Tag Archives: Jody Scott

WesTrac Training Centre

WesTrac launches new tech experience centre as part of training, education plans

Automation, Careers in mining, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

Caterpillar® dealer WesTrac has today launched a new Technology Experience Centre in Tomago, New South Wales, built to showcase the latest in equipment, technology and innovation.

The new state-of-the-art centre provides customers with a hands-on experience to demonstrate the advantages of using the latest Cat products and technology in mining and construction, the company says.

The education and training facility features a dedicated Remote Operator Station, where visitors can remotely operate a Cat 320 next generation hydraulic excavator, located in the on-site WesTrac dig pit. The operator station can also be configured for the remote operation of multiple other Cat machines from mini excavators and skid steer loaders to large mining equipment such as dozers and drills.

The Technology Experience Centre also includes the latest in 3D printing solutions as well as live demonstrations of cutting-edge technology including Cat MineStar technology. The Cat MineStar technology suite includes solutions for precision machine control and guidance, automation, remote operation, fleet health optimisation and fatigue monitoring.

Cat MineStar Command enables remote-control operations right through to full automation of machines, providing customers with a number of operational benefits. WesTrac and Caterpillar successfully deployed Command for drilling in partnership with Thiess, which saw a world first for Caterpillar with the successful remote operation of three drill rigs by a single operator. The team have also deployed Command line of sight and non-line of sight dozer solutions across multiple mine sites in New South Wales.

The centre demonstrates how WesTrac and Caterpillar’s technology can be incorporated into a variety of operations, increasing site safety, productivity, efficiency and sustainability, it says. it also adds a new element to the suite of information already available on owning and operating Cat equipment.

The new facility is supported by the WesTrac Training Institute that offers accredited and post trade training to both customers and team members, including operator training for the effective operation of Cat equipment using the latest technology systems.

WesTrac Chief Executive NSW/ACT, Adrian Howard, says the Technology Experience Centre reinforces WesTrac’s commitment to helping mining and heavy construction customers implement better technology into their fleets.

“The centre will greatly benefit our customers by delivering a practical and educational experience with the cutting-edge technology used by WesTrac and our Cat products,” he says. “We want our customers to walk away from the Technology Experience Centre feeling confident about using technology to deliver improved safety and productivity outcomes to their operations.

“Importantly, we want them to understand that these technologies are readily available, they can realise the benefits of them immediately and we’re there to assist them with deployment and continued support. The opening of the Technology Experience Centre in Tomago is an important occasion for the future of technology at WesTrac and I want to congratulate the WesTrac team for turning this vision into a reality.”

General Manager Resource Industries NSW/ACT, Jody Scott, says the Technology Experience Centre was designed to provide a facility for both new buyers and existing customers at WesTrac.

“We wanted a space where we could provide our customers with greater insight into both the competitive advantage of Cat products and the ongoing development of future technology at WesTrac,” he says. “When designing the centre, it was vital for customer experience to remain at the forefront, which is why it can accommodate meeting spaces and events as well as training with the Cat products our customers have invested in.

“We have a skilled and experienced team based at the Technology Experience Centre, ready to deliver comprehensive and tailored technology training experiences that are unrivalled in thhee industry.”

PYBAR takes Command of Dargues automation with new Cat R1700 LHDs

Automation, IoT, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PYBAR has taken a step closer to advanced underground automation at the Dargues gold mine in New South Wales, Australia, with the arrival of a second new Cat® R1700 underground LHD at the Diversified Minerals-owned site.

The new loader visited the PYBAR head office in Orange, en-route to the mine site, where it was met by executives and senior management from PYBAR and WesTrac.

The first of two new R1700s purchased for Dargues from WesTrac was commissioned at the mine during August and the company, in November, announced that the underground loaders were undergoing staged testing that will see them move towards improved automation in early 2020.

Dargues is owned by Diversified Minerals, an associated company of PYBAR Mining Services. The mine is expected to have a 355,000 t/y capacity gold processing facility comprising crushing, milling, flotation and filtration circuits and produce a sulphide concentrate for export. This could see Dargues produce an average of 50,000 oz/y of gold in the first six years of production.

The new machines are equipped with Caterpillar’s next generation Command for underground technology, giving them automation capabilities that will allow them to be driven via tele-remote from the surface from early-2020. This will realise significant productivity, efficiency and safety gains, according to PYBAR.

Command is part of the Cat Minestar™ integrated suite of offerings designed specifically for mining, PYBAR said.

PYBAR Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Rouse, said: “With the second loader now on site we will complete the tele-remoting set up in time for stoping early next year.

“Our intention is to be able to tele-remote from the surface from the outset when both loaders go into full operation. It’s a milestone all three teams (Caterpillar, PYBAR and WesTrac) have been working towards and will deliver.”

The new loaders were purchased after trials at the Vivien gold mine in Western Australia during 2017, PYBAR said. These trials delivered impressive results, including quicker bucket loading, faster cycle times, greater payloads and less fuel burn, according to PYBAR.

PYBAR said: “These benefits were further highlighted when the Cat R1700 was tested against the R1700G at Vivien (owned by Ramelius Resources) in June 2018, prompting PYBAR to place the order for the new loaders.”

Rouse added: “We were extremely impressed with performance of the new loader during testing. With the knowledge gained from the activity at Vivien, we were able to carry out a rigorous analysis around the loader combinations required for the Dargues operation with the R1700 proving to be the most cost effective.”

Since the first new loader has been put into operation, PYBAR has been preparing for advanced automation through the use of the traction control and Autodig features on the new machines, it said. The feedback has been very positive with full buckets consistently being achieved, the company added.

“The Command technology enables remote operation from the surface or underground, providing productivity and efficiency gains, improved safety of personnel, more accurate tunnel navigation, and reduced machine damage,” PYBAR said.

Caterpillar’s Commercial Manager for Underground Technology, Randy Schoepke, said PYBAR has long seen the value of being on the “leading edge of technology” as a contractor and an owner miner.

“The new Cat R1700 loader will be a huge complement to their technology portfolio leveraging the most advanced features in the industry,” he said.

“The R1700 features of traction control, live payload, Autodig, and ride control will not only provide operator comfort and productivity but also be leveraged by Caterpillar’s latest generation of Command for Underground, Caterpillar’s remote and autonomous control system.”

Schoepke concluded: “When there is a requirement to remove the operator from the underground environment, the technology allows safety and utilisation to be taken to the next level. We look forward to our continued work with PYBAR on this project.”

WesTrac General Manager of Mining Sales, Jody Scott, said this development was the culmination of more than two years work with PYBAR to “identify and test the technology that will have the most impact and benefits for them and their clients”.

He added: “Extensive testing has enabled us to fully evaluate the challenges posed by the harsh underground environments in which the machines are required to operate. It has also allowed us to set up the machines to get the most out of their automation and tele-remote capabilities.”