Tag Archives: MINExpo 2024

Epiroc whets the electrification appetite for MINExpo 2024

Less than a month out from MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2024 in Las Vegas, Jérôme Cloué, Vice President of Electrification for Epiroc, talked up numerous electrification launches/debuts at the show that would go a long way to helping its customers achieve their sustainability targets.

During a visit to Boliden’s Rävliden mine, part of the Kristineberg complex, in in northern Sweden in late August to highlight the Epiroc Minetruck MT42 SG Battery vehicle running on an 800-m trolley test track underground, Cloué said the company was expecting to make many announcements at the show, including some that fit into the “zero carbon” category.

Epiroc, as part of its sustainability goals, has outlined 2025 and 2030 dates for having fossil-free options in place for its underground and surface mining product lines, respectively. Cloué was confident the company would meet these targets, however it is unlikely these will be exclusively battery-electric options – especially at the top end of the surface drilling product line where the company is leveraging cable-electric power for each drill in the Pit Viper series, for instance.

In the meantime, Epiroc is also working with clients on certifying the use of biodiesel in its existing diesel-powered fleet for “immediate” decarbonisation benefits. Cloué said the surface drilling fleet is already compatible with biofuel (HVO100), with the underground load and haul, and drilling fleets set to follow shortly.

The company is also continuing to advance its work on repurposing batteries used in its mining equipment for secondary life applications. Outside of mining, the company has signed a partnership with Renewmic, whereby a battery previously used to power one of Epiroc’s battery-electric vehicles is helping to support and stabilise the Swedish power grid through frequency containment reserve services. Cloué expects to see more of these examples crop up in mining in the future, strengthening the business case for battery-electric machines through an extension of the battery’s working life.

He is also expecting further collaborations such as the one Epiroc highlighted with Boliden and ABB at the Kristineberg operation last week.

“Mining houses and suppliers are realising that the way to accelerate the [electrification] transformation is through collaboration,” he told IM. “We are looking to work with other partners like ABB on future projects.”

Movex Innovation to showcase line of ultra-compact mini loaders at MINExpo

Movex Innovation is set to showcase its line of ultra-compact electric, remote-controlled mini loaders, designed to tackle spillage and blockages in a range of applications, at MINExpo 2024, in Las Vegas, next month.

Material spillage continually challenges mine worldwide and poses significant operational and safety concerns. Traditional clean-up methods, such as manual shovelling and water hoses, are labour-intensive, hazardous and inefficient. They often lead to extended downtimes, increased operational costs and elevated risks to worker safety.

This is where the MINIDOZER 27” and MINIDOZER 48” ultra-compact mini loaders for mines and quarries come in.

Movex Innovation’s MINIDOZERs offer a transformative solution, the company says. Engineered for maximum efficiency and safety, these mini loaders can be used while conveyor systems are running, with the compact size allowing operations to access the hardest-to-reach areas.

The mini loaders require no certifications to operate and work perfectly in extreme heat and cold, according to the company, which says it offers comprehensive support and training. They also offer impressive battery life in any temperature conditions, according to the company.

MINExpo 2024 is due to run from September 24 to September 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center