All posts by Paul Moore

Ivanhoe Mines commits further to I-Pulse tech through equity investment

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Diamond mining, Explosives and blasting, Gem stone mining, Mining services, Mining techniques, Power supply for mines, Precious metals

Ivanhoe Mines Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President Marna Cloete recently announced that an agreement has been reached to replace the outstanding convertible loan balance owed to Ivanhoe Mines by High Power Exploration (HPX) into an equity investment in I-Pulse Inc (I-Pulse), HPX’s parent company.

Founded by Robert Friedland and Laurent Frescaline in 2005, I-Pulse Inc is a private US company headquartered in Toulouse, France, which uses its unique expertise in electrical energy to power disruptive industrial solutions. Frescaline is a plasma physicist and an electrical engineer who founded a successful high-technology company specialising in pulsed-power applications with domestic and international governmental agencies.

The I-Pulse suite of technologies utilises proprietary capacitors that safely and repeatedly compress and release stored electricity in billionths of a second. The extremely high-powered discharges, which utilise extremely small amounts of energy, generate precise shockwaves directed to shape and assemble metals to previously unachievable degrees of precision; generate electrical fields that reveal chargeable or resistive mineral deposits, or water, at depth; and crush rock containing minerals or gemstones.

Ivanhoe extended a $50 million convertible loan to HPX on April 25, 2019. As at May 31, 2023, the loan balance including accrued interest totaled approximately $76 million. Under the new agreement, Ivanhoe will transfer all convertible loan obligations from HPX to I-Pulse, in exchange for the issuance of common shares in I-Pulse to Ivanhoe.

Ivanhoe will also receive certain investor rights, including a pre-emptive right to maintain its percentage ownership in I-Pulse in the event of an equity financing, which ceases upon an initial public offering of I-Pulse securities.

I-ROX SAS (I-ROX), a subsidiary of I-Pulse, is focused on the deployment of I-Pulse technology to transform the processes of crushing and grinding mineral ores in the mining industry. I-ROX was established in November 2022 by I-Pulse and Breakthrough Energy Ventures-Europe (BEV-E), in conjunction with €12 million in funding from BEV-E.

In December 2022, I-Pulse and I-ROX also entered into collaboration arrangements with world-leading resources company, BHP, which included an equity investment in both I-Pulse and I-ROX.

Ivanhoe Mines and I-ROX are working together to also form a collaboration agreement to investigate ways of deploying I-Pulse technology across Ivanhoe’s operations. The collaboration arrangement aims to link the mining and processing expertise of Ivanhoe Mines with the pulsed-power technology and expertise of I-Pulse and I-ROX, to transform the economic and environmental impact of mining.

I-ROX has demonstrated that short, high-intensity bursts of electrical energy, delivered using pulsed-power technology, can quickly and efficiently shatter rocks and mineral ores. This process, which targets tensile weakness in rocks, could substantially reduce the time, energy usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions currently generated by the planet’s mining activities, especially by lowering energy costs through reduced requirement for downstream comminution.

Samples of both copper ore and tailings from the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in DRC have been sent to I-Pulse’s headquarters in Toulouse, France, for test work. The purpose of the test work is to evaluate opportunities to increase life-of-mine copper recoveries, by either improving recoveries through the milling and flotation process, or by recovering additional copper from the tailings stream.

During 2022, Kamoa-Kakula achieved an average copper feed grade of 5.5% and recoveries of approximately 86%, meaning that the grade of Kamoa-Kakula’s tailings was approximately 0.8% copper, significantly higher than the average head grade of the copper mines globally The recoveries achieved in 2022 were in line with design parameters, and more recently have been above design parameters and periodically achieving 88%. Any further improvement in copper recoveries presents a significant opportunity to generate additional revenue at Kamoa-Kakula.

SANY deploys five electric drive SET150 hybrid mining trucks at Tebinbulak iron project

Bulk handling, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining

As a leading global provider of construction and mining equipment, SANY says it is playing a pivotal role in the development of the Tebinbulak mining and metallurgical complex in the Karauzyak region of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. The complex, which spans an area of 5.2 square kilometres, is set to boost the nation’s steel and steel product capabilities while providing new employment opportunities and contributing to sustainable growth.

Upon completion, the Tebinbulak complex will have an impressive annual production capacity of 900,000 t of rebar, 225,000 t of wire, and 375,000 t of steel angles, channel bars, and other construction materials. This increase in production will significantly reduce the need for imports as well as contribute to the sustainable development of the industry. Furthermore, the complex is expected to provide employment for over 3,000 people and export 35% of its manufactured products.

With an estimated raw material reserve of 1 billion tons, the Tebinbulak field will be capable of mining 58 Mt of ore per year to produce 5 Mt/y of iron ore concentrate. Through the innovative use of technology and environmentally-friendly processes, the complex is poised to produce 1 Mt of rolled steel and vanadium slag annually.

SANY machines are actively contributing to the success of this project. To date, 21 pieces of SANY heavy machinery have been deployed to the site, including 12 SYZ320C dump trucks with a 25 t capacity for efficient material transportation, three SY980 excavators for large-scale excavation, one SY155 wheel excavator for versatile earthmoving tasks, and five SET150 large mining dump trucks, which were recently added to further bolster the development efforts. The trucks are being supplied to EPC contractor Enter Engineering, while the project owner is Triangul Metals Tebinbulak. The main downstream design work such as pellet and DRC plants is being carried out by specialists of UzLITI Engineering.

This model of truck is already operating in Uzbekistan at Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Company (AMMC)’s mining operations associated with the MOF-3 copper concentrating complex, also part of a partnership between Enter Engineering as EPC contractor and SANY as equipment supplier. The SET150 is a hybrid mining truck model which can be equipped with the Weichai WP17 or Deutz TCD 18.0 or Volvo Penta TAD 1643 engine depending on the market. The hybrid power system also includes a CRRC TEC electric drive system that includes a battery pack, developed together with SANY.

The Tebinbulak project has already completed several key stages, with laboratory and pilot tests completed for the extraction of enriched ore concentrate, granulation and reduction of iron using natural gas, steel production, and separation of vanadium slag from steel. In addition, comprehensive technological regulations have been developed to ensure optimal productivity, safety, and compliance with environmental protection requirements.

One of the standout features of the Tebinbulak project SANY says is the commitment to environmentally-friendly practices. The project utilises innovative technology that eliminates the need for blast-furnace processes, which are known for their adverse environmental impacts, such as air pollution and high energy consumption. Despite the low iron content in the ore, the project remains economically viable due to the extraction of vanadium slag as a high-value-added product, with an estimated payback period of just eight years.

SANY states: “As the project progresses, we eagerly anticipate strengthening our involvement on-site and taking a more prominent role in the ongoing transformation of Uzbekistan’s metallurgical sector. We remain committed to forging partnerships in future projects and collaborations, further emphasizing our dedication to providing environmentally sustainable machinery.”

Iron ore miner Vedanta IOK & Volvo CE India sign zero-emission equipment MoU

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining

Vedanta Iron Ore Karnataka (IOK) and Volvo CE India recently signed a landmark MoU to deploy sustainable power solutions such as zero-emission electric off-road machines, at Vedanta IOK’s mines in Chitradurga on a trial basis.

With the pilot project commencing at Vedanta IOK, the company has deployed Volvo’s recently launched EC55 all-electric excavator and its subsidiary SDLG’s L956H electric wheel loader for its iron ore mining operations.

“At Vedanta, we are committed to the cause of sustainability as we continue to be a frontrunner in adopting sustainable mining technologies. Our ESG focus is aligned with the goal to achieve net-zero carbon by 2050 or sooner,” said M. Krishna Reddy, COO – Mining, Sesa Goa, Vedanta Ltd. “Partnering with Volvo will help us accelerate our journey towards achieving carbon neutrality. Our mission of transforming for good continues to drive us towards a greener and cleaner future for all.”

Vedanta says it has set itself on a transformational journey to reach its ESG goals, aligned with GoI’s commitment to decarbonise India’s economy. The company aims to achieve net zero carbon by 2050 or sooner and take forward their vision of building a self-reliant India, empowered to lead a greener future.

Volvo CE stated that sustainability is at the heart of everything the company thinks and works on. As one of the leading manufacturers of construction equipment across the globe, the company says it believes it has a responsibility to accelerate solutions that will help usher in a world we want to live in.

The partners believe that this MoU agreement between Vedanta IOK and Volvo CE India marks a new beginning of transforming India into a sustainable nation, making it a first of its kind agreement with Volvo CE in the Indian iron ore mining fraternity.

“It’s great to partner with someone on something we are equally passionate about – promoting sustainable development across the country,” said Dimitrov Krishnan, Head – Volvo CE India. “This is just the beginning. With our highly advanced zero-emission site-level solutions, the blue sky is really the limit to how we can create a greener future.”

Vedanta IOK and Volvo CE India will use the pilot project as a case study. They have begun collaborating and assessing various parameters for sustainable operations, starting from site surveys to operational requirement mapping, to charging infrastructure deployment. Based on the learnings and outcomes from the pilot project, the companies will further look into feasible options to collaborate for achieving their ESG goals through deployment of zero-emission machinery at their operations.

The Sesa Goa Iron Ore Business of Vedanta Ltd is engaged in exploration, mining, and processing of iron ore. The company was founded in 1954 as Scambi Economici SA Goa and acquired by Vedanta. Since then, it has grown to be one among the top low-cost producers of iron ore in the country. During 1991-1995, it diversified into the manufacture of pig iron and metallurgical coke. It has also developed indigenous and environment-friendly technology for producing high quality metallurgical coke. Sesa Goa Iron Ore also has two waste heat recovery power plants of total capacity 60 MW that produces clean power by using the waste heat recovery from its coke ovens and blast furnace gas. Sesa Goa Iron Ore operations in India are in Goa & Karnataka.

AMSA holds launch ceremony for electric fleet at Centinela’s Esperanza Sur

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining

In the presence of prominent authorities from the Antofagasta region, Minera Centinela, from the Antofagasta Minerals (AMSA) group, has held a launch ceremony for a new 100% electric fleet made up of 50 pickup trucks, plus eight units of mining equipment for the Esperanza Sur open pit copper mine, which together will contribute a reduction of more than 5,500 t of greenhouse gases per year.

With this, the company says it has concluded a project that began implementation a year ago and that places it as the mining company with the largest fleet of electric trucks in Chile.

Centinela’s new fleet of electric pick-up trucks are the Voltera brand, model R6, which have a range of 403 km and are capable of carrying up to 900 kg. It is a model that was specially developed for the mining sector, under real working conditions and at altitude with excellent results, presenting a series of benefits in environmental and other areas. As for the mining equipment, they are all BEVs from China’s XCMG and some of the units were previously displayed at the Expomin show in April, attended by IM. They consist of one HANWO-XG90 electric truck with a 20 m3 load capacity, capable of seven effective hours of work for one hour of charging. Added to this are two XC968-EV wheel loaders with a 3.2 m3 bucket capacity, again capable of seven effective hours of work for one hour of charging, and five XE270E battery excavators with a capacity of 1.4 m3, with four effective hours of charging for three hours of charging.

Electric XCMG equipment at Expomin in Santiago before shipping to Minera Centinela

As explained during the event by the General Manager of Minera Centinela, Carlos Espinoza, this initiative is part of the climate change strategy of Antofagasta Minerals, which seeks to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, an objective that is fully in line with the goals that The State of Chile which have been established in accordance with its international commitments, and towards which AMSA has developed an electromobility roadmap.

“As an Antofagasta Minerals company, we assume the challenge of climate change not only with the conviction that we are contributing with the necessary copper to promote low-carbon technologies, which are necessary to advance in the energy transition. We also do it with the conviction that we cannot produce this mineral in any way. We have to do it in a way that is responsible with our current and future development, ensuring the sustainability of the environment and that allows us to continue contributing to the well-being of the country, while ensuring our competitiveness,” Espinoza said.

In this regard, the presidential delegate of Antofagasta, Karen Behrens, highlighted the innovative path that the company leads in environmental initiatives and technological and sustainable impact. “Initiatives like this are an important advance towards a new horizon for the mining industry, around clean energy, a reduction in the use of continental water and, above all, great milestones like this one, which ensure a path towards electromobility, as a way of face climate change.”

For her part, Ruth Rodríguez, Head of the Regional Government’s Development and Industry Division, highlighted the importance of this national milestone. “We want to congratulate Minera Centinela for this tremendous achievement, which we believe fits with the work we are doing as a Regional Government regarding the construction of the Regional Mining Strategy, both with Antofagasta Minerals and with other important companies in the area.”

The statement said that it should be noted that this initiative is just one more example in a long list that Minera Centinela has in terms of innovation and sustainability, which place it as an operation at the forefront of best practices in these areas, not only nationally, but also  internationally. Since the beginning of 2022, Minera Centinela has been supplied with 100% renewable electricity sources, and since the beginning of 2023 it has been operating 100% with seawater.

It was also a pioneer in the world in the use of thickened tailings technology on a large scale. In addition, it has a solar thermal plant inside its facilities that allow it to heat part of the solutions used in its production process, this to mention some of its sustainable innovations.

 

Wabtec acquires mining radiator major L&M including MESABI® range

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

Wabtec Corporation has acquired L&M Radiator, Inc, the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty equipment radiators and heat exchangers. L&M Radiator will join Wabtec as a part of its Components Group.

“We are excited to welcome L&M Radiator to Wabtec,” said Mike Fetsko, President of Wabtec’s Freight & Industrial Components business. “This transaction will further Wabtec’s presence in premium heat transfer solutions and will extend and complement Wabtec’s mining products portfolio. In addition, L&M’s technology further enhances Wabtec’s mission to develop clean energy solutions for operations in mining.”

Through this acquisition, Wabtec will expand its installed base and recurring revenue in mining, engine cooling, and heat transfer solutions. It also will accelerate long-term profitable growth across L&M’s innovative products both domestically and internationally, while driving value creation for customers and shareholders. L&M MESABI® heavy-duty equipment radiators and heat exchangers will create a comprehensive thermal management portfolio that extends and augments Wabtec’s capabilities. The range of solutions offered by L&M products will allow customers to realise efficiencies in maintenance costs, safety, and fleet availability.

“This deal is a recognition of L&M’s industry success for more than 65 years and positions our worldwide operations to continue to thrive,” said Dan Chisholm, President of L&M Radiator, Inc. “By joining Wabtec, we can build upon the strengths of our two companies to develop new cooling products for our customers while supporting consistent growth as an industry leader.”

Wabtec is acquiring L&M for $230 million in cash, financed through cash on hand and a revolving credit facility. Wabtec expects L&M to be immediately accretive to EPS excluding transaction costs, further enhanced with strong synergies to be realised over the next three years.

As well as being a market leader in radiator supply to diesel and diesel-electric mining trucks and other mining equipment, the Hibbing, Minnesota-based heat exchanger manufacturer has also proven itself instrumental to the implementation of new, green technology for the mining industry with its recent projects developing coolers for fuel cell-powered mining equipment.

L&M Radiator was called upon by Anglo American, to develop a first-of-its-kind radiator solution for the nuGen™ zero-emission haul truck, a Komatsu 930E which was converted from diesel to run entirely on hydrogen fuel cells and battery power by First Mode for testing at the Mogalakewna platinum mine in South Africa.

Tim Cass, L&M Radiator Applications Engineer for Truck and Underground: “For this initial 930E conversion, it was necessary to take the whole engine module out and replace it with fuel cells and batteries. Space constraints were definitely a challenge for our engineers. Designing the fans and motor mounts and getting the air flow to work in that limited space took some engineering ingenuity.”

“Another challenge was the very strict set of guidelines for limiting contamination, including materials that fuel cell manufacturers have in place,” added Josh Mitchell, an Applications Engineer with L&M Radiator. “That’s where the Mesabi All-Aluminum M-Tube came in.” L&M Radiator engineered an All-Aluminum M-tube cooler for fuel cell cooling compatibility with the existing coolant on the 930E as brass and copper were not viable options.

According to Chris Domogalla, an L&M Design and Applications Engineer, hydrogen fuel cells operate at a lower maximum temperature than diesel engines, and they have a narrower coolant operating range. When outside of that operating range, the output of the fuel cell stack decreases. In addition, approximately 40% of the energy produced by hydrogen fuel cells is heat, which must be removed. This posed a unique challenge for engineers at L&M Radiator. “The Research and Development department at L&M Radiator has developed a cooling management system to keep the power source – whether it’s a battery or a hydrogen fuel cell – operating at its most ideal temperature.”

Anglo American and Jiangxi Copper collaborate on responsible copper

Automation, Base metals, Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining techniques, Sustainable mining

Anglo American and Jiangxi Copper Company, one of China’s largest copper producers, have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to provide greater assurance on the way copper is mined, processed, and brought to market.

The agreement was signed during a visit to Jiangxi Copper’s headquarters in Nanchang, China, and is part of Anglo American’s work with customers to create sustainable value chains beyond its own mining operations, recognising consumers’ increasing expectations for sustainably sourced and supplied raw materials.

Peter Whitcutt, CEO of Anglo American’s Marketing business, said: “We are developing a series of partnerships to shape a more sustainable and customer-centric value chain – one that meets consumer-driven demand for copper with demonstrably strong provenance credentials. That value chain begins with our portfolio of high-quality and long-life assets, now also including our world-class Quellaveco mine in Peru which began production in 2022.”

He adds: “In line with our Sustainable Mining Plan goal to establish ethical value chains for our products, this collaboration aims to support Jiangxi Copper’s efforts to contribute to the Chinese industry’s long-term decarbonisation goals and transition to a greener economy, as we work to provide materials solutions that are responsibly produced, sourced and delivered.”

China is the world’s largest copper consuming nation, representing more than half of global demand for refined copper, fuelled by traditional applications in construction, appliances and machinery as well as the fast-growing renewable energy and electric vehicle sectors, with copper expected to play a pivotal role in enabling the country’s own decarbonisation progress.

“As one of the world’s largest copper producers, Jiangxi Copper is committed to green, sustainable and high-quality development. Through this cooperation with Anglo American, we will focus on advanced technologies and innovative applications of mining, processing and smelting, and promote the development of a sustainable and responsible copper supply chain with a focus on renewable energy utilisation, energy conservation and emission reduction,” said Chen Yunian, Deputy General Manager of Jiangxi Copper.

Anglo American’s managed copper operations in Chile – the Los Bronces and El Soldado mining operations and the Chagres smelter – were awarded the Copper Mark, the assurance standard for responsible production practices, in 2022.

Jiangxi Copper, whose operations include the huge Dexing mine, is no stranger to innovation – as an example in 2020 it began using China’s first larger tonnage unmanned hydraulic excavator for mining applications – XCMG’s 93 t class Intelligent Hydraulic Excavator XE950DA. It utilises a 5G+MEC commercial networking solution & remote online construction operations technology to achieve remote operation in a 4G/5G environment. Dexing has also deployed autonomous trucks using TAGE Idriver technology across both Komatsu and Chinese branded trucks.

Anglo American brings massive experience in decarbonisation in mining – from FCEV trucks via the First Mode nuGenTM Zero Emission Haulage Solution; to bulk ore sorting to help minimise comminution energy consumption; to the use of renewable power including solar and wind; to state of the art coarse particle flotation, again reducing the energy required in grinding.

 

FLSmidth sells non-core continuous mining & material handling assets to KOCH Solutions

Bulk handling, Coal technology, Mineral commodities, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services

On 14 June 2023 FLSmidth and KOCH Solutions have signed an Asset Purchase & Transfer Agreement involving material handling technology that is part of the Non-Core Activities segment.

As part of FLSmidth’s pure play Mining strategy focusing on core technologies and services, the Non-Core Activities segment was established in October 2022 with its activities and products to be fully exited either by way of divestment or wind-down of the order backlog.

Since the establishment of the Non-Core Activities segment, FLSmidth has through execution, re-scoping and contract terminations decreased the order backlog from around DKK 3.6 billion at end Q3 2022 to around DKK 2.1 billion at end Q1 2023. At the same time FLSmidth has been exploring potential divestment opportunities to accelerate the exit of the Non-Core Activities segment.

The transaction is expected to be completed in Q3 2023, subject to customary regulatory approvals from relevant authorities. Assuming completion of the transaction, it is now expected that the total loss for the Non-Core Activities segment over the exit period will be around DKK 1.0 billion (previously DKK 1.2 billion). Further, it is expected that the Non-Core Activities segment now will be exited around end of 2024 (previously towards end of 2025).

With the announcement, KOCH Solutions will acquire a mix of intellectual property, order backlog, employees and facilities from FLSmidth’s Non-Core Activities segment.

This includes:

  • Intellectual property: port/terminal equipment, stockyard systems, pipe conveyors and various continuous surface mining equipment from both legacy FLSmidth and Mining Technologies (ex-TK) portfolios
  • Order backlog: products and service orders totalling around DKK 400 million
  • Project execution service: KOCH Solutions will assist with continued execution of select order backlog retained by FLSmidth
  • Facilities: Purchase and lease of certain facilities in Germany and Australia

As part of the transaction, a number of FLSmidth employees will transfer to KOCH Solutions. The exact number will not be known until completion of the transaction.

“During 2022 we kickstarted our transformation journey towards becoming a pure play company rooted on a core focus on technologies and services. A key element in this journey is to exit mining activities that are not deemed to be of core strategic importance to FLSmidth. With today’s announcement we are accelerating the pace of this exit, while securing customers an option for continued supply of these products and services,” comments Mikko Keto, CEO at FLSmidth.

The parties have agreed on a positive enterprise value, however the purchase price has not been disclosed.

Mining contractor QME successfully concludes due diligence for Galantas’ underground project

Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals

Galantas Gold Corporation says mining contractor QME Mining Services (NI) Ltd has successfully concluded its due diligence process at the company’s Omagh Gold Project in Northern Ireland, as part of its work on a sustainable mine plan.

It is envisioned that the mine plan, targeted for completion in July 2023, will allow the company to further develop and mine the ore zones down to the existing lower levels of the Omagh mine. The mine plan is aimed to optimise production from the dilation zones, which have potential for higher grades and thicker widths of mineralisation. The mine plan will outline a staged production plan, estimating the initial production levels, followed by staged expansions of production.

The company believes this will be a lower capital cost pathway of de-risking the growth in production, while it continues its focus on exploration and expanding its mineral resources at Omagh. The forthcoming mine plan will involve mining both the Joshua and Kearney veins, leveraging QME’s highly skilled workforce and state-of-the-art OEM mining equipment.

Mario Stifano, CEO of Galantas, commented: “We are thrilled that QME is progressing our mine plan. QME’s extensive mining experience across Europe, including its notable involvement in the development and bulk sampling of Dalradian’s nearby gold project located just 20 km away from Omagh, positions them as an ideal partner for this endeavour. Furthermore, QME’s commitment to the success of the Omagh Project is exemplified by its significant shareholding (3,194,444 shares) in Galantas. We look forward to providing further information on our mine strategy next month.”

QME was founded in 1985 and is an experienced mining services provider engaged in mine development and the supply of new and re-manufactured equipment for underground and open pit use. QME is currently engaged in mining contracts in Ireland and Portugal and has prior experience in mining projects in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Current and past clients include Tara Mines, Dalradian Gold, Lundin Mining and Barrick Gold.

Komatsu starts commercial teleop of large ICT mining dozers at Anglo’s Minas-Rio

Automation, Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Steel and iron ore

Komatsu Ltd has started commercial operation of large-scale ICT dozers for mining, the D375Ai-8 teleoperation model, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Komatsu Brazil International Ltd, in partnership with Anglo American, as of May 2023.

Komatsu and Anglo American have been working together since June 2020 to establish new solutions that help create a safer operating environment while maintaining productivity at the Anglo American-owned Minas-Rio iron ore mine in southeastern Brazil. The companies have been promoting the introduction of remote-controlled dozers for mining operations. Through their collaboration, a remote operation demonstration trial was conducted at the production site starting in October 2022, and commercial operation has now been achieved.

The dozers are equipped with Komatsu’s proprietary automatic blade control technology that works in conjunction with Modular Mining’s ProVision machine guidance system. During the demonstration trial, it was confirmed that the dozer driving and blade operation can be easily controlled remotely from a remote location, even by less experienced operators. In addition, driving comfort has been significantly improved because teleoperation can free the dozer operator from working in an environment with significant vibrations.

Based on the success of this demonstration trial, Anglo American has decided to introduce six D475A-8R machines that are ready to be equipped with teleoperation retrofit kits by the end of 2023 and plans to gradually proceed with teleoperation in the future. Komatsu continues to collaborate with Anglo American in the field of mining solution technologies.

“We take immense pride in the successful implementation of this technology, as it has led to a substantial enhancement in the safety standards of dozer operations at Minas-Rio’s stockpile. Furthermore, we are delighted to provide our operators with a heightened level of comfort and improved quality of life. Komatsu’s dozer teleoperation system has proven to be highly effective in overcoming the challenges faced by Anglo American, and due to the exceptional results achieved, Anglo American plans to install the teleoperations kit to all six D475A-8R Dozers that will be deployed at Minas-Rio this year,” said Evilmar Fonseca, Iron Ore Operation Director, Minas-Rio mine, Anglo American.

“We express our profound gratitude to Anglo American Iron Ore Brazil for their invaluable partnership, which contributed significantly to the outstanding outcome attained during the dozer teleoperation system trial. We firmly believe that this cutting-edge technology will not only contribute positively to the achievement of excellent results in Minas-Rio but also enhance the safety standards in dozer operations,” said Masayuki Moriyama, Representative Director, Senior Executive Officer, Komatsu Ltd.

As part of its growth strategy for the mid-term management plan “DANTOTSU Value – Together, to ‘The Next’ for sustainable growth,” Komatsu is working to achieve safe, highly productive, smart, and clean workplaces of the future together with its customers by advancing products (automation and autonomy of machines) and processes (optimisation of construction operations). DANTOTSU Value is defined as customer value creation that generates a positive cycle of improvement of earnings and ESG resolutions. Through this DANTOTSU Value, Komatsu says it will strive to create new values in order to take steady steps forward to the next stage for the workplace of the future and pass on a sustainable future to the next generation.

Sandvik AutoMine Autoload 2.0 eliminates operator intervention in LHD drawpoint loading

Automation, Bulk handling, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is introducing AutoMine® AutoLoad 2.0, a new AutoMine feature that enables fully automated production cycles for loaders operating in fixed drawpoint and dump point mining applications. This autonomous loading technology aims to increase loading cycle consistency while reducing equipment idle time and operating costs.

Building on its predecessor AutoLoad Assist, AutoMine® AutoLoad 2.0 features several design updates and significant improvements to enable operators to control multiple loaders with less intervention. The new feature allows operators to teach loaders different loading profiles for each drawpoint, eliminating the need for an operator to assist in the bucket loading procedure when mucking from drawpoints. These profiles may be saved for future use and default profiles are made available for several loader types. 

“We have developed AutoMine® AutoLoad 2.0 to automate part of the production process that has been challenging for our customers,” said Jouni Koppanen, Product Line Manager Automation, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions. “AutoMine® AutoLoad 2.0 will allow customers to operate 24/7 without worrying about operator intervention during mucking once the profiles have been created. This new feature will help our customers see a direct improvement in their production and cycle time reliability.” 

Extensive field tests with customers in Europe and North America have demonstrated that the new technology results in faster loading cycle times and consistent bucket fill factors, with an 8% increase in tons loaded per hour and 19% cycle time improvement. 

“We are introducing new technologies and features to our existing platform to support our customers as they advance their AutoMine® operations,” said Ty Osborne, Acting Director Global Automation Product Line and Projects, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions. “We are confident that this development will enhance customer productivity by enabling fully autonomous production loader cycles while maintaining our industry-leading safety standards.”