Archives: Automation

Hexagon has announced the acquisition of indurad, a global leader in radar and Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) technologies, along with its autonomous haulage subsidiary, xtonomy. It said: “This strategic move underscores Hexagon’s commitment to advancing mine productivity, safety, and autonomy through cutting-edge technology.” Key cited benefits of the acquisition are enhanced mine safety using indurad’s advanced[…]

In a wide ranging presentation forming part of its just completed 2024 Chilean copper site tour, BHP provided a comprehensive insight into how it intends to continue delivering copper growth at its operations, including its flagship Escondida operation, via a series of pathways. Escondida like a number of other long life copper mines is facing[…]

Epiroc has inaugurated a new Surface Mining Automation Center (SMAC) in Garland, Texas, dedicated to advancing automation and electrification. The opening marks a significant milestone in Epiroc’s commitment to driving technological innovations that transform the mining industry, it says. The event coincided with a visit from Epiroc’s board of directors, highlighting the strategic importance of[…]

RUSSELL MINERAL EQUIPMENT (RME) has entered into a transitional sale agreement with Resource Capital Funds (RCF) and the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC). The agreement RME says will strengthen its future, honour the growth and potential of the company, while ensuring it remains an Australian-owned and operated company based in Queensland. The NRFC is[…]

Underground mining, essential for global raw material supply, and here especially for the majority of critical raw materials, faces significant challenges, including worker safety, operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, Christel Füllenbach and Professor Helmut Mischo*, write. Traditionally, maintenance strategies in this sector relied heavily on manual inspections and time-based preventive maintenance schedules. However, these conventional[…]

While the majority of global attention today is on progress with diesel-battery hybrid and all battery mining trucks, work on hydrogen-powered mining trucks continues – which are still a form of hybrid using a hydrogen fuel cell-lithium battery energy system often referred to as FCEV or Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle. The general feeling is that hydrogen[…]

EACON Mining has recently secured a commercial order from the Zijinshan copper-gold mine and will deliver the autonomous system on the battery-powered XCMG EX80 base truck – further demonstrating its OEM-agnostic flexibility. Zijinshan copper-gold mine, the birthplace and core operation of Zijin Mining, began operations in 1993 and has a remaining lifespan of 20 years.[…]

Palantir Technologies Inc has renewed its multi-year enterprise agreement with Rio Tinto, extending the pair’s pact for an additional four years and securing Rio Tinto’s ongoing access to the Palantir Artificial intelligence Platform (AIP). As an early adopter of Palantir Foundry (Foundry), Rio Tinto has already primed its operational landscape for the deployment of AI[…]

ABB is launching the latest technology development in its portfolio of mine hoist safety products by introducing the fully SIL 3 certified ABB Ability™ Safety Plus Hoist Protector Version 3.0. This solution is part of the ABB Ability™ Safety Plus for hoists suite, the first fully SIL 3 certified mine hoist solutions with highest level of[…]

On the back of successful demonstrations at MINExpo International in Las Vegas in September, Maptek has announced that its Maptek Vestrex ecosystem for automation and orchestration is open for early access customers. Vestrex creates extraordinary value by making connections between diverse data sources without constraints of product, application, process or format, Maptek says. Data in[…]