Tag Archives: mining equipment

Komatsu Europe and Ritchie Bros enter used equipment partnership

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

Komatsu Europe has signed up Ritchie Bros’ cloud-based SaaS solution, RB Asset Solutions, to help better manage its assets internally and remarket its used equipment.

RB Asset Solutions brings together a suite of tools and services to help customers better manage, analyse, and sell their assets, Ritchie Bros says, adding that Komatsu will use the service in coordination with its redesigned and mobile-friendly website: used.komatsu.eu.

Giovanni Guidi, who is responsible for the project at Komatsu Europe, said: “We have developed a strong relationship with Mascus over the years; the services and tools included with the RB Asset Solutions platform will give our dealers full control over their stock and optimise used equipment sales.

“We’re excited about all the internal, user-friendly tools that come with RB Asset Solutions to make us more efficient and create an online community for all our dealers handling used equipment sales around Europe.”

As an RB Asset Solutions customer, Komatsu Europe is equipped with a complete inventory management system accessible by all Komatsu Europe dealers, allowing them to manage their stock and publish used equipment to various sales channels, including their own individual dealer site, used.komatsu.eu, Mascus.com, or any other Ritchie Bros sales channel, according to Ritchie Bros.

The used.komatsu.eu website, which was recently redesigned by the RB Asset Solutions team, is available via desktop and as a mobile app. Equipment can be searched and filtered by potential buyers by equipment type, manufacturer, hours/usage, location, price, etc, Ritchie Bros said.

“Additional data and multilingual marketing tools are also a part of the RB Asset Solutions package, helping Komatsu Europe better understand when and how to sell and advertise their assets to the world,” the company added.

Karl Werner, President, International, Ritchie Bros, said: “We are extremely proud to have Komatsu, the second largest worldwide manufacturer of construction, mining and utility equipment, select RB Asset Solutions to grow visibility for its used equipment stock in over 20 European countries. We are so happy to see the tools and services included with RB Asset Solutions are already helping many OEMs and other large companies around the world.”

Royal IHC readies new mining cutter suction dredger for Kenmare’s Moma mine

Industrial minerals, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining techniques, Water management, , , , , , , , ,

Royal IHC says it has launched a mining cutter suction dredger (CSD) for Kenmare Resources’ Moma titanium mine in Mozambique.

The launch occurred on May 20, with the naming ceremony taking place on May 24. During the ceremony, held at IHC’s shipyard in Kinderdijk, the vessel was named JULIA.

The new custom-built dredger will operate at Kenmare’s Wet Concentrator Plant C project at Moma, according to IHC. It is the third dredger in Kenmare’s operation that was designed and built by IHC.

The design of JULIA was based on the success of the first two IHC dredgers in Kenmare’s fleet, MARY-ANN and CATARINA. IHC used the more than 10 years of operational experience the two vessels have had at Moma, plus its extensive knowledge of dredging technology, to update and improve the latest vessel, it said.

“Among the improvements are an increased cutter power and monitor pump power, both to ensure a high production performance of the dredger at Moma,” IHC said. JULIA is expected to operate at 600 t/h with the potential to be upgraded to 1,500 t/h in the future.

The vessel will be finalised and tested at IHC’s yard in Kinderdijk, before disassembly for transportation to Mozambique, where production is expected to start before the end of 2019, IHC said.

Royal IHC’s Managing Director of Mining & Tunnelling, Hans Greve, said: “We are very proud to celebrate the latest result of our long relationship with Kenmare with the delivery of the CSD JULIA. This vessel is the result of our close collaboration and sets a new benchmark for the mining industry.”

Kenmare Chief Operations Officer, Ben Baxter, added: “Kenmare is one of the world’s leading titanium feedstock producers and the addition of the Julia dredger will contribute to the company’s strategy of increasing production by more than 20% from 2021. Through the collaborative design and build process between Kenmare and Royal IHC, this best-in-class, bespoke dredger will deliver additional tonnage, while reducing unit costs.”

BTP and Peabody Australia extend Hunter Valley, Bowen Basin coal partnership

Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , ,

Ausdrill’s earthmoving parts and equipment subsidiary, BTP, has secured a three-year extension to its existing contract with Peabody Australia.

The extension, worth A$126 million ($85 million) and effective from April 1, will see BTP continue to rent mining and ancillary equipment to Peabody’s coal mines in the Hunter Valley (New South Wales) and Bowen Basin (Queensland). Peabody has an option to extend the term of the agreement by a further two years should it so wish.

Ausdrill Managing Director, Mark Norwell, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract extension and look forward to continuing to provide equipment and related services to Peabody, building on the strong relationship BTP has formed with Peabody over a number of years.”

CFPBJ bolsters training program with mining equipment simulator

Careers in mining, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Mining techniques, , , , , , , , ,

The Centre de formation professionnelle de la Baie-James (CFPBJ), in Quebec, Canada, says it has inaugurated a new mining equipment simulator as it looks to improve training facilities for its students.

The acquisition of this tool for mining sector training was made possible through initial funding for CFPBJ’s ore extraction study program, it said. In addition, the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur provided C$310,000 ($229,065) and the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail granted C$476,000 under the Programme partenarial pour la formation et l’innovation to purchase equipment for the program to train students in operating heavy machinery on forest roads.

The CFPBJ said: “This new state-of-the-art tool will reaffirm the CFPBJ’s position as an academic leader in specialised vocational training. Spending more hours operating equipment will greatly enhance the skills of students in programs devoted to ore extraction and heavy equipment operation on forest roads.”

Sonia Caron, Director of Services and Centre, said the centre was committed to continuously improving its training programs by ensuring they are as realistic and dynamic as possible. “Virtual reality in vocational training allows students to consolidate their learning and reach a level of development that will greatly accelerate their entry into the workforce.”

The simulator purchase will make it easier to learn how to handle heavy equipment on forest roads and operate underground mining equipment. It will also enable customised training for surface mines, the CFPBJ said.

“Multisensory simulation will allow students to test reality without the dangers of a real field operation. Students will be able to practice in all types of conditions, including unforeseen situations: punctures, mechanical breakdowns, fires, etc. In addition, complementary equipment will allow for real-time data analysis, and the simulation modules can be customised to reproduce the actual physical environment of partner mine sites,” the centre said.

Safety is also at the heart of the CFPBJ’s concerns, with Caron saying: “This simulator enhances skills needed to work safely and use the machines efficiently. The risk of accidents is considerably reduced because students have many hours of driving experience before they operate the machinery.”

The CFPBJ has been operating in the James Bay region of Quebec since 1998 offering a wide range of study programs in several industries, including mining, forestry, construction, health and administration.

BTI adds to Mine Runner utility vehicle capabilities

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , ,

Breaker Technology (BTI) recently released its Extended Wheel Base (EWB) Mine Runner, a mine utility vehicle that, it says, is purpose-built for the rugged underground environment.

Offering an extended chassis and improved payloads (from 4,000-6,000 Ib (1,814-2,722 kg)), the Mine Runner is also able to keep the total cost of ownership lower than other brands, BTI said.

John Wittenberg, Product Manager at Breaker Technology, said: “High uptime and low maintenance costs are given with the hydraulic all-wheel drive. Active braking from the hydraulic circuit eliminates conventional brake and axle wear significantly, reducing the cost of ownership.”

The Mine Runner utility vehicle is powered by BTI’s Hydraulic Wheel Drive (HWD), a fluid-controlled power train, resulting in 40% more efficiency than other vehicles with a conventional power train, it says. BTI explained: “This means there are fewer parts to maintain or replace, offering a lower total cost of ownership, and contributes to the longevity of the equipment. The HWD system offers lower emissions, which also saves on ventilation and energy costs for the mine.”

The vehicle can be customised for operational demands; whether it’s a personnel carrier, utility truck or simple flat deck, an increased payload and extended chassis allow mines to move more people and supplies through the tunnel safely, BTI said.

Wittenberg added: “The higher 6,000-Ib payload and extended wheelbase maximises the usefulness of the machine by providing a multi-person, multipurpose platform for crew and gear with an unsurpassed payload and speed in a compact package.”

The Mine Runner is easy to drive with its patented Advanced Braking and Tramming technology, giving the driver traction control with an automotive-style accelerator and service brake pedal, according to BTI.

Both the primary braking (service brakes) and the secondary braking (emergency brakes) are designed and tested to meet and exceed the regional braking standard and performance for underground mining machines. The tested and independently certified ROPS/FOPS operator and personnel cabins are standard with ergonomic seating and HVAC, the company said.

BTI initially released its standard Mine Runner All Purpose Vehicle in 2014. The standard Mine Runner’s personnel carrier is designed to transport up to eight passengers but can also be configured for other operational needs. It still offers a low total cost of ownership, providing mines with a safe and budget-conscious vehicle while keeping people and supplies safe when traveling through the underground mining environment, according to BTI.

Mine automation starting to take hold, RFC Ambrian says

Automation, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In its second report in a series on innovation and new technology in the mining industry, RFC Ambrian has tackled the subject of autonomous mining equipment, which, the authors say, has reached an “important level of maturity”.

The report considered both surface and underground equipment, but most notably surface mine haulage trucks where there has been an area of significant focus for major mining companies.

As the authors said: “This has reached an important level of maturity, although it is still evolving and its penetration across the industry is still in its infancy.”

AHS

The Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS) have evolved from improvements in GPS for positioning and navigation, developments in sensors and detection –particularly radar and LiDAR, improved computing power and on-board monitoring, faster and more reliable networks and internet connection, and the development of effective and accurate algorithms and software, the authors said.

“AHS has appeared , first, at large mine operations where the benefits have the largest impacts, due to the high component of fixed costs in an AHS operation, and in developed countries where there is a shortage of skilled workers and labour costs are higher,” they said.

Outlining the potential benefits of AHS is straightforward, but finding hard data to support it is more difficult, according to the authors.

“Companies have made suggestions about the scale of improvement, but they are light on detail, definitions are not clear, and the data varies between companies,” the authors said.

Suggested improvements in productivity have come from Caterpillar (15-20%), Fortescue Metals Group (30%), Komatsu (15%), and Rio Tinto (15%), according to the authors.

“These improvements are still meaningful, and corporate companies would argue that every mine is different and that the mining companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that have so far implemented AHS have the right to guard this proprietary information and hold on to the competitive advantage,” the authors said.

Autonomy in other surface equipment

The authors said they are also now seeing this same technology used to automate other operations in the surface mine. This includes drill rigs, dozers, loaders and ancillary equipment.

“Much of this equipment is currently, at best, semi-autonomous, although a few mines have implemented fully-autonomous drill rigs and dozers,” they noted.

“Moving this equipment to full autonomy offers significant production improvements, although the scale of actual savings is not likely to be as great as those achieved with AHS,” the authors said.

“However, we have not yet seen quantified the downstream benefits of the resultant improved drilling and blasting.

“The automation of earth moving machines provides another step to increased productivity within the mine. However, loaders face additional challenges as a result of the variability of the loading face and the risk of collisions with the haulage trucks.”

Due to the complex nature of the bucket-media interaction, developing automatic loading functions that are better than or equal to expert manual drivers with regard to performance is a highly difficult task, according to the authors.

“As a result, fully-autonomous loading is not yet commercially available. Some observers suggest that the implementation of fully-autonomous surface loading is still some five years away, while others believe that full automation is unlikely.”

Underground mining

When it comes to underground mining, the authors of the report said, as with surface mining, full autonomy remains the goal.

“Mining companies and contractors are constantly looking to use technological developments to better utilise their investment in equipment and human resources and improve safety,” the authors said. “Particular features of traditional underground mines are: long unproductive periods caused by re-entry times required for operators after blasting; and higher health and safety risks due to geotechnical and environmental challenges.

“The use of autonomy underground aims to increase the productivity of the equipment and improve the safety of the operators.”

While the aims remain the same, full autonomy in the underground mine is not as advanced as in the surface mine, according to the authors.

“Haul trucks are used less frequently in underground mines, although a few mines are using haul trucks with AHS. More underground mines perform a short cycle of loading, hauling and dumping from a draw point to a tipping point with LHD equipment.

“Implementation of autonomous systems underground for LHDs is occurring, however, as with surface loading, one of the major hurdles to automating LHDs is replacing human judgement required for filling the bucket.”

This has seen full autonomy being used for the hauling and dumping cycle, but semi-autonomy usually used for loading, according to the authors. “Successful trials of fully- autonomous LHDs have been achieved and Sandvik i-series now offers an automated bucket filling assistant as a standard function,” they said.

Underground drilling operations, meanwhile, are achieving increased levels of autonomy but are also presently only semi-autonomous.

Robotic rail operations

The authors then looked at autonomous rail haulage systems, a segment of the market that has gained in prominence in the past few years thanks to initiatives such as Rio Tinto’s AutoHaul in the Pilbara of Western Australia.

The authors said: “There has been some form of automation on worldwide metro systems for many years, but one area where autonomous technology has yet to gain a foothold is rail freight. Trials are underway in Holland and Germany but implementing autonomous train driving on a complex rail network, with passenger trains and freight trains, is more difficult than on a metro system.”

The one exception to this is in the mining sector and AutoHaul, they said, where Rio has completed commissioning of the world’s first fully-autonomous, long distance, heavy-haul rail network which is now in full operation.

Pace of implementation

Despite the acclaimed success and the relative level of maturity of the technology, the wider implementation of AHS does not appear to be happening very fast, the authors argue.

“The systems of both the two main suppliers (Caterpillar and Komatsu) are well proven and have delivered positive results, although, according to consultants, both systems also have examples of less-than-expected performance.

“Nevertheless, the technical issues appear relatively minor and there is interest right across the industry but, in spite of the potentially significant benefits, more mines are not now using AHS.”

There are a number of likely reasons for this, the authors said, explaining that one of the most important is a lack of skilled personnel.

“We believe there is a lack of in-depth knowledge of the technology and limited personnel with the requisite experience, skills, and training throughout the industry’s hierarchy,” they said.

“Further, there is a shortage of skilled autonomous operators, developers, and consultants, some of who are moving to the autonomous auto market.”

Important factors in the success of AHS appear to be the level of management commitment, planning, and focus in the implementation, with the best results reported from well-operated mining sites, the authors said.

“Another factor is likely to be limitations on equipment supply from OEMs for new equipment and truck conversions, either due to manufacturing backlogs or maybe market caution, limiting investment. This is allowing the OEMs to be more selective in their customers.”

The authors cautioned: “However, if the existing suppliers do not develop additional capacity quick enough this could create opportunities for additional entrants in to the market.”

Capital availability in the mining industry could also be an issue holding back AHS advancement, they said, although it is less tight than it has been in recent years.

“Certainly, some lower-margin operations might struggle to finance the capital, although the uplift in relative profitability could be transformational, with relatively quick paybacks,” they said.
And the historical conservatism of the mining industry is also likely to be a factor, the authors said.

“There is still a natural reluctance within the industry to adopt new or unproven technology due to the high capital cost involved and the potential operational and reputational risks involved.

“This will be compounded if the organisation has limited experience and limited access to the technology.”

You can read the full report here.

LiuGong appoints Kris Kulkarni as it strives for ‘world-class’ mining product line

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining people, Mining services, , , , , , , , , ,

LiuGong Machinery has made Kris Kulkarni Vice President, Global Mining, at LiuGong North America.

Kulkarni began his professional career at Caterpillar, in 1996, in structures, and steadily progressed in engineering roles across diverse mining products including large wheel loaders, mining trucks, surface drills, and hydraulic shovels, LiuGong said.

“LiuGong has an emerging portfolio of mining products, including trucks, large tonnage wheel loaders, excavators and bulldozers,” the company said. “Kris is exceptionally well qualified to help lead the transformation of this mining product line to world-class levels.”

LiuGong Vice President of Strategy & Aftersales and Chairman of LiuGong North America, Kevin Thieneman, said: “Kris’ extensive background and knowledge of the mining industry brings an exciting new dynamic to our company. As LiuGong is committed to expanding not only product its current line-up of mining machines but its overall understanding of these highly specialised customers, Kris will be an invaluable part of that growth.”

Kulkarni said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to join an organisation so focused on customers and employees. LiuGong has a rich 60-year history, and an inspiring vision for its future. I look forward to helping write the next chapter as we broaden the portfolio by designing and manufacturing machines in a larger-size class which offer our customers the lowest total cost of ownership.”

United Overseas Bank to extend machinery finance options for LiuGong customers

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

Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co Ltd and United Overseas Bank Ltd have renewed their memorandum of understanding to facilitate machinery financing for LiuGong’s customers as it expands its business across Southeast Asia, the companies said.

LiuGong and UOB have been collaborating since July 2018 to extend machinery financing solutions for LiuGong’s vendors and customers in the region.

Under the terms of the new MoU, UOB will develop an end buyer financing credit framework and offer asset financing and hire purchase or lease financing to LiuGong’s customers in Indonesia and Thailand. The bank will also provide LiuGong’s supply chain with other financial solutions such as cash management, trade finance, working capital loans and hedging facilities, the company said.

“The financing support for LiuGong’s customers will help the company drive the export of its construction equipment to the region, thereby growing its revenue,” LiuGong said.

Zeng Guang’an, Chairman of LiuGong Group, said of the MoU: “LiuGong is excited to continue its partnership with UOB. As LiuGong continues to expand our overseas business, one of our key goals is to provide customers with complete solutions beyond our machinery and financing is a large part of these offerings. UOB gives us this opportunity in Southeast Asia.”

Chen Hao, President of LiuGong Machinery Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, said the consumption rate for LiuGong’s machinery in Southeast Asia has been strong.

“For LiuGong, we are constantly listening to our customers and providing what they need, offering reliable machines with excellent after sales services,” he said. “Our customers told us that they require machinery financing assistance, we are happy to work with UOB to tailor made financing plans to them thus providing a total solution for them.”

Ronny Chng, Head of Corporate Banking Overseas, UOB, said the bank was committed to providing “integrated financial solutions that help companies optimise their business operations and expand across borders”.

He added: “Our unrivalled regional network connectivity, deep market insights, industry knowledge and strong expertise in supply chain financing enable us to support LiuGong as it expands its distribution network and increases its market share in Southeast Asia. We hope to work with more manufacturers from China to facilitate their growth plans in the region.”

The MoU was signed at the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Introduction and Marketing Conference, organised by the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The signing was witnessed by Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Lu Xinshe, and Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and CEO, UOB.

Schenck Process filling screen performance data gaps with sensors

Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mineral processing, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , ,

Schenck Process says performance data provided by extra sensors fitted to a prototype vibrating screen is substantially improving the understanding of operation of the equipment.

The data is also giving indicators about the overall performance of the processing cycle, according to the company.

Designed and developed in Australia by Schenck Process, the prototype screen is undergoing site trials, but the company already believes the new screen has the potential to change the way vibrating screens are developed and operated.

The standard condition monitoring system comprises two sensor nodes including six degrees of freedom MEMS accelerometers, a high-resolution accelerometer and a temperature probe. On the prototype screen, four additional sensors have been fitted, one on each corner.

Schenck Process Senior R&D Engineer, Doug Teyhan, said: “The measurement regime for the additional sensors includes spring amplitude and mean compression, allowing the estimation of tonnage and load bias (to determine if the feed is presented square to the screen or favouring a side) and the determination of spring operating characteristics and cumulative fatigue damage.

“We are also looking into the development of a predictive failure program to improve overall productivity and efficiency and significantly reduce the possibility of unplanned downtime.”

Historically, failure prediction has been determined by running components to the point of failure and assessing a mean time to this point based on a known operating history.

“The data generated by the prototype screen is utilised to estimate the operating stress of the screen at the most aggressive fatigue areas and assessing the cumulative damage of those areas based on the measurement of non-ideal operating characteristics,” Schenck Process said.

Using a Cumulative Damage System, which counts machine cycles and trend characteristics that have the potential to adversely affect vital component life expectation, the plan is to make the machine monitoring system a lead measure in predicting the potential for component failure, Schenck Process said.

“The expanded monitoring system will also provide input into machine development of the next generation of vibrating screens by filling in the unknowns in the design process with real-time field data,” the company said.

According to Teyhan, the benefits for the customer – including increased availability and improved screen performance – are substantial and have the potential to initiate improvements in the processing cycle.

“And, from a screen operation point of view, the additional data is bringing to light characteristics not previously known. It is highlighting transient feed characteristics – not visible using traditional condition monitoring techniques – that impact the loading of the screen and affect machine life expectation,” he said.

“We also believe there are potential industry-wide benefits, through new design parameters and possible changes to machine construction techniques and materials,” he added.

To optimise the greater range and scope of data the screen is generating, the company is collaboratively investigating and assessing other performance variables, it said. The potential is for control of the variability in the feed rate, more consistent performance and improved overall efficiency of the cycle.

Hitachi Construction Machinery delves into mining industry’s downtime issue

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

Maintenance or mechanical failures are often seen as the root causes of industry downtime, but Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM), in South Africa, thinks there is more to this loss in productivity and profitability than this.

A deeper look into the actual typical operating conditions in the mining environment reveals there are levels of downtime beyond these two, HCM South Africa said.

“A closer approximation of actual production time can be reached by applying an OEE (overall equipment efficiency) analysis on a calendar time-based approach, as opposed to a loading time-based approach, since the latter is based on theoretical total time and is more likely to give an inaccurate reflection of actual production capacity,” the company said.

“With a calendar time-based OEE analysis, then, a number of additional factors affecting productivity are taken into account:

  • “Unscheduled downtime (breakdowns/failures);
  • “Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance;
  • “Idle time (eg operator lunch breaks);
  • “Waiting time (eg when a shovel waits for a truck to be loaded/unloaded);
  • “Inactivity during moves between sites, and;
  • “Environmental disruptions (e.g. unsuitable terrain, etc).”

HCM said: “From this, it is clear that the true cost of downtime is notably higher in reality than in theory, and since many of these factors are beyond the control of managers and personnel, it clearly illustrates the importance of quality and reliability of the equipment itself to the overall viability of a mining enterprise.”

HCM supplies one third of all the hydraulic mining excavators in the world – a fact due in no small part to the “strength and reliability of Hitachi machines”.

“In fact, it is thanks to the overall longevity of Hitachi’s machines, and the fact that customers get far more than expected from their purchases; the modular designs employed in the newer technology machines, in particular, make for timeous and effortless maintenance routines, which play a significant role in production optimisation.

“Superior horsepower output, efficient engines, ergonomically designed cabs, advanced hydraulics, tough frames, and powerful arm- and bucket-digging forces make for formidable, robust machines that maximise production time to get the job done,” the company said.

This also makes for lower total cost of ownership, as the customer benefits from additional value over time, according to the company. “For example, a renowned mining customer has reported seeing extended life on main components purchased with the equipment such as the rigid dump truck wheel units, on which they have achieved in excess of 25,000 hours through the application of class-leading maintenance tactics in partnership with Hitachi’s site support personnel. With a very closely managed and monitored maintenance plan, they aim to manage these components to 50,000 hours.”

The company concluded: “Ultimately, it is through willingness to receive customers’ feedback and then incorporating it into their vigorous and ongoing R&D processes that Hitachi is able to optimise their machines and offer exceptional value.”