Tag Archives: Lyle Bruce

Resource Capital Funds backs ADR’s robotic inspection vision

Automation, Mining finance, Mining safety, , , ,

Australian Droid and Robot, or ADR, has announced “significant” backing from Resource Capital Funds’ (RCF) mining innovation focused investment strategy RCF Innovation II.

The funding will help ADR t0 scale up and advance its new Explora Remote Data Acquisition System (ERDAS), which ADR claims will save the average mine site two or more hours of daily production time, reducing costs by A$13 million ($8.5 million) a year, significantly reducing carbon footprint and preventing workers from being exposed to fatal or critical risks.

Designed to seamlessly integrate into existing mine infrastructure, the system will enhance ADR’s existing Explora XL Robot’s data acquisition abilities by allowing it to remain permanently underground, preventing the need for it to be retrieved for data uploads, recharging and maintenance, the company says.

Ten ADR Explora XL unmanned robots, alongside a Rajant wireless Kinetic Mesh below-ground communication network with PBE hardware and technology, were previously used to navigate a horizontal mobile infrastructure distance of 1.7 km as part of a mine inspection at one of the US’ largest underground room and pillar limestone mining operations. The mine had suffered a significant pillar and roof collapse.

As part of RCF’s backing, ADR is to receive strategic guidance from Lyle Bruce who led and successfully commercialised Groundprobe, a company highly renowned for its mining slope monitoring.

ADR concluded: “Thanks to the funding and support, we plan to launch our Explora Remote Data Acquisition System to the market in the first quarter of 2025.”

Australia’s CEFC invests in RCF’s decarbonisation-focused METS funding platform

Energy minerals, Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining finance, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , ,

Resource Capital Funds says The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Australia’s largest dedicated cleantech investor, has invested $14 million into RCF Jolimont Mining Innovation Fund II (RCF Jolimont Fund II), a private equity fund specialising in mining innovation that, RCF says, strives to make mining safer, better and more efficient.

RCF Jolimont Fund II will invest in growth mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies with an increasing focus on mining innovation investments that look to support the decarbonisation of the sector and meet the mining industry’s appetite for the clean energy technologies that will seek to accelerate the reduction of emissions across the industry.

Lyle Bruce, Partner, Head of RCF Jolimont, says: “The METS sector is helping to enable the sustainable mining of critical energy transition metals like copper, nickel, lithium and others that the world is demanding. We are proud to have the support of the CEFC to continue investing in emerging mining technologies that are revolutionising how mines operate, and helping reduce the emissions of Australia’s mining operations.”

CEFC Resources Executive Director, Rob Wilson, said: “Reducing emissions in the mining industry is critical to Australia’s push towards net zero emissions and will help position the sector competitively for the future. Our investment in RCF Jolimont II will help tackle what is a traditionally hard-to-abate sector by backing companies that are developing innovative solutions to emissions reduction.

“The RCF team has exceptional experience in mining-focused private equity and specialist expertise in fostering the growth of mining innovation companies. The potential pipeline of investee companies offers an exciting opportunity to recast mining in Australia for the long term as we help solve the challenge of decarbonising mining.”

RCF Jolimont II fund invests in on-line analysis company Realtime Group

Bulk handling, IoT, Mining finance, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

The Realtime Group Ltd says it has completed the sale of a majority stake in the company to global METS sector investor RCF Jolimont Mining Innovation Fund II LP.

Realtime is focused on developing on-line analysers for the mining, power generation and manufacturing industries, with customers in 46 countries relying on its solutions to accurately measure the quality and elemental composition of their product in real time as they are transported on automated material handling systems such as conveyor belts.

It developed its flagship AllScan elemental analyser, which leverages prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) sensors, in 2013. Since its inception, it has grown rapidly to have over 1,000 systems deployed at mining and other operations.

Dr James Asbury, a Co-Founder and current Real Time CEO, explains: “Our purpose built solutions enable decisions to be made based on real-time analysis of materials as they are transported between the mine, mill, trains and ships. Real time, on-line data of material properties that are to be loaded or processed permits timely decisions for optimising the overall process. Proactively managing materials in this way helps our customers to potentially save millions of dollars every year.”

He added: “RCF Jolimont II’s investment in Realtime will inject a wealth of expertise and experience to continue our journey to become the leading solution provider in the global mining industry and beyond. The team behind RCF Jolimont II has a history of success with fast-growth companies including Blast Movement Technologies and Newtrax which should benefit the future development of Real Time.”

RCF Jolimont II’s Andrew Jessett and Lyle Bruce will be joining the Realtime board of directors. Jessett is Vice President, Australasia at RCF Jolimont II.

Jessett said: “As we went through the process of investing in Realtime two things really stood out: the glowing testimonials from their customers, and the importance and value of enabling real-time decisions in the movement of valuable commodities. Realtime’s IoT technology is the premier solution in this space. We are very excited about the critical role it will play in helping customers realise new levels of efficiency in material processing.”

RCF Jolimont II recently also took a significant stake in Rail-Veyor Technologies Global Inc.

MineWare founder hands reins to Jason Fisher

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

MineWare CEO and founder, Andrew Jessett (pictured), has stepped down from his role at the company to pursue new opportunities, the independent monitoring systems company says.

Jessett founded MineWare in 2005, after independently creating and commercialising Pegasys, an advanced dragline monitor system.

“I’m immensely proud of everything the MineWare team has achieved over the past 15 years and I will follow its next growth phase with interest,” Jessett said.

MineWare Chairman, Lyle Bruce, said Jessett had notched up many significant achievements in his 15 years at the company; “guiding its growth into a global company and then successfully integrating with Komatsu three years ago”.

He added: “We thank Andrew for the incredible legacy he has created, upon which we will continue to innovate and grow.”

MineWare teams are focused on continuing to deliver innovative customer solutions, Bruce said, while the leadership seamlessly transitions.

Jason Fisher, formerly MineWare’s Regional Vice President for Australasia, will now act as CEO, supported by the company’s long-standing senior leadership team, the company said.

The transition commenced early this year, with Jason and Andrew working closely together for an initial handover term.

ABB’s Adrian Beer to replace Dover as METS Ignited CEO

Mining equipment, Mining people, Mining policy, Mining services, , , , ,

METS Ignited has appointed Adrian Beer as its new CEO, solidifying, the company says, “the organisation’s focus on delivering outcomes for the sector and responding to the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0”.

Announcing the appointment, METS Ignited Chair, Lyle Bruce said Beer is a globally experienced executive with a broad range of industry skills spanning more than 20 years in the METS (mining equipment technology and services) and mining sectors.

“Adrian’s experience with global METS and mining organisations and his international relationships will help METS Ignited to grow and expand local opportunities,” Bruce said.

Beer, who took up the hot seat today, was previously Asia-Pacific regional leader for ABB Enterprise Software. He joined ABB to lead the information technology/operational technology integration strategy for mining, including responsibility for both product management and solution strategy of ABB’s Intelligent Mining and Enterprise Asset Management product lines, METS Ignited said.

Prior to ABB, Adrian was a founding member of GE Mining, the business unit of General Electric responsible for its mining business operations in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

Increasingly, METS Ignited’s programs have taken on a digital technology focus to equip Australia METS companies with the tools and skills they need to win more work and grow their businesses, the growth centre said.

“The new CEO has worked for two of the largest technology companies in the world, bringing with him first-hand experience of the impact of technology on global asset intensive industries,” METS Ignited said.

Acting CEO, Ian Dover, said the appointment is exciting for both the industry growth centre and the sector.

“Adrian comes to us with a real depth of knowledge and experience from right across the mining value chain, including the global METS companies that are vital to efficient mining operations, making this a great coup for us and the small and large companies we support.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Beer said this is an exciting time to be returning to the METS sector and he is looking forward to being able to support the METS and mining sectors through the industry growth centre.

“I am very impressed with what METS Ignited has already achieved and I am very excited by the opportunity to truly cement Australia’s position as a global hub for innovation in the METS sector,” he said.

Earlier this year, METS Ignited was awarded two more years of funding in recognition of the impact it is already having on individual METS companies and the Australia economy, it said.

PE firm Jolimont on board with indurad radar offering

Automation, Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining finance, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , , ,

METS-focused private equity group, Jolimont, has made another investment in the sector, this time putting €4 million ($4.5 million) into RWTH Aachen University spinoff indurad.

Indurad calls itself the global leader in radar-based automation and productivity solutions for mine sites, train loadouts, stockyard equipment and shiploading facilities. Its patented 2D and 3D radar systems are installed at mining operations and ports worldwide to increase ore throughput and minimise downtime and collisions.

Reik Winkel, indurad CEO and co-founder, said: “indurad’s radar solutions remove bottlenecks in the movement of ore from mine to ship to market at a fraction of the cost of building larger facilities.

“Bringing Jolimont on board as shareholders represents a significant step in our strategy to build the company to €50 million in revenue.”

Winkel said the key reason for selecting Jolimont as an investor was their strong network in the mining industry and deep understanding of innovative technologies. Co-Founder Christian Augustin acknowledged the success of Jolimont as an active shareholder in Newtrax, recently acquired by Sandvik, making them “perfect partners” for indurad’s next growth phase.

Jolimont’s Lyle Bruce and Lex McArthur will be joining the indurad Board of Directors.

Bruce is a Partner of RCF Jolimont and was formerly Managing Director of GroundProbe, a leading radar-based rock-slope monitoring provider, from 2003 to 2013. He is Chairman of MineWare, a dragline monitoring software company and Chairman of Blast Movement Technologies, providing solutions that accurately locate ore and waste zones after blasting.

McArthur, a Founding Partner of Jolimont, is also a director of Blast Movement Technologies and is a director of Minnovare, specialising in improving the productivity of underground drilling operations.

McArthur said: “We undertook extensive due diligence on indurad and three things stood out; their best-in-class radar systems, the glowing testimonials from their customers and partners in terms of value delivered, and the high calibre of their engineering and management team.”

indurad was founded in 2008 as a spin-off of RWTH Aachen University, in Germany. It has a team of more than 100 employees globally and offices in Germany, Australia, Canada, USA, Brazil, Chile and South Africa.