Tag Archives: Hexagon

Hexagon MPPE brings about new era in strategic mine scheduling space

IoT, Mining services, Mining software, , , , ,

Hexagon’s Mining division has announced the introduction of HxGN MinePlan Project Evaluator (MPPE), a strategic planning software tool that, the company says, optimises ultimate pits and life-of-mine strategic schedules.

MPPE is part of the Engineering suite of products in the MinePlan portfolio, which built on almost 50 years of development and is proven in mines worldwide, Hexagon said.

“Today’s release provides mine planners with the familiar methodology to generate ultimate pits, plus an abundance of new functionality when it comes to strategic scheduling,” the company added.

Featuring a modern interface, MPPE allows planners to consider multiple potential scenarios both in the pit optimisation and scheduling process using robust case management tools. Reports are integrated into the interface and can be exported to many formats for inclusion in other documents. Pit-by-pit graphs can also be quickly created to identify the ideal ultimate pit.

Dustin Meisburger, Product Manager, said MPPE begins a new era in the strategic scheduling space: “MPPE scheduling uses the same MILP (Mixed Integer Linear Programming) optimisation technology that has made MinePlan Schedule Optimizer the industry standard.”

He added: “Together, these solutions make for a formidable engineering package that enables pit optimisation and strategic scheduling to maximise net present value.

“Planners will be able to quickly generate a large number of mining schedule scenarios, with NPV optimised over the life of the mine using multi-period schedule optimisation. This will help to increase overall project NPV by ensuring the best mining strategy is selected.”

Hexagon to fill the rockfall monitoring void with IDS GeoRadar RockSpot

Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , ,

Hexagon AB has announced the launch of IDS GeoRadar RockSpot, a radar system that fills a gap in the monitoring of natural and engineered slopes.

The system detects, tracks, and analyses the slightest movements from rockfalls, avalanches, and other fast-moving landslide debris flow, according to the company.

“RockSpot creates real-time alerts that can be connected to on-site alarms (eg sirens, automatic road closures or other alert devices). Georeferenced, recorded event data provides advanced statistics and analytics for risk assessment and vulnerability zone mapping, the company said.

Ola Rollén, Hexagon President and CEO, said Hexagon is committed to empowering customers to put data to work and, in the case of RockSpot, “they’re able to leverage data to protect workers and the general public in high-risk areas of potentially catastrophic events”.

He added: “This intelligent safety solution, designed to withstand all weather conditions, continuously monitors day and night.”

RockSpot can identify rockfalls up to 2 km from the slope, as well as avalanches and other fast-moving events, like mudflow and debris flow, up to 4 km from the slope.

With a coverage field of 40° vertical and 80°horizontal, the system can consistently monitor an entire mine wall or natural slope at high resolution with a single radar unit, according to the company.

Hexagon said: “RockSpot’s alerts can be customised sector by sector using advanced algorithms that distinguish rock movements from other moving objects, such as haul trucks, animals and people.”

Hexagon to showcase mine planning software and fleet management solutions at Bauma

Automation, Communications in mining, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software, , , , ,

Hexagon’s Geosystems and Mining divisions will present an extensive portfolio of construction and site management technology at the Bauma trade fair, in Munich, Germany, from April 8-14, 2019, the company said.

The company will be announcing several new products and solutions that will be shown at its booth, it said.

Johan Arnberg, Heavy Construction Portfolio President for Hexagon’s Geosystems division, said: “This year at Bauma we are proud to present solutions that provide easier access to data that improves workflow and safety around machines while moving toward autonomous operation.”

Among several solutions being shown on the company’s booth during the show were, the company said:

  • “How our technology solutions keep you flexible, yet open to constant data change around you — from start to finish of the entire project;
  • “How a unified digital strategy built on the integration of mine planning and fleet and task optimisation can help remove administrative burdens, reduce complexities and improve decision making;
  • “How a web-based reporting and analytics platform can unlock a mine’s numerous data sources to reveal critical insights into safety scenarios and performance trends;
  • “How the mining industry’s growing need to push deeper underground for deposits can be answered with technology that manages fleet and task optimisation below the surface in real time.”

Rob Daw, Chief Technology Officer for Hexagon’s Mining division, said: “We’ll be highlighting the digital realities capabilities of our mine planning software and our task and fleet management optimisation solutions at Bauma.

“The integration at the heart of our portfolio is helping mines to remove administrative burdens and reduce complexities. We’re looking forward to connecting with customers and anyone else interested in pursuing the benefits of a digital strategy.”

Hexagon’s CAS to protect workers and equipment at Conuma Coal Resources ops

Coal technology, Communications in mining, Equipment maintenance, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hexagon’s Mining division has signed a safety solution deal with Conuma Coal Resources Ltd that will see its HxGN MineProtect collision avoidance system employed at the miner’s metallurgical coal operations in British Columbia, Canada.

The three-year subscription package will cover Conuma’s Brule (pictured), Willow Creek and Wolverine mines, near Tumbler Ridge, in north-eastern BC. These operations employ about 800 staff and have a fleet of exceeding 180 pieces of equipment.

Hexagon said: “Used in more than 30,000 vehicles and in over 60 mines worldwide, HxGN MineProtect CAS will give Conuma vehicle operators 360o proximity detection at any speed and in all conditions via unobtrusive cabin display units.”

The system is fully integrated with HxGN MineProtect Fatigue Pro, which uses computer vision technology to monitor operators unobtrusively while driving, according to Hexagon.

“Further integration with HxGN MineProtect Tracking Radar will help characterise a potential threat’s position and motion, providing drivers and operators the information they need to prevent incidents,” Hexagon said.

Conuma will also use HxGN MineEnterprise Platform, a web-based reporting and analytics solution, to monitor and control critical risk events by connecting a multitude of data sources via live dashboards. This will help visualise all aspects of CAS, according to Hexagon.

Hexagon Mining President, Josh Weiss, said: “We’re hugely impressed by Conuma’s commitment to safety. This is a great example of how subscription licensing and an integrated portfolio package adds flexibility while allowing mines to maximise safety. We share Conuma’s core belief that protecting people and equipment is the smartest investment a mine can make.”

Conuma President, Mark Bartkoski, said: “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Hexagon to implement an integrated safety solution that provides protection for our employees. We are truly dedicated to providing our people with the tools to run a safe, productive and efficient operation that provides security for all of our partners.”

Hexagon launches industrial computers for ‘toughest’ mine sites

Communications in mining, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, , ,

Hexagon‘s Mining division has released new rugged industrial computers designed for the toughest mining environments with the launch of the HxGN MineDiscover Core LP and Core HP products.

The new computers, which come in low-precision and high-precision options, feature an extremely robust design tailor-made for the most challenging conditions, it says. “They deliver exceptional performance, flawlessly capturing telemetry and production data and boosting site efficiency and productivity,” the company adds.

Both modules feature a powerful Intel-based computing platform that improves performance and enables better machine application integration, according to Hexagon. “The units deliver unsurpassed flexibility and scalabilty, future-proofing mining customers’ investment in the machine platform.”

The MineDiscover Core units come with a variety of integrated connectivity options. These include dual Wi-Fi modules, cell modem and UHF radio. Additionally, Core HP integrates a high-performance chassis sensor to improve machine tool accuracy.

Hexagon Mining Principal Product Manager, Joe Arico, said: “We are very proud to introduce the new Core LP and Core HP products to our MineDiscover portfolio. We have worked tirelessly to ensure this is the best mining machine computing platform in the market.”

The mining division has accumulated tens of thousands of field test hours with its MineDiscover hardware (Core and Display 9) and the results have been “outstanding”, Arico said, adding reliability and performance were “exceptional”.

Core LP and HP will become the standard offering for all machine applications, consolidating and simplifying all machine solutions offered by Hexagon‘s Mining division, the company said.

Metso’s valves business looks for Smart solutions with Hexagon PPM partnership

Bulk handling, Energy minerals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

Metso’s valves business area has joined forces with Hexagon PPM as the Finland-based company looks to ramp up its quotation efficiency for engineering firms.

The agreement complements Metso’s digital quotation tools and will enhance the “efficient exchange of enquiry, quotation and project execution data between Metso and its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) customers who use Hexagon PPM’s SmartPlant and Smart software suites”, according to Metso.

Oscar Bronsveld, responsible for Global Project Sales at Metso’s Valves business area, said the majority of the company’s EPC customers in the oil and gas, and petrochemical industries use the Smart Instrumentation software suite.

“Our target is to improve our responsiveness and bring value to them by saving them precious engineering hours in data processing,” he said.

Hexagon’s PPM division is a leading provider of asset life cycle solutions for design, construction, and operation of industrial facilities. It transforms unstructured information into a smart digital asset, allowing clients to visualise, build, and manage structures and facilities of all complexities, ensuring safe and efficient operation throughout the entire life cycle, according to Metso.

Back in July, Ausenco, a global consulting, engineering, project delivery, operations and asset management company, selected the suite of engineering design tools, information management solutions and cloud services from Hexagon’s PPM division to execute global projects,  including in the mining and oil and gas sectors.

Metso’s existing digital valve project quotation tool will be integrated with Hexagon’s Smart Instrumentation tool, which offers a “single engineering environment to create and manage instrumentation data, as well as create and manage change consistently across required deliverables”, according to Hexagon.

Metso said: “This integration will provide a bi-directional data exchange capability with the EPCs, allowing a reduction in the quotation processing time and an increase in accuracy when configuring and documenting projects in the quotation phases.”

Rashmi Kasat, VP, Head of Digital Business Development at Metso, said: “Our vision is to provide our clients with a seamless customer experience by combining the power of Metso’s digital tools, knowledge of the end customers’ technical needs and process requirements together with Hexagon’s solid experience in engineering and information software development.”