Tag Archives: Glenn Heard

Sandvik and Barrick strengthen ties with extended global framework agreement

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , ,

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and Barrick Gold Corporation have extended a global framework agreement, enhancing the long-term partnership between the OEM and mining major.

Sandvik and Barrick will aim to improve safety, productivity and sustainability through implementing the latest technology advancements. The agreement will be guided by operational and relationship key performance indicators, the OEM says.

Glenn Heard, Mining Executive at Barrick, said: “Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions supplies value-adding technologies for our global mining operations. This mutually beneficial cooperation will help ensure we continue our growth journeys in the areas of automation, digitalisation and electrification in order to drive improvements across our sites.”

The extended framework agreement includes Barrick’s rollout of Sandvik’s Remote Monitoring Service (RMS) to its entire global underground fleet of more than 200 connected Sandvik trucks, loaders and drills. RMS has already reduced maintenance costs while increasing uptime across Barrick’s Sandvik fleet, according to Sandvik.

Under the framework agreement, Sandvik and Barrick will also develop a long-term battery-electric vehicle (BEV) strategy and define BEV transition plans in line with Barrick’s objective to be carbon neutral by 2050.

“This extension of our agreement will strengthen Sandvik’s partnership with Barrick,” Hugo Hammar, Global Account Manager at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said. “We look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand to add value to Barrick’s business.”

Barrick working with Sandvik on autonomous and manned equipment interaction

Automation, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, , , , , , ,

Barrick Gold says it is advancing autonomous production systems and projects as it looks to become the global leader in mining efficiency.

President and CEO Mark Bristow said in the company’s 2018 financial results that to achieve its goal of being the world’s most valued gold company, in a rapidly evolving environment where the industry’s shift to developing countries will continue, Barrick will have to be at the leading edge of automation.

“Kibali, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently at the forefront, with its mission control system which manages the underground ore handling logistics without human intervention from the surface, but across Barrick there are many automated operations and developments which are now being unified in a group strategy,” he said.

These include, Barrick said, underground drills that can be run from surface during shift changes; automated underground and open-pit haulage trucks; fully-autonomous backfill systems; remote-controlled open-pit drills; and autonomous drilling of development and production blastholes by multiple units controlled by a single remote operator.

Glenn Heard, Senior Vice President Mining, said ongoing projects currently cover five main areas: underground development and production drilling, production and haulage, and open-pit haulage and production.

“At present, all our systems have barriers which prevent human access to the autonomous operating zones. Our next big step will be to create a situation where autonomous and manned units can work together seamlessly within the same active areas, and we’re working with Sandvik and other providers to achieve this,” he said.