unless they had prior mining, geological or metallurgical industry experience. It was very much an integral part of the industry we served rather than a publishing company which just happened to have an interest in mining.”

Mining journalism and mining publishing have changed with the times, but arguably not always for the better. Lawrie’s career spanned it all and he will be very much missed.

Multotec dense media separation tech playing key role in Brazil lithium sector

Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Industrial minerals, Mineral commodities, Mineral processing, Mining consumables, Mining services

Multotec’s experience and expertise in dense media separation (DMS) across the world it says is hugely benefiting lithium operations in Brazil. This sector is currently booming due to global demand for renewable energy storage.

Multotec Brazil Country Manager Anthony Artin explains that DMS technology has been around for decades and gained extensive international recognition when it was adopted by the South African mining industry. Headquartered in South Africa, Multotec has established itself as a leader in metallurgy and process engineering around the globe. “As a result, Multotec has conducted extensive test work in DMS technology over the years. The results of this test work now serve as a reference for our DMS applications in mining worldwide, providing valuable data for graphs and drainage rates,” says Artin.

“This is why Multotec today boasts a huge install base worldwide. Our DMS expertise and experience have grown alongside the coal and diamond sectors, and then started diversifying into base metals like iron ore, and then industrial minerals.” Artin notes that the lithium boom in recent years has led to the widespread adoption of DMS technology as a means of pre-concentration in some lithium operations or as a primary concentration method in others.

With major lithium projects recently coming online in Brazil’s Araçuai Valley region and various others set to come onstream soon, Multotec established a presence in the country to leverage its extensive DMS knowledge to support this booming industry. “We are involved in most lithium operations in the world at this stage and this allows us to start linking the knowledge that we gain, whether it be in North America, Australia or South Africa. We are using this as a basis for good practices that we can bring back to the lithium operation here in Brazil,” says Artin.

He notes that the Multotec factory in Brazil supplies equipment such as DMS cyclones, screen panels, magnetic separators, ceramic-lined chutes and densifiers to the local lithium mining industry. Adding that the DMS cyclone is at the heart of the DMS plant, in Brazil. “Brazilian mining operations rely on DMS as the main concentration method, unlike some plants in other parts of the world which would include milling and flotation into the process. This makes our cyclones the key to these operations,” he says.

“We need to therefore make sure that our equipment operates efficiently. The cyclone has a few seconds to distinguish between a lithium spodumene particle and gangue material and whether to send it to the underflow or the overflow.” Currently, Multotec Brazil is focusing on localising the supply chain in the local lithium industry due to the unique Brazilian business environment. This supports Multotec’s strategy of supporting customers in the quickest and most efficient way possible.

“Now that we have established a factory here, we are starting to manufacture more and more of our products locally. This makes lead times, pricing, and the availability of stock much more attractive for our clients,” says Artin.

He explains that Multotec ensures skills transfer to staff in Brazil, citing a major ceramic chute lining project as a good example of this initiative. “A client had requested that we carry out a ceramic chute lining project based on our global expertise. At the time, we did not have the facilities to do it here, so we brought in specialists from South Africa to support us for three months and to teach our team how to line chutes with ceramic,” says Artin. “This transfer of knowledge has allowed us to offer this service locally to the mines. We now have the facilities in our factory to cut ceramics and install them. So, it was a successful project, entirely carried out locally.”

As part of its efforts to offer even greater support to the local mining sector, Artin says that Multotec Brazil intends to open a depot in the Araçuai Valley region with service crews who will be within close proximity of the company’s clients. This will help overcome the logistical issues stemming from the main factory being situated in Belo Horizonte, about 600 km away.

Multotec participated in the Brazil Lithium Business 2024 conference, a groundbreaking pioneer event which took place in Araçuai, and attracted industry players and international companies interested in Brazil’s lithium reserves. Multotec says it showed its commitment to knowledge sharing with the mineral processing industry through exhibiting, speaking, and sponsoring the event.

“Worldwide, we aim to position ourselves as a key partner for the DMS operations, regardless of what mineral sector it is. As a key partner to DMS operations in the lithium space, we want to take this opportunity to show our presence, showcase the different technologies that we can bring to the market as well as the different product lines that we offer,” says Artin.

DOK-ING showcases its NRE robotic dozer, support rig & drill rig at Electra Mining

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals

DOK-ING showcased its innovative electric robotic NRE fleet and its latest product, a VR training simulator, at Electra Mining Africa, held from 2-6 September at the Expo Centre, Johannesburg. It says this largest mining fair in Africa served as the ideal stage for DOK-ING’s 100 m² stand with a team of 12 experts attending, including members of the Management Board, Sales and Program Managers and Engineers.

Visitors were able to see live all three NRE fleet groundbreaking robotic systems. The NRE Dozer, NRE Support Rig, and NRE Drill Rig cutting-edge systems were specially designed for platinum, chrome and gold extraction. Visitors at the booth also had the chance to try out a VR simulator.

The NRE fleet consists of three robotic systems: NRE dozer, NRE Support Rig and NRE Drill Rig which seamlessly complete the drilling, cleaning, and anchoring processes. The NRE technology enables mechanised exploitation in ultra-low profiles (0.9 m to 1.7 m), increasing safety, productivity, and more ore concentration leading to less waste and more selective extraction while reducing capital investment, less rock is excavated, which can reduce costs as in high profiles more rock is removed, increasing costs. With the development and production of NRE, DOK-ING “is expanding its product range and bringing innovation to the mining industry and pushing the boundaries of the efficiency of mining methods.”

The NRE fleet is remotely controlled, eliminating the need for personnel in unsecured areas. The fully automated roof drilling and supporting operations further enhance operator safety, ensuring a safer and more efficient mining process.

DOK-ING’s unique innovative NRE, measuring just 65 cm tall, are designed to navigate the world’s most challenging mines. The electric drive eliminates noise and impact of exhaust gases in confined spaces and reduces the carbon footprint of the overall exploitation process. Mechanisation of the production process increases production efficiency improves occupational conditions and drastically reduces risks for workers.

DOK-ING’s NRE fleet can handle slopes of up to 22°, surpassing the 10° limit of wheeled machines, and providing the underground mining industry with new opportunities. Luka Petro, Mining Program Manager at DOK-ING, noted: “The ability to operate on higher slopes opens up access to deposits that conventional machines can’t reach or would make unprofitable. This flexibility not only enhances mine design but also leads to significant cost savings.”

Utilisation of VR technology is revolutionising underground mining by enhancing safety, and operational efficiency while reducing training cost. Machine operators can practise on the NRE Dozer Robotic System in a controlled virtual environment, refining their skills and reducing errors before handling real equipment.

Scenario-based training improves proficiency and minimises risks. DOK-ING’s VR training module allows exploration of virtual mining sites, aiding in better-informed decisions and machine utilisation. They also simulate hazardous situations, helping miners learn to respond without exposure to danger. VR also facilitates remote collaboration and offers cost-effective training by reducing the need for physical facilities.

Guardiaris, a Slovenian company specialising in advanced training simulators for military, police, and civil sectors, has partnered with DOK-ING to develop a cutting-edge VR training simulator. Their innovative technology leverages virtual reality and digital tools to create highly realistic and secure training environments, allowing users to practice in immersive, life-like scenarios while ensuring maximum safety.

Underground mining remains highly hazardous, with risks like cave-ins, toxic gases while the physical demands, long shifts, and dust exposure contribute to musculoskeletal injuries and respiratory diseases. Despite advances in safety, these risks persist. Petro noted: “However, DOK-ING’s underground mining robotic systems enhance safety and efficiency, while VR technology trains operators to remotely control these systems effectively before entering the mines.”

 

dynaCERT reports more HydraGEN™ success in South American mining

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Sustainable mining

dynaCERT Inc has announced the September 2024 shipment of its proprietary HydraGEN™ technology to three major open-pit mines located in Brazil and Peru, South America. This latest shipment, totalling 119 HydraGEN™ units, including both the flagship HG1 and HG2 models, is part of a significant purchase order received through one of the company’s dealers, with payment structured in stages.

dynaCERT is represented in Brazil and Peru by H2 Tek, which is based in Toronto, Canada and is the company’s largest dealer. It also covers the US, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Russia, Mongolia, Japan and Australia.

Additionally, dynaCERT has secured new purchase orders from two more dealers, one in Mexico and another in Australia. These orders include eight HydraGEN™ units, with two larger units designated for coal mining operations in Australia, and six units intended for transportation companies in Mexico.

These purchase orders of dynaCERT’s HydraGEN™ Technology for its customer follow positive results of several pilot projects over the course of two years as previously announced by dynaCERT, whereby its dealer had advised dynaCERT that the Company’s HydraGEN™ Technology had been installed at certain mining operations located in South America.

These installations were pilot projects to test the numerous benefits and impacts of dynaCERT’s HydraGEN™ Technology on mining equipment with the intent that successful pilot projects can result in the adoption of HydraGEN™ Technology to be used for mining equipment and mining fleet applications such as Class 8 trucks hauling ore from mines to a port or smelters.

Following the completion of such pilot projects, the dealer has indicated to dynaCERT that it has reported very compelling results to such mining and resource companies involved in pilot projects which evaluated dynaCERT’s HydraGEN™ technology, including its customer for these purchase orders. The client has also used HydraGEN™ technology purchased in June 2024 deployed in underground mining.

Ed Cordeiro, Director of Sales for the Americas at dynaCERT, commented: “Our South American dealer has successfully positioned HydraGEN™ technology as a strategic tool for international mining companies aiming to meet their corporate ESG objectives, particularly in reducing carbon footprints while achieving significant fuel savings. Our Carbon Emission Reduction Technology systems, which produce hydrogen gas for mining operations, have demonstrated the dual benefits of economic savings and environmental impact by lowering fuel consumption and emissions.”

Jim Payne, Chairman & CEO of dynaCERT, added: “We are proud to support our mining, resource, and logistics clients who continue to rely on our HydraGEN™ technology. The growing global adoption of our products, driven by successful pilot projects and repeat orders, reaffirms our commitment to reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions in diesel engines worldwide. Our mission to advance Greenhouse Gas Emission reductions on a global scale is more robust than ever.”

HydraGEN is a carbon emissions reduction device for all types and sizes of diesel engines. dynaCERT says: “As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, resulting in lower carbon emissions and greater fuel efficiency.”

XCMG making global rigid mining truck push in Australia, Serbia and Chile

Base metals, Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable mining

Chinese construction and mining equipment giant XCMG has already made significant inroads in mining with its wide body trucks, including conventional diesel, hybrid and full battery versions in countries like Brazil, Indonesia, Guinea and elsewhere and with high profile Tier 1 miners like Vale. This includes a fleet of 30 units of its XGE105 electric wide body mining trucks recently shipped to Guinea for Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), which is developing Blocks 1 and 2 of the huge Simandou iron ore project in Guinea.

This was followed by a deal with Rio Tinto-led SimFer, developing Blocks 3 and 4 of Simandou, to provide a complete set of core mining equipment, including dozens of XDE240 230 t class large diesel-electric drive rigid mining trucks. This will be the most significant XCMG rigid mining truck order outside of China to date.

XCMG Chile’s Carlos San Martin and IM Editorial Director Paul Moore at Exponor 2024

But momentum is already building and a move to introduce its larger rigid trucks into global mining has already begun in other mining countries. In July, Serbia Zijin Copper began receiving a fleet of new XDE150 mining trucks, adding to larger XDE260 trucks that were delivered in 2022. In Ecuador, EcuaCorriente’s Mirador copper mine has had a fleet of XDE130 trucks for several years.

Now XCMG is getting more trucks in-country in the big hitter mining countries as well. Earlier this year, IM Editorial Director Paul Moore saw its XDE130 AC diesel-electric drive truck, the first in Chile, on show at the Exponor 2024 event in Antofagasta. XCMG Chile’s Carlos San Martin told IM that this unit would go into service initially with a mining contractor in Chile. He added: “We are a very big company in China but today in Chile we are small. Starting with our units in the mining contracting space, the big miners here can get to see the performance of our trucks as most of them use contractors in addition to having their owned fleets. Plus the 120 t class XDE130 is a very attractive size class for contractors and mid sized miners – as it hauls more tonnes than the typical 92 t class Caterpillar 777.”

Over in Australia, the first ever units there of the XDE130 AC trucks recently arrived. There, XCMG is also hoping to get a foothold in the contracting and earthmoving market with this model. These are not the first rigid XCMG trucks in Australia, as a fleet of XDE120 trucks has been operating since 2019, but it represents a new push with a slightly larger and much updated model. XCMG Australia stated: “These powerhouse machines are engineered to redefine efficiency and performance in the mining industry. With a payload capacity of 120 t, the XDE130 combines cutting-edge electric drive technology with robust construction to tackle even the toughest mining conditions.”

While Chinese mining truck OEMs have in the past been often dismissed in the market as lacking in service support or performance or both, big strides forward have been made and the mining industry is always looking for more options. Plus, crucially, the Chinese mining truck OEMs already have very close relationships with the big Chinese battery companies like CATL and others through the large wide body truck BEV fleets already operating, which is likely to increase their influence as the big miners look to meet net zero goals with battery rigid trucks.

Stäubli to update on QCC fast charging connector after testing with LEONI

Environmental, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Power supply for mines

On a quest to delivering highest power in minimal time to heavy-duty electric vehicles, Stäubli Electrical Connectors recently offered “a transparent look” into its evolving collaboration with LEONI, detailing an informal yet highly synergistic exploration that it says has catalysed charging power advancements in the electric vehicle charging sector.

Stäubli states: “This dynamic engagement has transcended traditional partnership frameworks, focusing on an open exchange of expertise and resources. The integration of LEONI’s insight into the intricacies of cooled cables has been pivotal from the onset, allowing Stäubli to gain traction quickly in this complex area.”

“Together with LEONI we were able to deepen our knowledge and understand the complete system of cable and connector. With their extensive expertise on cooled-cables, LEONI helped us gain an edge and further develop our heavy-duty charging solutions. Now we are continuing technical exchanges for multiple projects and are proud to work with such an experienced company as LEONI,” reflected Mathieu Chaligné, Project Manager ACS at Stäubli, on the collaboration.

Stäubli Electrical Connectors and LEONI have conducted several test sessions at LEONI’s testing facility, including more than five rigorous test weeks for Stäubli’s next generation of the QCC automatic fast-charging connector. While both the QCC and MCS (Megawatt Charging System) are expected to be using similar technologies, the QCC allowed both companies to test values up to 5,000A.

They say that these sessions have been instrumental in refining the next QCC developments, ensuring it meets the stringent demands of mining equipment. Additionally, LEONI helped Stäubli in defining the best technical solution for MCS different charging power solutions.

“We at LEONI Charging & Power Solutions are always highly interested in future technologies and high-tech solutions to drive electrification in all areas. Especially in close cooperation, we can benefit from the in-depth expertise of both partners and develop sophisticated solutions for the upcoming all electric society. I am proud that we can support our customers not only with cables but also with testing and simulation services,” said Sebastian Goss, Head of Product Management DC/HPC at LEONI.

One additional round of tests is confirmed for the upcoming QCC-5000, after which Stäubli anticipates the inauguration of its own facility in Hésingue, France. Nonetheless, the technical dialogue between both companies will endure, underscoring a relationship that is both constructive and future-oriented.

Moreover, “both companies recognise that cables and connectors are inseparable when it comes to performance. Stäubli’s innovation, spurred by the partnership, has yielded an improved approach for integrating cooled cables with their MCS and QCC products. This holistic perspective ensures that as they develop individual components, the collective system’s integrity remains uncompromised.”

With a focus firmly placed on MCS products and refining the next-generation of QCC, Stäubli, and LEONI’s collaborative efforts they say promise to drive the industry forward, offering high-powered, rapid charging solutions tailored for a variety of heavy-duty electric vehicles. “Both companies look at the full scope, ensuring that cables and connectors are not only compatible but also optimised to exceed expectations.” Stäubli will release its latest QCC developments for the mining industry at MINExpo later this month.

 

Eldorado Gold reports on AutoMine® MultiLite system rollout at Olympias

Automation, Base metals, Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals

Eldorado Gold in a recent blog post homed in on its remote mucking project at the Olympias gold-silver-lead-zinc mine in northern Greece, located on the Halkidiki Peninsula. The team at Olympias began implementing a remote mucking program in 2023 to improve mine safety and productivity following successful implementation of similar technology at the Lamaque Complex in Canada.

The mining group states: “Innovation and technology are essential parts of the mining industry and a key part of our work at Eldorado Gold. From exploration to sustainability, our foundation in innovation and dedication to finding a better way to do things drives our work around the world.”

Mucking is the process of removing excavated ore and waste out of headings for transportation to surface or for internal relocation to remuck bays. Historically, this would be done by having a load operator in the mine, directing a loader.

Remote mucking makes use of video and automation technology to provide the operator with a safer and more comfortable environment – above ground. Located in a control room on the surface, the operator can direct the loader using screens, a control panel and joysticks. In some situations, the operator may also choose to activate the autonomous mode, where the loader will operate almost entirely on its own, basing its manoeuvres on what it senses in the surrounding environment.

Eldorado Gold adds: “The greatest benefit of remote mucking is that it takes people out of harm’s way. Our team on the ground takes every precaution; however, there is always an element of risk when mobile equipment is involved. We know from our recent health and safety perceptions survey that our frontline workers in Greece have a strong favourable sentiment about having the tools and equipment needed to complete their work safely. It’s continuous improvement ideas like remote mucking that will help this sentiment continue trending in a favourable direction on future surveys.”

The miner states that remote mucking also increases productivity by reducing operational delays between shifts. While manual mucking would require a break between blasting and mucking to allow emissions to clear before operators entered the mine, remote mucking enables an above-ground operator to control the loader from afar almost immediately after blasting, reducing downtime and improving safety.

“We see remote and automated mucking as a way to improve safety, work environment and productivity. Implementing remote mucking will provide our load operators with the best possible working environment, and ultimately, make us more productive,” said Niklas Frank, Senior Vice President, Operations.

In 2023, Eldorado Gold began work at Olympias to introduce remote mucking. “The project has been commissioned, and we are now training operators, who will go on to train the rest of the team – 25 people in total. Early feedback during the training has been positive. Operators are keen to embrace innovation and technology and have shared that they find remote mucking, controlled from the surface, preferable to going underground.”

At Olympias, a control room has been set up on the surface with space for two operators and the miner expects to have remote mucking fully implemented (for two loaders in the fleet) by the end of 2024 with two shifts per day.

Eldorado adds: “Thorough training and cross-departmental collaboration are essential to the success of the remote mucking implementation. The team on the ground has worked closely with IT and the electrical department to ensure that our underground LTE network remains connected, and that communication is never compromised. Sandvik, whose scoops we use at Olympias, has also been closely involved in the project and in supporting training. On average, remote mucking training takes 80 hours per operator.”

Specifically, Olympias is using Sandvik’s AutoMine® Multi-Lite, which allows the operator to remotely control and simultaneously supervise multiple underground equipment from a safe and comfortable environment, reducing exposure to dust, noise, vibrations and other mine hazards. This creates a safer work environment for both the operator and mine personnel. It also allows for automated missions in dedicated production areas.

Epiroc expanding rock drilling tools facility & opens innovation centre in Hyderabad

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining

Epiroc has held a ground-breaking ceremony in Hyderabad, India, for an expansion of its manufacturing facility for rock drilling tools. Epiroc is also inaugurating a new innovation and technology centre in Hyderabad. The investment is part of Epiroc’s growing focus on India as a key hub for manufacturing and research and development to support customers throughout the region.

Epiroc’s investment covers expansion of land, new buildings, and state-of-the-art machines. “India is a key growth market and an important manufacturing and innovation hub for the Epiroc Group,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “It’s been great to see the growth in the Hyderabad product company in recent years, and this investment shows our trust in India’s future potential.”

Epiroc has maintained a strong presence in India for more than 60 years, with manufacturing locations in Hyderabad and Nashik, an innovation and technology center in Bangalore, as well as sales and marketing presence in all major regions of the country, employing around 1,600 people. Epiroc India’s head office is based in Pune.

The Hyderabad factory produces rock drilling tools such as rotary bits and down-the-hole products. Epiroc doubled the facility’s capacity in 2017, and is now expanding further. The investment will create employment for around 30 additional people. Production in the expanded area is expected to begin around April 2025.

“This investment will create a base for future expansion of our rock drilling tools capacity to support the growing Indian market,” says Arunkumar Govindarajan, President Epiroc India. “The investment also supports our ‘Make in India’ initiatives.”

‘Make in India’ is a government initiative that encourages companies to develop and manufacture products in India.

The new satellite innovation and technology centre in Hyderabad will support the parent centre in Bangalore and accelerate the development of new innovations and products to meet customers’ needs. “By opening an innovation and technology centre in Hyderabad we are coming closer to the huge talent pool in this key region,” says Chandu Rao, General Manager of Epiroc Innovation & Technology Center in India. “This will strengthen our efforts to support customers with the latest innovative products and solutions.”

LoopX takes leap forward with Cementation collaboration

Uncategorised

Leading mining contractor and mining services company Cementation and mining autonomy focused start-up LoopX recently announced that they are joining forces to significantly enhance dynamic safety at mining project sites.

LoopX is a technology company focused on advancing mining safety and efficiency through interoperable autonomy, which has developed a pioneering collision awareness system. This system leverages a blend of intelligent sensors and data points derived from generative artificial intelligence which the company believes is a game-changer in the field. It excels at identifying safety hazards and operational inefficiencies before they happen.

Chao Yu, Founder and CEO, LoopX

Cementation is a top-tier mine contractor which says it has an unparalleled safety culture, a global presence and a track record for delivering value to clients worldwide through its specialised teams in engineering, construction, material handling systems, operational services, and asset management for underground and above-ground projects.

The companies are jointly trialling this comprehensive safety solution through rigorous testing at various Canadian project sites. Cementation says the testing regime will include a suite of user-driven units, integration, automation, functional, visual, performance, compatibility, accessibility, software, and programmatic tests to enhance and refine product development and usability.

LoopX’s use of a combination of camera and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology as the system’s backbone means that it can be universally applied to any piece of equipment, regardless of size, scope, make, or model. Cementation says this versatility ensures that the solution can meet the unique safety needs of any mining operation and is particularly appealing, given that its teams work on diverse project sites and challenging conditions around the globe.

Cementation adds: “With the ultimate goal of achieving zero harm within Cementation operations, this unique solution will empower the company’s front-line workers, operators, and managers with real-time and data-driven reports to keep each other and the workplace safe above and underground.”

Patrick Hudd, Cementation Canada Corporate Manager – International & Marketing told IM: “We are currently testing the LoopX technology on multiple equipment units including several haul trucks, scoops and a personnel carrier. This includes a Caterpillar R1600 scoop that recently made its way to a project site. We are also using the system on other equipment at a different development project as we expand its use.”

The lowdown on LoopX

To coincide with this development, IM Editorial Director Paul Moore spoke to LoopX Founder and CEO, Chao Yu. LoopX is a proudly Canadian tech company based in Waterloo, Ontario, near Toronto with an additional office in Sudbury. It is a spin off from the University of Waterloo – set up by a small group of roboticists with many years of research experience in the autonomous driving area.

Yu told IM: “The company was incorporated in 2022 and then started to explore market opportunities for the autonomous technology we had built. Initially we were targeting the last mile delivery logistics market and did some pilot trials but realised that market still had a lot of maturing to do due to a lot of barriers such as safety concerns as well as regulations and limited potential profit margins. So we decided to pivot to addressing real existing industry problems and quickly saw that mining had a real need for autonomous technology.”

Testing of LoopX technology on Rokion electric vehicle at NORCAT

He added that there are many reasons for this – mining, especially underground, is inherently dangerous so the use of autonomy makes a lot of sense. Second, the huge potential cost advantages due to greater efficiency upside of autonomy – mines have very high production costs; and third labour – mines have very high labour costs and not only that in most mining countries there are severe skills and labour shortages, partly due to mines mainly being in remote areas where people do not want to work.

There was also another major issue driving the need: “We looked at the existing autonomy technologies being used in the mining market in Canada and saw a major interoperability issue – the existing options were mainly tied to equipment OEMs, but of course all mines have mixed fleets. So we saw that mining needed a solution provider independent of the OEMs – so today our main focus is building fully interoperable autonomy solutions for the underground mining sector.”

What about the interoperable interfaces that the industry has been working on – such as the IREDES software and the ISO 23725 standard for autonomous system and fleet management system interoperability? Yu: “We have been and continue to participate with groups like GMG but it is important to remember that these are just standards – they are not legally or otherwise enforced in the industry. Secondly, the OEMs despite these standards are still focused on their own closed stack solutions to enhance their own competitive position in the market. So they say they are working on open solutions but this still tends to not be the case in reality.”

Yu said while LoopX is on the one hand is developing SAE Level 4 and 5 interoperable autonomous systems, it also identified an immediate and short term market need for collision avoidance systems that are more interoperable. And given that arguably the CAS market in South Africa is the most mature globally due to it being mandated, the LoopX team has made several visits to South Africa to talk to operators, researchers and manufacturers including the well-known CAS testing focused team at the University of Pretoria. Yu commented: “We are building the system using similar technology as with our autonomy solution, based on machine learning and sensor perception. But given the market need this is our entry level system in mining but it will pave the way to full autonomous systems.”

But what is the actual tech approach and what are LoopX’s differentiators? “We use a variety of proximity and detection sensors just as other players do – but we are adding our AI model to process the data. With our sensors we combine infra-red cameras with highly reliable solid stage LiDAR and accurate IMU sensors. Our system allows to the driver to hear and see what is happening but also understand what is happening. So I would say the level of the system intelligence is a big differentiator for us.”

Yu says LoopX developed the AI model in-house, using state of the art machine learning and computer vision algorithms. Most of the LoopX team formerly worked in the automotive autonomy sector so have brought a lot of experience from an industry that is much further ahead: “I myself worked for General Motors in Shanghai, Michigan and then in Canada, working on EVs and autonomous vehicles. My experience combined with that of colleagues helped us understand what kind of model was needed.”

He adds that what is also unique is how the AI model is trained in terms of its adaptability and reliability for the underground mining sector. “We trained the model using an underground mining dataset – this is important as in this environment there can be at least ten different machine types, from loaders and trucks to jumbos, production drills, concrete trucks, shotcreting rigs, scalers, light vehicles and others. Our AI model can differentiate – it can recognise a loader approaching a truck waiting to be loaded as a non-dangerous situation, but idenifies a loader approaching a people carrier vehicle as a dangerous situation that requires the loader operator to receive a warning. This all helps to reduce false alarms that are a big issue in the market for existing systems as they reduce productivity unnecessarily.”

What is the LoopX route to market? “We have talked extensively to the OEMs as well as the mining end users – both mining companies and mining contractors. We realised they both have a need. The end users with an older existing fleet bought from OEMs or reman companies need a complete collision awareness or avoidance system supplied as a package. We can do this for their whole fleet and we are working with software integrators like Symboticware to do this. We also accept that the OEMs want to make their new machines more intelligent and more autonomous-ready. There is really a big demand for more advanced driver assist systems today. We are working with two OEMs in Canada to integrate our sensor suite and AI model into their hardware and help make them autonomous or CAS ready. In this case it is a built-in solution for new equipment.”

Yu could not name the OEMs due to NDAs but LoopX has carried out testing with both MacLean Engineering and Rokion equipment as an example. The Rokion testing was done at NORCAT in Sudbury in 2023 and 2024 in different phases. Testing has also been done with reman and equipment brokerage company Cardinal Mining Equipment Group on several machine types. In South Africa, LoopX is also in discussion with some OEMs as well.

It is no coincidence that the LoopX focus for OEM partnerships has been on utility and other non-primary fleet machines, as of course the big three primary equipment players Sandvik, Epiroc and Caterpillar have their own autonomy and CAS solutions in place both through their own in-house development and also through acquired companies like RCT and Mernok, to give Epiroc as an example. But on a minesite, some 60% of the machines are typically the ancillary machines.

The NORCAT testing and demo of LoopX technology including at the Mining Transformed events have attracted a lot of attention which has helped increase the company’s profile and has contributed to trial partnerships such as that mentioned with Cementation. But this is not the only example.

On its differentiators, Yu adds: “One of the game changers in these trials we think will be using the system to collect data to support the technology investigations and contribute to risk reporting such as near misses. Many mines have only been reporting actual collision incidents with a written report based only on the operator accounts. Our system captures all data throughout the mine including any risky behaviours such as overspeed and can label them using video and perception data. This removes any doubt – and the data, especially for near misses can be used as the basis for training and for any incident investigations.”

Yu also emphasised when installing CAS, it is important not to affect the warranty that is in place for the existing machine. “We do this by having several approaches – the simplest being integration of actuators to control the machine pedals without using CAN BUS and without requiring input from the machine OEM. We are also looking at other types of interoperable integration that again will not result in any loss of warranty.”

So when will the LoopX solutions go commercial? “Our EMESRT Level 7 driver awareness and collision awareness system (DAS) is already available, having been launched in March 2024 at PDAC. For more advanced Level 8 and 9 CAS systems, what we call our advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), we are doing more testing but expect them to be available in late 2024/early 2025. And for our SAE Level 4 fully autonomous driving system (ADS) we are looking at 2025 as well.”