Tag Archives: Barry Fitzgerald

Epiroc and ASI Mining to automate Roy Hill haul truck fleet

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Epiroc has signed a contract with Roy Hill to deliver a fully automated haul truck solution for the iron ore mining operation in Western Australia.

In partnership with automation specialist ASI Mining – which Epiroc owns 34% of – Epiroc is to convert Roy Hill’s haul trucks from manned to autonomous use. The two will deliver a safe and interoperable solution for Roy Hill’s mixed truck fleet, with an ability to expand to other mining vehicle types and manufacturers, and capability to integrate with existing Roy Hill systems, Epiroc said.

Epiroc and ASI Mining will also be working closely with Roy Hill and its partners Hitachi and Wenco on truck conversion and integration of the Wenco fleet management system.

The project will see a phased implementation, with testing and production verification of up to eight trucks undertaken in the initial phase prior to the second phase of full fleet expansion from mid-2021.

Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s Senior Executive Vice President Mining and Infrastructure, said: “Epiroc is proud to collaborate with Roy Hill, ASI Mining and other partners to automate Roy Hill’s haul truck fleet, boosting safety and productivity for a crucial aspect of its mining operation. This is a very strong example of how automation will take a mining company’s operation to the next level.”

Roy Hill CEO, Barry Fitzgerald, said the mining company was well positioned to transition to automation. “Our teams on site and in our Remote Operations Centre (ROC) in Perth have demonstrated a clear capacity to deliver complex projects, sustainable change and operational excellence with the recent success of our autonomous drill program and fleet optimisation initiatives. Now is the right time to bring the combined expertise of Roy Hill, Epiroc, ASI Mining and Wenco together to convert our haul truck fleet.”

Fitzgerald added: “Care is one of our core values, with safety at the heart of everything we do. Roy Hill’s Smart Mine program is driving innovation across our business, and the automation of our haulage fleet is central to delivering safety and production improvements.”

Roy Hill is an iron ore mining project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Located 340 km southeast of Port Hedland, it has an integrated mine, rail and port facilities and produces 55 Mt/y of iron ore, with approval to increase to 60 Mt/y. Its ROC in Perth provides end-to-end integration of operations, according to Epiroc.

Roy Hill receives training plaudits at Western Australia awards ceremony

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Roy Hill Holdings has been named the Western Australia Employer of the Year at a gala ceremony for the WA Training Awards.

The awards are presented by the Department for Training and Workforce Development, to recognise the outstanding achievement of apprentices, trainees, vocational students and the contribution to training made by trainers, training organisations and employers.

Roy Hill’s acknowledgement as WA Employer of the Year 2018 is in recognition of achieving excellence providing nationally recognised training to its employees, the company said. In addition, this year Tarra Ninyette was also named a finalist in the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year.

Roy Hill CEO Barry Fitzgerald said the award was especially significant given the company is still young and evolving.

“Since Roy Hill’s inception in 2012, we’ve held a passionate belief that by helping our people to continually learn and develop, they can reach their full potential – and we all succeed. We are absolutely committed to the training and development of our people, aligned with our values of Lead, Care, Think and Perform,” he said.

“This year, we have developed and implemented a large number of training and development initiatives for our employees. As Roy Hill accepts this award, we have more than 800 people actively engaged in training programmes, complementing more than 300 staff who have successfully completed an accredited training course in the last two years.

Fitzgerald said Roy Hill allocates additional training days for its site-based operators and trades personnel for their personal development, enabling the development of additional skills for alternative career paths.

“We are also committed to providing people without mining experience, but the right values, attitudes and behaviours with opportunities in the industry, through a willingness to train and develop these people hands on,” he said.

“Our training and development initiatives also extend into the broader community, with the establishment of a curriculum based, learning experience where Year Eight students participate in a hands-on visit to our Remote Operations Centre. This initiative is focused on highlighting both the educational and diverse career opportunities in the mining industry with a focus on science, technology, engineering and maths courses, and opportunities for girls.

Fitzgerald concluded the win demonstrated the company’s commitment to a career enrichment programme of upskilling, providing development and career progression opportunities is not only working, but achieving award winning standards.

Roy Hill operates a 55 Mt/y iron ore operation in the Pilbara of Western Australia.