Tag Archives: mining equipment

Mikko Keto to head up FLSmidth’s mining division

Automation, Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining people, Mining services, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , ,

Mikko Keto is set to join FLSmidth as President, Mining Industry, less than two weeks after leaving his post as President of Minerals Services and Pumps at Metso.

Keto, who will embark on his new role from early July 2020, will also become a member of the Group Executive Management team at FLSmidth. The appointment follows current President, Mining Industry, Manfred Schaffer’s decision to retire in 2020.

Keto worked for Metso for 10 years, the last two of which he headed up the Minerals Services and Pumps business area, where he delivered growth in services along with profitability improvement, FLSmidth said. He also served as a member of the company’s Executive Team.

His prior roles for Metso include Senior Vice President, Spare Parts, Senior Vice President of Performance Services business line, President of Automation Services, Vice President of Flow Control Services, and various line management positions. Before joining Metso, he was Head of Sales for the Maintenance business unit at KONE Corp and held senior management and sales positions at Nokia Networks, with assignments in multiple countries.

FLSmidth CEO, Thomas Schulz, said: “Mikko Keto will lead the FLSmidth Mining organisation in capturing profitable business opportunities. He comes with an extensive experience in Service Line Management, Spare Parts and lifecycle offerings. He brings a strong commitment to customer partnerships, and believes strongly in delivering significant enhancements in performance, sustainability and asset optimisation.”

Keto said: “I am excited to join FLSmidth and help drive profitable growth in the mining business and further develop FLSmidth’s portfolio of solutions towards zero emissions. FLSmidth has close to 140 years’ experience, excellent technologies and outstanding competencies in its global workforce.”

On the retirement of Manfred Schaffer, Schulz said: “Since joining FLSmidth in 2014, Manfred Schaffer helped navigate an extended mining industry downturn and led the mining organisation through the transition to a new way of working. In the face of market headwinds, Manfred travelled extensively in order to meet with as many customers as possible and support sales opportunities. I am very thankful for Manfred’s strong contribution to our mining business over the last five years.”

Aramine and Epiroc sign mining and tunnelling distribution deal

Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Building on an already strong partnership, Epiroc and Aramine have signed a distribution contract that will see the France-based company become Epiroc’s official distributor of underground mining and tunnelling equipment in France and several Central and West African countries.

Aramine, which is already the official distributor of Epiroc drilling, loading and rock transport products, said: “The Epiroc product range for mines and tunnels perfectly completes the portfolio of machines dedicated to galleries of small and medium sections designed by Aramine.”

The African countries that Aramine will service include the Central African Republic, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, according to the company.

Marc Melkonian, President of Aramine, said: “Epiroc’s trust is a mark of recognition of our long-standing partnership, and this obvious collaboration between our two companies allows us to offer a wide and complete solutions range for mines and tunnels to our customers.”

Aramine is strengthening its presence in certain countries in line with the Epiroc distribution deal.

For France, Pierre Donnadieu, a specialise in underground mining and tunnelling will join as the new Regional Sales Manager, while, on the African continent, the distribution of Epiroc products is ensured by Aramine Burkina, located in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou.

Jean-Baptiste Corona, Director Epiroc France, said: “The long-term link between Aramine and Epiroc is historic regarding both our collaboration and the distribution of the products of our respective brands. It is therefore an important evolution of these relations since we work hand in hand in very active and demanding markets such as France and West Africa. We are developing a new local offer with this partnership, combining expertise, services and quality products.”

JSW Australia enlists help of BBurg for customised drill rig development

Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Drill contractor JSW Australia says it has formed a strategic alliance with German drill rig manufacturer BBurg to develop customised drill rigs specifically suited to local conditions.

The partnership with BBurg also supports the ongoing evolution of the JSW fleet, the company said.

The first product of the new alliance is the HD2500RC, a leading technology rig developed to tackle challenging terrain at the Fortescue Metals Group Solomon Hub site in the Pilbara of Western Australia (pictured), JSW said. The first rig is expected to be deployed on site early next year with a second planned for delivery later in the first half of 2020.

JSW CEO, Jeff Branson, said: “The terrain at Solomon makes the preparation of drill pads difficult and expensive, which created an opportunity for a high powered, small footprint drill rig. With many years of experience working at the Solomon site and having experienced the challenges posed by the terrain, we shared ideas and concepts with BBurg, which provided the foundation for the development of the new rig.”

Branson added: “BBurg’s knowledge and experience in the development of top hammer and down-the-hole machines for mining applications has enabled us to custom-build a rig that is ideally suited to the site conditions, and we are excited about putting it to work on site.”

The HD2500RC has the following key features:

  • Low footprint with width of 3.5 m;
  • High power with capacity to push 32.3 cu.m/min of air at 500 psi down the hole;
  • Rod handler to increase productivity and improve safety;
  • 330 m of rod capacity on board; and
  • Full wireless remote control.

The alliance with BBurg is part of a broader JSW strategy to ensure that its fleet is continually upgraded and improved to meet the changing needs of the market, the company said.

“BBurg’s customer-driven engineering approach, which tailors rigs to specific applications, resonated with us as it supports our ability to provide customised drilling services to our clients,” he said.

“The HD2500RC is the first of several new rigs that we will be introducing in the near future.

“Our fleet is reviewed and upgraded regularly, and we are excited about the new rigs that will be added, making the latest technology available to our clients and supporting the achievement of their objectives.”

AMG to distribute Getman equipment in Canada mining market

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , , , ,

Amalgamated Mining Group (AMG) says it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement for OEM equipment and spare parts with Getman Corp.

This deal will see Alberta-headquartered AMG represent Getman in the Canada mining market “adding a prestigious utility vehicle product line to our ever-expanding portfolio”, the company said.

Getman’s underground equipment range includes production support machines, mechanical scalers, products for concrete spraying and low profile and coal equipment.

AMG added: “With over 90 years combined experience in the underground mining industry, we are now better suited to jointly provide your mining operation complete customised equipment and support solutions.”

Komatsu’s Jeffrey Dawes to chair MINExpo 2020

Mining events, Mining people, , , , , , , , ,

The National Mining Association (NMA) has announced that Jeffrey Dawes of Komatsu will chair MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2020.

A long-time leader within Komatsu and the industry, Dawes is VP of Komatsu’s Global Mining Business Division, and President and CEO of Milwaukee-based Komatsu Mining Corp.

Held every four years and sponsored by NMA, MINExpo INTERNATIONAL is the world’s largest and most comprehensive global mining event, bringing together worldwide industry leaders ready to purchase the latest equipment and services, explore innovative new technologies, meet face-to-face with suppliers, and make valuable new connections, the NMA said.

“I am honoured and excited to be chairing the 2020 show,” Dawes said. “What an exciting time for our industry and a great moment to gather as one to reveal the future of mining and the latest tools and technologies to meet the world’s demand for essential minerals.

“NMA is a strong and steadfast representative of our industry and has made this event a continued source of inspiration, innovation and excitement. We’re looking forward to a fantastic show together.”

Born in Australia, Dawes studied Metallurgy at the Western Australian School of Mines in Kalgoorlie and completed a PhD at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Center at the University of Queensland. He began his career as a mining consultant and worked for several mining companies in different capacities before joining Komatsu in 1998.

Rich Nolan, NMA President and CEO, said: “As the leader of a company that represents nearly a century of manufacturing excellence, which consistently advances and showcases our industry’s best technologies, I can’t think of a better chair for MINExpo 2020 than Jeff.

Next year’s MINExpo will bring together more than 40,000 attendees – both those who have been in the industry for decades and those who are just beginning their mining careers, representing domestic and international operations and all phases of mining. With its strong domestic foundation in the US, but extensive global footprint, Komatsu is an ideal partner for 2020.”

MINExpo INTERNATIONAL covers the entire industry – exploration, mine development, open pit & underground mining, processing, safety, environmental improvement and more. It will take place on September 28-30, 2020, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in Nevada, USA.

Outotec refines minerals and metals focus with planned divestments

Comminution of minerals, IoT, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , ,

Outotec has taken a strategic decision to divest three of its businesses in the Metals, Energy & Water segment’s portfolio as it focuses on its core technologies in minerals processing and metals refining.

These businesses relate to aluminium, waste-to-energy and sludge incineration, the company said.

This news comes as Metso is going through the process of gaining approval for the acquisition of Outotec, a deal that will create a mineral processing giant.

Outotec said the aluminium business to be divested includes the green anode plant, rod shop (an example, pictured) and certain cast-house technologies as well as related service operations; while the waste-to-energy business to be divested comprises of biomass, wood waste and various other fuel plants including related service operations.

The last business – the sludge incineration segment – comprises delivery of plants for treatment of municipal and industrial sludge and related service operations.

In total, around 250 experts are working in these three businesses, which will be affected by these moves. In the company’s 2019 financial results, the businesses to be divested will be classified as discontinued operations, Outoect said.

For the financial year 2019, the intended actions will lower the expected sales by around €50 million ($55.5 million) but increase the adjusted EBIT by some €40 million, the company said.

Outotec’s CEO, Markku Teräsvasara, said: “Pursuing these strategic actions will enable Outotec to better focus on its core technologies in minerals processing and metals refining. We, of course, remain committed to serving our energy and aluminium customers until these divestments have been completed.”

MacLean Engineering’s digital twin technology takes shape

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

Having witnessed – and benefitted from – the electrification and automation evolution going on in the underground mining industry, MacLean Engineering is also leveraging digitalisation to improve machine analysis and performance for its customers.

The Sudbury, Ontario-based company, over the last few years, set itself a target of creating a digital twin for every MacLean mining vehicle and, Stuart Lister, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, says the company is now at a point in its product development evolution where it can share some progress.

On the real-time analytics front, the company has a purpose-built vehicle monitoring system on its 15-unit fleet of battery-electric vehicles at the Newmont Goldcorp-owned Borden gold mine in northern Ontario, he said.

“This system streams real-time performance data (both tramming and application) to the cloud for remote analysis and better decision making for maintenance and operations personnel at site,” he explained.

This MacLean IntelliOp VMS package consists of sensors and display screens installed on each unit, supported by analytics software that “distils vehicle performance data” based on an OEM-level of product design knowledge, according to Lister.

“IntelliOp presents actionable data and provides prompts on the in-cab screen so that it offers up immediate benefits with regard to operator performance,” he said. “It also clears away the background noise of vehicle health telemetry by presenting this data in a way that enables predictive maintenance decision making, not bring about ‘decision overwhelm’.”

Lister said the company is also taking a “leap” to a cloud-based documentation platform for parts books and parts ordering as well as technical manuals. This online environment provides a high level of offline functionality and is where “almost real-time downloaded PDFs” can be created easily and quickly, he said.

“Our new ‘Documoto’ parts ordering portal will have the look and feel of a best-in-class consumer retail experience,” he said. The company is also able to layer on a library of training content, for example ‘how-to’ videos that MacLean thinks will be of great help to its customer base. “Going forward, we’re going to build this content out with training videos shot in our test mine,” he said.

Lister continued: “And, speaking of training, a great example of the MacLean digital twin philosophy taking shape is our development of a virtual reality (VR) bolter that offers up a digital simulation of a bolter environment within a headset.”

The company showed off this VR innovation at the CIM Convention, in Montreal, earlier this year, providing visitors with a hands-on experience of the immersive training world of virtual ground support installation.

Lister remarked: “It’s easy to transport and the technology is well known and well-liked by the coming generation of underground miners who are growing up with this type of technology as part of their day-to-day.”

MacLean also has plans to extend its VR capabilities to pre-op walkarounds and full simulator treatments for the MacLean Blockholer and MacLean Shotcrete Sprayer, it previously said.

He added: “The MacLean digital twin is indeed taking shape and, we’re just getting started.”

Next up for the company is connecting its real-time vehicle performance data and the cloud-based parts book and technical manuals repository with each unit’s maintenance history.

“The scenario is a mine’s service technician showing up at a piece of mining equipment, with a tablet that can instantly get a picture of the work that has been done to that unit, along with predictive maintenance suggestions – maintenance tasks and parts,” Lister said.

“This is just one example of how the rollout of the digital twin, if done right, could make a practical difference in underground mining. That’s why we’re devoting resources to pushing forward in this area.”

Metso looks to grind down GHG emissions with energy-efficient technology

Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining industry recognition, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , ,

Having recently won the approval of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its greenhouse gas (GHG) targets, Metso’s Climate Program now has the recognition it deserves.

The GHG goals are applicable to all relevant emission sources: production, procurement, inbound and outbound transportation as well as the use of Metso’s products.

Following on from this environmental win, IM put some questions to Metso’s Director of Sustainable Business Development, Kaisa Jungman, to find out what impact these climate change aims might have on the mining equipment manufacturers’ product offering and how the company is already leading from the front with its environmental sustainability initiatives.

It’s worth acknowledging, first, that these GHG goals are all-encompassing.

As a scope 1 and 2 GHG target, Metso has committed to a 25% reduction in carbon emissions in production by 2030, while 30% of its suppliers – in terms of spend – are required to set science-based emission targets by 2024. Metso also aims for a 20% reduction in transportation emissions by 2025 (scope 3 GHG emissions target) by streamlining transportation routes and optimising warehouse locations.

Through extensive research and development work, Metso says it has been able to significantly reduce the energy consumption in customer processes. To continue this development, the company is aiming for a 10% reduction in GHG emissions in the most “energy-intensive customer processes” using Metso products by 2025.

The company is also demanding energy-efficiency targets in its Metso R&D projects, and offsetting flight emissions by 100% by 2021.

The target to lower GHG emissions by 10% in the most “energy-intensive customer processes” stood out in these targets, and it was hardly surprising to find out grinding falls into this category.

“Grinding is the most energy-intensive stage of minerals processing,” Jungman said. “Overall, it is estimated that comminution counts for 3-5% of the energy consumption in the world and grinding is part of this.”

In the company’s climate program it has included three of its products – the HRC™ high pressure grinding roll, Vertimill® and stirred SMD (stirred media detritor) – to help achieve this 10% cut in GHGs.

“We have estimated, based on our installed base, in 2018, that approximately 1,073,648 t of CO2 emissions were saved through these energy efficient grinding technologies,” she said, explaining that these savings were calculated by comparing its three solutions with conventional technology.

At this stage, it is only the HRC, Vertimill and SMD included in this calculation – due to their substantial energy and emission reduction credentials and the company’s ability to quantify accurately the estimated savings – but Jungman said Metso plans to widen the scope of the technologies to be included.

“In addition to our climate program, we are also looking into other environmental benefits the customers are gaining through our solutions,” she said.

“To improve energy and emissions efficiency in the future, our target is that all our R&D projects will set energy-efficiency targets by 2021.”

She concluded on these technologies: “I would say that this climate program is an important first step and we will continue developing even more comprehensive sustainability targets for our technologies.”

When it comes to displaying evidence of where the company is reducing scope 1 (generated from fuels used in production) and 2 (generated from purchased energy) emissions, Jungman could point to several examples.

“We have installed solar panels in some of our locations already and are looking now for opportunities to install more in several locations in the coming years,” she said.

In some of the company’s facilities, a percentage of the electricity it purchases is already from renewable sources, and Metso is investigating the possibilities of expanding this, Jungman added.

“In addition to electricity consumption, we are also searching for renewable alternatives for the other forms of our energy consumption, including, for example, replacing natural gas consumption with renewable alternatives.”

The company has also, in recent years, invested in many energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, according to Jungman.

“As an example, in our foundry in China, we have invested in a new type of melting furnace to gain better energy efficiency.

“In another production location, we have installed technology to recover process heat from the exhaust air to be used as heating energy. We have also invested in the process automation and insulation of the furnaces to gain better energy efficiency.”

She concluded: “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is something we take seriously, and to which Metso is fully committed. We want all our stakeholders to be involved in the work to reach these important targets and to aim even higher.”

Sandvik partners with Arctic distribution expert Northern Networks Ltd

Automation, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has made Northern Networks Ltd its new distribution partner for equipment and aftermarket solutions in Nunavut, Canada.

Northern Networks Ltd is an Arviat, Nunavut-based, majority Inuit-owned distributor with operations in Rankin Inlet, and specialises in contracting, procurement, and strategic partnerships. The company is a part of the Eskimo Point Lumber Supply group of companies, which was named one of Canada’s 500 fastest growing companies in 2018.

Northern Networks has been operating and generating employment opportunities in its community since 1993 and obtained its official certification of Inuit firm status in 1995.

Peter Corcoran, Managing Director of Sandvik Canada Inc, started thinking about potential distribution channels in Canada’s north as soon as it became clear major miners like Agnico Eagle Mines (Meliadine and Amaruq mines) would not be deterred by challenges presented by a northern environment when developing their arctic mines.

“Our customers are our partners,” Corcoran says, “and they are building these new mines in the north.”

The northern environment brings unique challenges to providing support to customers like monitoring the springtime ice melt to schedule parts and equipment for barges, building ice roads and working with local communities’ resources, according to Sandvik.

In order to properly serve these customers Corcoran knew that, in the long run, Sandvik would need to leverage the expertise of an established and experienced local Inuit partner to efficiently bring Sandvik’s products to Nunavut’s mines.

“Sandvik believes for mining to prosper in Canada the communities that are impacted by these mining projects will need to be involved,” Corcoran explains, “and the mining companies need Indigenous groups in the region to be a part of their businesses long term. Recognising that, Sandvik has built this strategy to have a partner in these areas and we have been fortunate in finding Northern Networks Ltd in Nunavut.”

According to Derrick Webster, Chief Operating Officer of Eskimo Point Lumber Supply and Northern Networks Ltd, the company was built to serve Nunavut: “We are actually in the community, with local infrastructure, people, equipment, and when a mine needs something we are here.”

Becoming an authorised Sandvik distribution partner will allow Northern Networks Ltd to leverage its extensive knowledge of Canada’s north to support the growth of the mining industry and stimulate further economic development in their community, according to Sandvik.

For Ryan St John, President & Chief Executive Officer of Eskimo Point Lumber Supply and Northern Networks Ltd, it has always been about supporting his community and staying true to his values. The company is proud 60% of its 170 employees come from local Inuit communities.

“Sandvik is a really good fit for [Northern Networks Ltd] because our values align in terms of honesty and transparency,” St John says.

“We like aligning ourselves with companies that want to be the best, that is what we strive to do every day,” St John explains. “What appealed to us with Sandvik was that they are the best in their field in terms of technology, they are continually improving, advancing, creating that value for customers, and creating opportunities for the communities we serve.”

St John expects partnering with a technologically advanced company like Sandvik will have positive implications for Nunavut in the future, and that his community is ready to take advantage.

“As you automate [in mining] there is more opportunity for people in the community to be a part of that industry and gain employment thanks to new technology, a lot of younger people are so computer-savvy, and they are already working with their hands and equipment every day,” he said.

Corcoran is also excited to witness the changes mining – and Sandvik’s new distribution partnership – could bring to a community with such a large population of ambitious young people ready to enter the workforce.

“A company like Sandvik could bring opportunities to the community because of the reach we have with technology,” he explains. “We have to excite the young people! Technology excites them. People need to be aware that mining is an exciting industry and you can make a good living and get a good education.”

Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology’s full suite of products including surface and underground drills, underground loaders and trucks, automation and digital solutions, rock tools, and parts is available through Northern Networks Ltd, effective November 1, 2019.

MachineMax to help miners cut back on idle time

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , ,

MachineMax has launched a new online Savings Calculator that, it says, will help mining companies save millions by cutting back on idling costs.

The tool, which takes just two minutes to complete, according to the global provider of software solutions, is based on data that considers the types of machines users are looking to save money on, fleet size and the hourly rate of an operator to calculate the figure.

The cost assumptions are modelled based on data collected from customers or industry standards, it said.

For instance, companies could save up to £1 million/y ($1,282,153) if they have around 27 heavy equipment machines idling for 1,000 hours PA where idling costs are estimated at £38,000 each, the company said.

MachineMax’s savings calculator also has an advanced savings option, giving users more accurate results based on actual site costs including maintenance and fuel.

Jennifer Thomson, Business Strategy Manager at MachineMax, said: “This calculator is an excellent tool to highlight how much a company can save by decreasing equipment idle time. On a mine site, some idle time cannot be completely avoided however it may be an indicator of an underlying bottleneck or process inefficiencies which can be resolved. Either way, equipment tends to be idle more than necessary.”

Idle time results in unnecessary direct operating costs as the machine is still running, consuming fuel, contributing towards emissions all while under the control of the operator, Thomson said. All of this has an associated cost.

She added: “There are also indirect operating costs associated to idling, as the engine is running there is unnecessary wear on components, hourly based maintenance occurs more frequently than necessary including premature filter and fluid changes and warranty hours are used over a shorter period.

“Furthermore, if the machine is idling then by implication it is not being productive so there is an opportunity cost to missing out on revenue from missed production.”

The calculator is looking to highlight the direct and indirect cost savings from cutting down idle time, she concluded.