Tag Archives: machine guidance

Downer to deploy Carlson machine guidance solutions across Australia mine sites

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

Downer has recently invested in Carlson high precision machine guidance solutions to be deployed across four mine sites in Australia, the software solutions company confirmed.

In total, 27 machine systems will be installed across a fleet of dozers, excavators, drills, and supervisor vehicles to increase productivity and optimise mine site operations, Carlson said.

“As a leading mine contractor in Australia, Downer invests in technology and innovation to maximise safety, productivity, and operational efficiency across all stages of the mining lifecycle,” Carlson explained. “Supported throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia by Carlson’s Oceania distributor, Position Partners, Downer has implemented a tried and tested high precision machine guidance solution that is reliable, effective, and user friendly.”

Andrew Granger, Position Partners’ Mining Business Manager, said Downer and the company have worked closely on tailored mining solutions since 2014, when the company purchased its first Carlson high precision machine guidance system.

“Through a deep understanding of Downer’s requirements, along with a commitment by Carlson to listen to customer needs and design solutions to meet them, we were able to deliver a customised volumetrics module to get maximum productivity gains from their technology investment,” he said.

Carlson’s custom-designed volumetrics module is integrated into the Carlson Command software platform to provide office reporting tools to Downer on productivity and utilisation of high precision machine guidance systems.

“It’s a management tool that provides an in-depth understanding of machine and fleet performance,” Granger added. “It gives mine managers visibility into exactly how machines are operating, including the volume and location of material moved per hour.”

Nicholas Duggan, Technology Support Specialist from Downer, said: “Downer is committed to utilising innovative technology that delivers valuable insights and productivity gains to our mining operations. We partner with local companies where possible that have both technical capability and boots-on-the-ground support, which is why Position Partners with the Carlson solution is a preferred supplier.”

The Carlson Machine Guidance products purchased by Downer include:

  • Drill Grade – Carlson’s guidance and monitoring solution for drills;
  • Excavator Grade – Carlson’s digger guidance and monitoring solution for diggers;
  • Dozer Grade – Carlson’s guidance and monitoring solution for dozers;
  • Grade Supervisor – Carlson’s solution to allow supervisors to check production and see how they are performing against targets, and;
  • Carlson Command – Carlson’s office database solution to capture all data coming in from the machines for real-time viewing, reporting, and data analysis.

Granger said: “Carlson’s high precision machine guidance, combined with a robust reporting capability, offers a proven solution for mine sites. The systems are reliable, the interface is simple, and the productivity gains are tangible.”

Wenco makes Latin America expansion plans with TecWise partnership

Automation, Communications in mining, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , , , ,

Wenco International Mining Systems has announced a new partnership with TecWise Sistemas de Automação, a provider of technology and communications systems to the Latin America mining industry.

This new agreement makes TecWise the exclusive distributor of Wenco solutions in Brazil, paving the way for customers in the largest Latin American country to leverage “Wenco’s open and interoperable approach to mining technology”, Wenco said.

Wenco’s data solutions are designed to boost productivity, decrease operating costs, extend equipment life, and give mining companies actionable insights into their operations. Its Mine Performance Suite consists of systems for fleet management, high-precision machine guidance, predictive maintenance, collision avoidance, and mining business intelligence.

Unlike other solution providers, Wenco, a Hitachi Group Company since 2009, has designed its systems with an “open systems philosophy” that, it says, “empowers customers to freely integrate systems to support their unique business processes, data requirements, and reporting needs”.

“TecWise and Wenco formed this partnership based on their shared approach to delivering customer-focused solutions to the mining industry,” Wenco said. Founded in 1997, TecWise works closely with customers to design, deploy, and support fit-for-purpose, performance-driven technology that improves efficiency, safety, and productivity.

“The company’s history of strong support throughout Brazil made it a natural partner for Wenco as it expands through Latin America,” Wenco said.

Andrew Pyne, President and CEO of Wenco, said: “We’re excited to enter the strategic Brazilian mine market in partnership with TecWise. In line with our focus on growing our presence in Latin America, Brazil is a key strategic priority for Wenco, particularly as we collaborate with Hitachi Construction Machinery on their Solution Linkage for Mining platform.

“We have planned this collaborative entry into the Brazilian market for some time and we took our time to identify the right partner, which we found in TecWise. They will ensure our customers have knowledgeable, on-the-ground local support for Wenco solutions for the long haul.”

TecWise Business Director and CEO, Omar Garzedin, said: “The level of flexibility and openness of the Wenco solutions, the philosophy of interoperable standards – this is what initially caught our eye and made Wenco stand out among data solutions providers for the mining industry.

“Over the years, a common challenge for our mining clients has been the ‘closed stack’ approach of many suppliers – the difficulty in controlling and using their own operational data in the manner that they prefer.

“When we shared the Wenco philosophy – the ability to react to a client need in an agile manner, combined with a global track record – we all clearly saw new ways of addressing long-standing challenges in an innovative, scalable, and cost-effective manner.”

TecWise is in discussions with mines throughout Brazil to offer new ways to solve known problems, while extending new capabilities and options through Wenco’s open standard approach to mining technology, Wenco said.