Tag Archives: mine logistics

Master Drilling takes stake in mining fleet management specialist AVA Solutions

Communications in mining, IoT, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , ,

Master Drilling Group has announced a 40% investment in AVA Solutions, a specialist in data-driven mining fleet management solutions.

Founded in 2015 by Anton Fourie and Jason van der Watt, two engineers with over 25 years of combined mining industry experience, AVA has achieved significant recognition in South Africa by creating a captive market for its disruptive, hardware-agnostic and quick to implement Software as a Service (SaaS) model at much lower costs to other solutions, Master Drilling says. Currently, AVA’s digital platform analyses and tracks more than 1,800 load and haul vehicles across 28 different sites in five countries for a range of major companies including the likes of Anglo American, Exxaro and South32.

Danie Pretorius, Master Drilling CEO, said: “Technological innovation is a key priority for Master Drilling as we continue to support our clients to move down the cost curve, optimise their operations and increase safety. Our investment in AVA is aligned with our strategy to diversify our services and invest in opportunities in our existing target markets with low capital requirements and short return cycles.

“We believe that AVA has great growth potential, and we look forward to supporting them through our existing client base and networks internationally.”

AVA’s solution was shaped by the founders’ knowledge of the mining industry and understanding of the challenges faced in the production environment, according to Master Drilling. “By condensing multiple technology layers into a single interface, AVA ensures that equipment operates at its optimal level of performance with little to no additional capital investment,” it said.

Anton Fourie, Co-Founder and COO of AVA, said: “We have grown exponentially from a start-up five years ago to a recognised player with a proven technology for the mining industry. We have a clear strategy to provide an end-to-end solution that goes beyond the load and haul environment and across the entire mining value chain. Through our partnership with Master Drilling, we are gaining access to extensive experience that will support the ongoing development of our platform and a footprint that will accelerate our international expansion.”

The next developments for AVA’s scalable platform will focus on new elements including scheduling and logistics that will enable mines to not only improve productivity of the load and haul value chain but of the entire mining value chain, according to Master Drilling.

Centurion to help with logistics load at Century zinc operations

Base metals, Equipment maintenance, Mine operation news, Mining consumables, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Centurion says it has been awarded a multi-year contract by Century Mining Ltd (CML) to provide logistics support, servicing the Century zinc mine and Karumba Port facilities in north Queensland, Australia.

The services to be provided will include customs clearance, wharf collections of import commodities, warehousing, road transport, air freight, and courier services.

Centurion will use a national road network to consolidate freight in north Queensland (including through Centurion’s Townsville branch), complemented by dedicated daily services to the Century Mine and Karumba Port, it said. A dedicated road train fleet will be engaged with a mix of trailing equipment to cater for the safe and efficient transportation of bulk reagents, general freight and grinding media, all of which is required for the daily operations of the mine and port facility.

CML, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Century Resources, operates the Century Mine, extracting zinc concentrate, and Karumba Port facility to undertake export transfer of bulk concentrate to key customers globally.

Centurion CEO, Justin Cardaci, said: “We are excited to support CML on a national scale. Centurion’s end-to-end logistics solutions, proprietary tracking systems, and nationwide branch network enable us to tailor and adapt to CML’s specific requirements and provide visibility through out every step of the service.”

Centurion will commence operations around February 2021.

Metso Outotec strives for cost synergies, emission cuts with warehouse optimisation

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Metso Outotec says it is proceeding with its program to consolidate its warehouse locations and transportation processes for spare parts, wear parts and related services globally, targeting increased availability, improved customer service and reduced CO2 emissions.

The optimisation of logistics is included in the company’s €120 million ($146 million) cost synergy target, accounting for more than €20 million of this amount.

The combined Metso Outotec network has covered more than 40 distribution centers. Once the network is optimised, the company will have 18 warehouses or distribution centres located in all main customer markets, it says.

The new operating model is using strong partners who have recognised global capabilities in providing competitive warehouse services, Metso Outotec added.

Consolidation work in Asia, Africa, China and Europe will be concluded in the near future, the company says. Metso Outotec already announced that warehouse operations in Finland will be consolidated and outsourced, and a new warehouse will be established in Helsinki. Simultaneously, the current spare and wear parts warehouse in Tampere will be closed.

The new model will be fully implemented by the end of the first half of 2021, it says.

Jarkko Aro, Senior Vice President of Customer Logistics at Metso Outotec, said: “Our target is to enable world-class logistics with easily scalable operations. Flexible, state-of-the-art warehouse operations will allow orders to be collected and dispatched to customers directly from central warehouses. The new model enables considerable savings in the end-to-end freight costs, streamlines transportation, and significantly reduces CO2 emissions.”

Aro added: “By the end of the third (September) quarter of 2020, we already achieved a 7% reduction of CO2 emissions in our logistics compared to 2019. We are extremely happy to be at the forefront with our CO2 reduction targets.”

Metso Outotec has announced it is targeting a net positive impact on the planet with a commitment to the 1.5 °C journey. This will be implemented through a sustainable offering, innovations and actions, and be measured by Science Based Targets aiming at a 50% reduction of emissions in its own operations by 2030, compared with 2019, and a 20% reduction of logistics emissions by 2025.

Mammoet keeps BHP South Flank iron ore project moving forward

Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , ,

Mammoet is doing its bit to ensure BHP hits its 2021 first production goal at the South Flank iron ore project, in the Pilbara of Western Australia, having started transporting the first heavy components for the under-construction mine.

Around 1,900 items including prefabricated and modular mine processing plant units of various sizes will be transported from Port Hedland to the new mine site, 340 km away, Mammoet said.

The $3.6 billion South Flank project, around 8 km south of BHP’s existing Mining Area C operation, will replace production from BHP’s Yandi mine, which is nearing the end of its life. The investment into the new mine site will ensure the continued production of high-quality iron ore for more than 25 years, according to BHP.

Once complete, South Flank will be one of Western Australia’s largest iron ore processing facilities. As mentioned, production is expected to start in 2021.

Mammoet has existing operational branches in Port Hedland and Karratha, meaning it is equipped to provide localised support for the South Flank project.

Among other heavy haulage equipment on site, Mammoet has 96 axle lines of SPMT located in the port and the mine site, as well as 178 axle lines of conventional trailers with 14 prime movers. The company says it has approached the large-scale logistics project with detailed planning to coordinate the thousands of components that are arriving at the port over 14 shipments and ensure they are delivered to site safely and on time.

ALE does the heavy lifting at South Africa coal operation

Bulk handling, Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , ,

ALE recently helped a South Africa coal operation relocate an excavator from one cut to the next as part of the mine plan.

The face shovel excavator required transportation from Kromdraai Colliery in Mpumalanga Province to a new cut in nearby Emalahleni. ALE was able to mobilise at short notice and provide equipment well-suited to a fragile road surface and critical bridge structures, it said.

ALE received the 552 t Terex O&K RH340 face shovel machine from the client at a designated spot on site. A tracked vehicle, it is capable of crawling between different cuts on site by itself. It is, however, not capable of crawling any great distances between sites or on public roads.

The transportation involved splitting the machine into two primary pieces for transportation: the 291.5 t main machine and the 207.9 t undercarriage. ALE used a four-point lifting system methodology for the splitting procedure, which offered “increased stability over crane-based approaches and was less susceptible to sourcing issues”, it said.

“It was the first time the client had attempted to split any of their machines with this methodology,” ALE said.

The main machine and undercarriage were first decoupled before the former was attached to the four-point lifting system, which was raised to a total height of 8.1 m. “This provided the necessary clearance for the tracks, which were self-propulsive, to be driven out from underneath the suspended main machine,” the company said.

With its ability to strategically deploy equipment around the world, ALE deployed a Goldhofer THP/SL 22-axle trailer for this project. “At 37.8 m length and 4.3 m width, with 1.8 m axle spacing, it was sizeable, however, smaller trailers would not have been able to cross over the critical bridge structures on the route,” ALE said.

The trailer – attached to two prime movers at the front of the trailer and one to the rear each with 28 t ballast – set off along its 25.4 km route. Besides ground pressure, the route had been analysed in advance to make sure its vertical radii didn’t exceed the navigable parameters of the 77.1 m long convoy, the company said.

Arrangements had also been made in advance with a local steel smelting plant, such that high-voltage power lines could be switched off for a small window of time, allowing the machine to pass.

Upon reaching the Emalahleni site, the main machine was staged off onto four stools lined by two 7 m header beams at a height of 1.6 m. The team then returned for the 207.9 t undercarriage, which was lifted by the same four-point lifting system to a clearance of 1.63 m, then transported using the same equipment configuration.

The face shovel was then reattached by the client after its undercarriage was manoeuvred underneath the waiting main machine. It is now at work on site.

Mammoet and ALE to combine heavy logistics expertise

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , ,

Mammoet says it has signed an agreement to acquire ALE in a deal that will see two big players in the heavy logistics for mines market combine.

Both companies specialise in engineered heavy lifting and transport for sectors such as the petrochemical industry, renewable energy, power generation, civil construction and the offshore industry.

Paul van Gelder, CEO of Mammoet said: “We are very happy with this agreement. Mammoet and ALE complement each other in geographical presence on all continents. Together, we have a well-balanced portfolio of activities worldwide. This enables us to improve our service proposition and create synergies, as we are able to mobilise equipment and personnel swiftly anywhere. Last but not least, Mammoet and ALE both have a strong legacy in innovations which, once combined, will enable us to grow as a technologically leading player.”

One such innovation is the Mammoet Trailer Power Assist, a new engineered heavy transport solution designed to improve transport efficiency and significantly lower the carbon footprint of major projects around the world, which the company and Scheuerle, a member of the TII Group, unveiled in 2018.

Mark Harries, Group Managing Director of ALE added: “Mammoet and ALE share a strong ambition to be leading in the engineered heavy lifting and transport sector. Both companies have a strong track record and are renowned for their craftsmanship, innovations and fleet of equipment. We both have shaped the profession of heavy lifting and transport through numerous innovations in the past decades. The prospect of the two companies joining forces is very exciting.”

The closing of the transaction is subject to approval of the relevant competition authorities. Until that time, Mammoet and ALE will continue to operate strictly independently.

Australia fly-in fly-out specialist bolsters aircraft fleet

Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Alliance Aviation Services says it has entered into a binding purchase agreement with Swiss airline, Helvetic Airways AG, for the purchase of five Fokker 100 aircraft and the entirety of Helvetic’s spare engines, parts and tooling offering.

This acquisition continues to build on the strategic rationale of Alliance’s purchase of 21 Fokker aircraft from Austrian Airlines, in December 2015, the company says, enhancing the company’s ability to expand its fleet as more opportunities present themselves in Australia and the South Pacific. This is particularly so in contract aviation and wet lease services, the company said.

Alliance has several aviation contracts in place with mining companies with operations in remote parts of Australia that have a fly-in fly-out service for their employees.

The rationale for the deal, according to Alliance, includes boosting the economic life of Alliance’s fleet and reducing future capital expenditure requirements by securing low cost major components; reinforcing Alliance’s position as the largest supplier of engines and spare parts outside of Fokker; and further diversifying Alliance’s revenue streams.

Scott McMillan, Managing Director for Alliance Airlines, said: “Since the 2015 fleet purchase, we have increased our operational fleet by 11 aircraft to meet the needs of a resurgent resources sector, satisfy the demand for wet-lease services and service the growing opportunities within the tourism sector. We have also successfully on-sold several of the Austrian fleet as well establishing ongoing engine leases and we continue to sell increasing amounts of spare parts to all the major Fokker operators in the southern hemisphere.”

Minehaul and Fenix form trucking and logistics JV to move Iron Ridge project forward

Mineral exploration, Mineral project development, Mining project news, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , ,

Fenix Resources says it has formed a strategic alliance with trucking and logistics company, Minehaul Pty Ltd, in a move seen as a significant step towards the development of its Iron Ridge project in the Mid-West region of Western Australia.

The alliance will see Fenix and Minehaul form a new 50/50 joint venture company, to be known as Premium Minehaul Pty Ltd (PM). It is intended that PM will provide all trucking services to the Iron Ridge project.

Craig Mitchell, the founder and former owner of Mitchell Corp, a major supplier of transport and logistics services to the Western Australia mining industry, has been elected as Chairman and CEO of the newly formed JVC.

The Iron Ridge project is a greenfield development and, therefore, requires all infrastructure, equipment, power, water, communications and other services to be established, according to Fenix.

Pursuant to the JVC agreement, Fenix has provided an undertaking that it will ensure all iron ore transport it is involved with in the Mid-West region of WA (including relating to the project) will be conducted through the JVC.

The terms relating to the provision of these services are to be agreed in the coming months and are pursuant to a separate road haulage contract agreement, however Fenix expects the JVC arrangements to provide several key benefits, including:

  • Greater transparency in relation to the likely transport costs associated with the project;
  • Significant experience that Craig Mitchell brings to Fenix’s trucking operations;
  • Potential for significant cost savings relating to transport costs, and;
  • Elimination of management role duplication and the sharing of the benefits of innovation throughout the life of the project.

The Iron Ridge project is some 490 km by road from the Geraldton port and, therefore, it is expected that a significant proportion of the total operating costs associated with the project will be related to the cost of road transport and logistics, Fenix said.

Fenix’s Managing Director, Robert Brierley, said the company already had a well-developed road transport model with detailed cost estimates for the task at hand, and this model will be refined further now the JVC had been formed.

Related to this agreement, Minehaul has subscribed for A$250,000 ($173,975) of new Fenix shares as part of a larger A$1.25 million placement.