Tag Archives: MINExpo 2021

PT. Putra Perkasa Abadi starts training operators with Immersive PRO5 simulator

PT. Putra Perkasa Abadi (PT. PPA) has became the first company in Indonesia to incorporate Immersive Technologies’ PRO5 Advanced Equipment Simulator technology, with the first two of four units commissioned in the PPA office at the PT Multi Harapan Utama mine site.

Launched at MINExpo 2021, the PRO5 Advanced Equipment Simulator set a new benchmark in realism, reliability and training value for operator training technology, according to Immersive.

A commissioning celebration and handover was carried out by Edwin Trisnohadi, Regional Vice President Immersive Technologies Asia & Indonesia region, and Director of PT. PPA, R. Teguh Sapto Subroto. Also present at the event were Sunaryo, Head of PPA Academy, and Teddy Ramdani, Customer Support Manager of PT. United Tractors, Tbk.

Equipped with a professional-grade visual system, the PRO5 is the first mining simulator to combine stereoscopic 3D, a one-piece curved display, photo-realistic graphics and RealView™ head tracking technology, according to Immersive. It delivers realism at a level not previously seen by the mining industry, according to the company, with these advancements helping new and experienced mining equipment operators develop competencies at a rapid pace, while maintaining high levels of learning retention.

Previously, in order to improve the competence of newly graduated workers, PPA’s only option was on-iron training. This takes extra time and also has safety risks. Now, these novice “green” workers can develop psychomotor skills and learn critical behaviors in a safe, simulated environment, while also reducing fuel consumption, according to the company.

PPA is a mining contractor, which, in recent years, has recorded significant growth to become the third largest contractor in the Indonesian mining industry.

The speed of growth requires an investment in the workforce and training tools to become more effective and efficient and to prepare personnel to become mine-ready. This year, PPA is targeting an additional 100 million bank cubic metres (BCM) above last year’s 267 million BCM. In order to achieve this target, an additional 3,200-3,500 operators are needed. The company also needs an additional 1,500-2,000 mechanics. PPA targets an addition of 150 million BCM next year, with another circa-6,000 mechanics and operators needed to support this.

To onboard 6,000 workers, PPA can no longer rely on outdated training techniques.

R. Teguh Sapto Subroto said: “Simulators will help us to develop personnel at a safe and steady pace, independently of disruptions such as weather conditions. We need this technology.”

Before arriving at the decision to buy four PRO5 platforms, PPA had made an in-depth study of simulation vendors and related solutions, according to Subroto. This involved proof of concept product testing from Immersive Technologies.

“The biggest challenge in workforce development is to rapidly develop quality talent with the skills to be safe and productive,” Subroto said. “If you recruit well, you will compete with others, but skill levels may remain 30% below ideal. To produce a quality workforce, you need the right tool that make humans more efficient and effective.”

The simulators will later be managed by the PPA Academy.

Ramdani said that this latest PRO5 simulator has only been available to the market for a short period of time and PPA incorporated it rapidly because of the value it could bring. “Hopefully it can help PT. PPA in building worker competencies, especially for operators,” he said. “PPA recorded the highest growth in the industry which must be balanced with the quality of qualified workforce.”

Trisnohadi explained: “This level of realism and reliability will help companies produce quality workforces and significant return on investment. Our goal is to help PPA in obtaining a world-class workforce, which ultimately would result in greater operational efficiency.

“This PRO5 simulator is the cutting-edge product from Immersive Technologies with the latest evolution of display systems. It is a combination of seamless curve screen with stereoscopic 3D technology which provides unmatched training value and highest levels of learning.”

CR Digital plans Titan 3330 virtual simulator mine site roadshow

CR Digital has built a virtual simulator to, it says, bring the Titan 3330 Load Haul Optimization System out to the mine site.

Players can experience Titan 3330 as if they’re the operators of a backhoe excavator, trying to hit target payloads and getting real-time feedback on their accuracy.

The experience is as realistic as possible, and players can test their skills under different weather conditions or at night, according to the company. Ground engaging tools can even fall off while operating, with players notified by GET Trakka to stop and find the component.

Unveiled at MINExpo 2021, in September, the simulator allows visitors to control an excavator using two joysticks and a large monitor, along with a real Titan 3330 screen to monitor their digging in real time.

CR’s Global Marketing Manager, Chris Mayo, said: “We had players at MINExpo who operate excavators every day, and the feedback from them was that it’s very realistic. For anyone without operator experience, it’s a fun challenge to learn the controls and start getting closer to target payloads.”

For an added challenge, players competed for the highest score based on two measures:

  • Productivity: how many tonnes were moved and how closely trucks were loaded to target payload – as scored by CR’s Orion Data Analytics; and
  • Safety: safely operating the excavator by avoiding collisions with dump trucks.

Looking forward, CR will look to bring the Titan 3330 simulator out to mine sites and directly to customers so players can continue to experience the accuracy of Titan 3330’s payload monitoring for themselves.

“Once customers see for themselves how Titan 3330 helps operators improve payloads in real time, we think there’s going to be a lot of excitement for the system, particularly as we grow our presence in North America,” Mayo said.

PumpEng brings new patented submersible pump to US mining market

PumpEng introduced new patented submersible pump technology at the recent MINExpo 2021 event in Las Vegas, with the pump already breaking records at mine sites in Australia, the company says.

The introduction of the all-metal JetGuard to the US mining industry follows a slew of mine site deployments.

Jet Guard has several unique features that protect the internal pump parts from shotcrete fibres in wastewater, according to the company, with test sites reporting fewer breakdowns, lower repair costs and longer service life.

“The JetGuard pump is breaking records at Australian mine sites with maintenance managers reporting improvement over lost time between failures up 400%,” the company said. “For underground production crews, longer pump life frees up maintenance staff for other work and improves safety by reducing maintenance events.”

The most important element is the reduction in production delay caused by pump failures, according to the company.

JetGuard is available for the US market in 480 V, 15 horsepower (11.2 kW) with 30 hp coming soon, PumpEng said.

Cat previews productivity-boosting D10 dozer at MINExpo 2021

Caterpillar previewed the new Cat® D10 dozer at this week’s MINExpo 2021, in Las Vegas, this week, with the machine set to offer more productivity with less fuel consumption and maintenance, Cat says.

The Cat D10 series dozers have a well-earned reputation in the industry, with the new machine continuing this tradition, being designed to do more with less. Improvements to the drivetrain, hydraulic and cooling systems reduce fuel consumption by up to 4% while increasing productivity by up to 3%. Greater component durability, service improvements and technology integration deliver a reduction in overall owning costs, according to the company.

The dozer’s optimised drivetrain features an updated Cat C27 engine paired with a new stator clutch torque divider. Extended oil changes and integrated fuel lines increase the time between service intervals and enhancing reliability of the C27 engine. Different after-treatment solutions are available to meet the needs of the global market, including configurations to meet US EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage V regulations as well as emissions equivalent to US EPA Tier 2.

Boosting productivity in downhill dozing applications, the new D10 comes standard with high-horsepower reverse, which offers up to 20% more power in reverse gears. Load-sensing hydraulics provide oil flow only on command, reducing parasitic draw to increase available power to the ground. Paired with a single-plane cooling system, these improvements increase operating efficiencies by up to 6%, Cat says.

Boasting an updated electronic architecture, the new D10 features a new operator cabin, infused with proven technologies. Operator efficiency and comfort are improved with a new 254 mm touch screen display offering intuitive machine operation, upgraded seat offerings, available 360° vision and improved visibility.

Future-ready, the electronic infrastructure provides seamless integration of proven Cat technologies like MineStar™ Command for dozing, which removes the operator from the cab through line-of-site or non-line-of-site remote control, Cat says. Technology updates to optional automated features such as AutoCarry™ and AutoRip improve efficiency and ease of use, reducing operator fatigue, increasing productivity and minimising machine wear by limiting track slippage.

New to the D10, Remote Flash ensures the machine operates with the most current version of on-board software, so the dozer consistently delivers high performance, maximum efficiency and minimum downtime. The service enables remote updates to the software at a time convenient to the mining operation, without interrupting the production cycle and reducing service time on the machine.

With its modular design and elevated sprocket drive, the D10 series is renowned for industry-leading serviceability and low maintenance costs, according to Cat. Further reducing downtime, the new D10 design features extended oil change intervals enabled by a larger engine oil sump. Its new, easy-access radiator door and single-plane cooling system reduces overall heat load and promotes easier cleaning. New push arm bearing inserts improve reliability and reduce overall rebuild time.

Multiple visibility offerings provide customers with different solutions to achieve their desired line-of-sight to the front, rear and around the dozer. Further enhancing operating visibility, an available four-camera system delivers a 360° view around the D10 and includes a ripper camera. Improvements to the powered access ladder with lockout protection elevate operator safety when entering and exiting the cab.

Availability of the new Cat D10 dozer is scheduled for mid-2022, Cat says.

Abreco brings real-time wear liner monitoring system to MINExpo 2021

An “exclusive active monitoring system” to allow mining companies to remotely monitor wear liners in real time was announced by manufacturers Abreco® at MINExpo 2021 in Las Vegas this week.

Abreco IoT is the latest innovation in mining technology that provides the status of all connected liners within a system, thus reducing requirements for physical inspections, Abreco says.

Wear liners can be monitored through the Abreco IoT exclusive and secure dashboard, allowing data such as active heat maps to be viewed from anywhere. Abreco IoT provides the status of all wear liners connected to the system with detailed information that enables forecasting planned outages with a high degree of precision, the company says.

The improved reliability that Abreco IoT provides for wear liner monitoring can greatly reduce downtime, which translates to substantial cost savings for mining companies, the company says.

“Abreco IoT virtually eliminates the downtime related to monitoring wear liners, makes wear liner inspections and maintenance safer and substantially reduces wear liner inspection costs and risks,” the company concluded.

Hexagon’s Mining division to distribute HARD-LINE’s TeleOp tech in the Americas

HARD-LINE and Hexagon’s Mining Division have announced a new partnership at MINExpo 2021, in Las Vegas, that, they say, will enhance their international mining capabilities.

Combining their expertise in surface and underground mining, Hexagon will serve as a major distributor of HARD-LINE’s teleremote technology, known as TeleOp, in North, Central, and South America as well as Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan.

“Partnering with Hexagon is a significant step in our evolution and really shows our ability and desire to grow and adapt,” Walter Siggelkow, HARD-LINE’s President, says. “This will allow both companies to be even more competitive globally, especially in massive mining markets like Latin America.”

Some other products receiving distribution include HARD-LINE’s RRC (Radio Remote Control) as well as BackBone Networks, Brow Alert, Brake Release and Farsight.

President of Hexagon’s Mining Division, Nick Hare, said: “We’re looking forward to collaborating with HARD-LINE, which shares our vision of a future that’s safer, sustainable and increasingly autonomous.”

Baidu Research Robotics and Auto-Driving Lab present autonomous excavator concept

Researchers from Baidu Research Robotics and Auto-Driving Lab (RAL) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) say they have developed a real-time mapping approach for autonomous navigation of excavators on complex terrains, named Terrain Traversability Mapping (TTM), that is being showcased at MINExpo 2021 this week.

Using TTM, an autonomous excavator can navigate through unstructured outdoor environments consisting of deep pits, steep hills, rock piles and other complex terrain features, according to the companies involved. This is the first complex terrain processing approach developed for heavy-duty excavation machines, they say.

To enable autonomous excavators to handle complex terrains, the researchers developed an efficient learning-based geometric method to extract terrain features from RGB images and 3D point clouds and incorporate them into a global map for planning and navigation.

The method uses physical characteristics of the excavator, including maximum climbing degree and machine specifications, to determine the traversable area, adapt to changing environments and update the terrain information in real time.

In addition, these researchers have prepared a “novel” autonomous excavator terrain dataset, which consists of RGB images and LiDAR point clouds from construction sites with seven different categories based on navigability. This integrates the mapping approach with planning and control modules to continuously improve the autonomous excavator navigation system, they say.

“Experiments showed that while using TTM, an excavator can navigate through unstructured environments with a much higher success rate compared to existing planning schemes,” the companies said.

The new TTM technique comes on the heels of another innovation Baidu RAL and UMD co-developed this June – an autonomous excavator system (AES) that can perform material loading tasks for 24 hours without any human intervention, while offering performance nearly equivalent to that of an experienced human operator.

Rolls-Royce and FLANDERS sign MoU to develop hybrid mining truck retrofit kits

More details have emerged on Rolls-Royce and FLANDERS Electric’s plan to develop a retrofit solution for hybridising mining trucks with mtu engines, batteries and hybrid control systems, and FLANDERS drive train solutions at MINExpo 2021 this week.

As IM revealed last month, Rolls-Royce has been working on concept of a hybrid drive system for mining trucks, with  FLANDERS Inc power electronics and controls to be used for retrofits.

The two companies have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding enabling them to offer a scalable retrofit kit for hybridising mining trucks in a wide range of mining applications.

With its brand mtu, Rolls-Royce says its business unit Power Systems is a leading provider of advanced integrated and sustainable power solutions for a wide variety of applications, including mining equipment. FLANDERS, meanwhile, develops and sells electric motors and generator systems, as well as automation and control systems for heavy industrial applications.

The companies plan to leverage their extensive experience to offer customers hybrid solutions that aim to save fuel and reduce the CO2 footprint of mining trucks as well as optimising vehicle power performance and efficiency, enabling more climate-friendly and safer mining operations, they say.

John Oliver, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Flanders, said: “Improving our customers’ operations, lowering their costs while enhancing their energy footprint, is a win for the mining industry and for the environment as a whole. We are excited to partner with Rolls-Royce Power Systems to deliver an industry leading hybrid power solution that will help our customers achieve their energy or carbon reduction goals.”

Scott Woodruff, Vice President for Mining and Oil & Gas at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “We are excited to shape the mining industry’s sustainable future together with Flanders and further leverage our advanced hybrid technologies, which are already proven in the rail industry. Together we will offer our customers integrated, future-oriented, hybrid solutions.”

The mining truck hybrid concept recovers braking energy, using the mtu EnergyPack battery system. This energy is then fed back to power the wheel motors, allowing the diesel engine to be downsized. The smaller engine reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 30%, helping mining customers to achieve their emissions reduction targets, while optimising their operations, it says. The hybrid concept also includes the DC/DC converters which interface the battery system with the DC link of the truck. The system is highly modular and scalable for trucks of any size, working anywhere in the world, according to Rolls-Royce.

XCMG showcases three new US-tailored mining machines at MINExpo 2021

XCMG has brought three new customised products to MINExpo 2021 in Las Vegas, namely its XE950G excavator, XDA45U articulated dump truck and GR3505T5 grader.

This is XCMG’s first time exhibiting at MINExpo, with the company using this time to highlight three new products customised specifically for the US market that are adapted to work under different and highly challenging construction conditions, it says.

The 95 ton (86 t) XE950G excavator is, XCMG says, an efficient and energy-saving model applicable to global markets, featuring an advanced control system and behaviour monitoring system, highlighting dual-pump independent technology. It also excels in comfortable and smart operation and is well suited to extreme mining environments, the company says.

The 45 ton (41 t) XDA45U ADT adopts mature power matching technology and delivers strong passing and reliable braking performance. It is also equipped with precise hydraulic control and is all-terrain adaptive, according to the company.

The GR3505T5 grader has strong traction output and features a high-pressure, high-displacement and load-sensitive hydraulic system. The all-gear rear axle can prevent wear effectively and the hydraulic lock is “error preventive”, XCMG says. The model also provides an upgraded operation experience with speed-sensitive and assisted steering, ergonomic electronic double joystick control system and fresh air circulation with standard cab pressurisation.

XCMG was the earliest manufacturer in the Chinese construction machinery industry to enter the US market and has not only launched products that meet local certification and standards, but also established a comprehensive sales and service network capable of providing complete construction solutions for customers, it says.

Xie Bin, CEO of XCMG North America Corp, says: “XCMG has accumulated a wealth of experience in mining equipment and solutions and is committed to providing highly reliable, efficient and safe products for our customers, and our customisation strategy has enabled XCMG to compete with the world’s best manufacturers in the high-end market.”

Weir Minerals and Andritz expand tailings processing collaboration with IsoDry

Weir Minerals and Andritz have signed an agreement at MINExpo 2021 expanding their shared commitment and strategic cooperation to supply equipment for processing tailings in the mining industry.

The foundations of this agreement have been built on a shared understanding and vision to enable the sustainable and efficient delivery of the natural resources essential to create a better future for the world, they say.

Since 2018, Weir Minerals’ and Andritz’s partnership has seen them collaborate on joint tailings projects. This shared history as partners has reinforced their abiding belief that, together, both Weir Minerals and Andritz are stronger, they said.

This shared success has led both Weir Minerals and Andritz to renew their ongoing commitment and announce they’ll be expanding their offer to all regions around the globe.

Using Andritz’s proven separation and dewatering technologies, Weir Minerals says it has strengthened its whole-of-mine capabilities, showcasing market-leading products from extraction to comminution, mill circuit and tailings management.

“Weir Minerals has been providing tailings solutions for decades; we have dedicated research facilities – the Weir Technical Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and the Sustainable Mining Centre in Venlo, Netherlands – that are challenging conventional ways of thinking about tailings, while also developing practical, innovative and sustainable solutions that will reduce operating costs and improve safety,” Ricardo Garib, Weir Minerals Division President, said.

“Decreasing ore grades mean that mines are producing more tailings than ever before. One of the challenges with tailings management is that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach; each mine requires a tailored solution that carefully considers the minerals being processed, as well as the site’s climatic and geological conditions. Weir Minerals prides itself on having both the expertise and equipment that allows us to partner with miners everywhere to plan and implement tailings solutions based on their operations’ unique challenges and this agreement with Andritz enhances those capabilities,” he said.

Steve Huff, President Andritz Separation, said: “Andritz has a long history working across a range of different industries. We are very proud of the work we’ve done with Weir Minerals; together, we’re excited about continuing to provide a joint offering of sustainable and value-added tailings solutions. Both companies bring a different expertise and know-how to the partnership; we complement one another and ultimately, it’s our customers who’ll benefit.”

Tailings management forms an important element of Weir Minerals’ broader integrated solutions approach, which considers problems and challenges from all perspective and draws on a range of experts – process engineers, design engineers, product experts and materials scientists, among others – to identify potential challenges and opportunities and provide tailored solutions.

Charlie Stone, Weir Minerals VP Sales and Business Development-Mill Circuit, said: “This latest agreement enhances our overall tailings offering and enables us to provide our customers with a complete tailings solution. Under the brand name IsoDry, we will continue to offer customers a range of mechanical separation technologies, such as thickeners, filter presses, centrifuges, and vacuum belt filters.”

Weir Minerals has strengthened its tailings team to support the market and ensure that it can provide innovative solutions based on each customer’s specific requirements.

The agreement provides the opportunity for potential future collaboration on technology, harnessing Andritz’s separation technology in conjunction with Weir Minerals’ minerals and tailings processing technology. Many of these products – Warman® pumps to transport fluid tailings, GEHO® pumps to handle paste, Cavex® hydrocyclones to dewater tailings and the Multiflo® range of dewatering solutions – have been integral to helping miners manage their waste for generations, they said.

Weir Minerals and Andritz have also reiterated their shared commitment to sustainability; it is an essential part of both their business and corporate strategies. Both companies say they have outlined ambitious plans to reduce their carbon emissions, while their approach to ESG initiatives extends to all aspects of their organisations.