Tag Archives: proximity detection system

Komatsu releases updated Joy 02ESV battery-power scoop for soft-rock mines

Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, , , , , , , , ,

Komatsu has redesigned its Joy 02ESV soft-rock scoops with 240 V of battery power and OptiDrive technology to improve operator comfort and offer a longer operating time between charges.

Coming in three different models – 02ESV36, 02ESV56 and 02ESV60 – the scoops offer bucket capacities of 3-5 cu.m and maximum payloads of 18.2-28.7 t. The smallest scoop, the 02ESV36, is suited to seam heights of 91-160 cm, while the largest scoop, the 02ESV60, has a recommended seam height of 142-211 cm.

The OptiDrive technology can improve reliability, boost operator productivity, improve motor performance and help reduce maintenance costs, according to Komatsu. It is also easier to maintain and troubleshoot because it has fewer cable runs.

Designed to help minimise downtime, these scoops have new electronics that eliminate switches, and the colour display provides real-time operational and fault information to keep operators informed. Additional drive input modules allow the OptiDrive control system to interface with third-party proximity detection systems.

With less heat and noise compared with diesel power, the 240 V battery power contributes to improved working conditions. These Joy scoops also have improved motor efficiency for increased motor life and enhanced tramming, while improved ergonomics help keep operators more comfortable, Komatsu said.

To provide increased power and reduced downtime in the most demanding applications, the scoops are equipped with Dana drive axles configured specifically for the application. For durability and longevity, the centre section has been redesigned and includes heavy-duty pivot bearings and pins. The frame is rigorously engineered for reliability and transporting heavy payloads, according to the company.

Strata Worldwide sets down Canada roots in NORCAT Underground Centre

IoT, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , ,

Strata Worldwide is expanding into the Canadian market with a new partnership and office at the NORCAT Underground Centre in Onaping, Ontario, Canada.

The company officially launched its Canadian regional division, headed up by Ian Cadieux, in September 2020, and this new partnership with NORCAT will, NORCAT says, provide an unparalleled resource in supporting the company’s growth into the Canadian market.

The NORCAT Underground Centre is an operating underground mine developed to provide both practical, hands-on training for new miners in the industry and an authentic environment for innovative partner companies to develop, test, and demonstrate their technologies.

Ian Cadieux, Business Development Manager, Canada, Strata Worldwide, said: “Strata is very proud to be partnering with NORCAT at their Underground Centre. Since the purpose of this operation is to support the mining industry and enhance worker safety, Strata’s differentiated, safety-related product offerings are ideal additions to the facility.”

To date, Strata has installed its Level 9-compliant hard rock proximity detection and collision avoidance system onto an LHD machine and a light-duty personnel carrier at the facility. These installations will demonstrate the accident prevention safety features of the system and be used in training future miners on working alongside proximity detection solutions technology. In addition, Strata has CSE’s long-duration Self-Contained-Self-Rescuer (SCSR) units available on-site. These are the smallest belt-worn, one-hour SCSR units available on the market, according to the company.

Carole Charron, Assistant Manager, Operations and Technology Testing at the NORCAT Underground Centre, said: “We are proud to welcome Strata Worldwide to Canada and be home to their first Canadian office. They have an impressive product line, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with the Canadian mining industry. Technology is changing the way we mine, and for the best. Strata’s products, like their hard rock proximity detection and collision avoidance systems, significantly increase the safety of mining operations. It is a valued addition to our mine.”

Booyco Electronics expands into Chile with gold mine installation

Communications in mining, IoT, Mining safety, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , ,

South Africa-based proximity detection system (PDS) specialist Booyco Electronics has further extended its global reach with a recent contract at a surface gold mine in Chile.

According to Anton Lourens, CEO of Booyco Electronics, over 50 of its market-leading Booyco CXS systems have been installed on vehicles and other machinery on the mine. The installations followed a demanding testing phase which confirmed the customer’s trust in the technology, Booyco explained. The project was carried out in collaboration with Booyco Electronics’ distributor in the region – mining and industrial technology company Insucam.

“South America is a key focus in our drive to open markets abroad, so we are excited about the take-up of our latest CXS offering in that region,” Lourens says. “Safety on site is always a core concern for mines, and we value the opportunity to help them ensure that all their teams get home safely at the end of every day.”

Carlos Pinto Reyes, Business Development and New Technologies Manager at Insucam, says the customer analysed several systems in the market, finding that the Booyco CXS gave them the greatest reliability.

This latest generation offering is built on Booyco’s role in developing PDS solutions for over 15 years. Ongoing product improvement has allowed the company to continuously enhance its features and functionality, creating a best-in-class product, it says.

“After the installation of the Booyco Electronics CXS systems, every operator on the mine is aware of the exact location of machines and their distance away,” Pinto Reyes says. “They are quickly alerted to any possibility of collision, as the system tracks the trajectory, speed and position of each machine. Operators also appreciate how intuitive the system is, while not overwhelming them with persistent sounds.”

He highlights that the Booyco Electronics CXS uses direct GPS signals from three constellations of satellites to determine spatial positions, so it is not reliant on the GPRS coverage used by mobile phones. This is an important advantage for mines located in remote areas without reliable GPRS signal.

Lourens emphasises that the success of Booyco Electronics has been based on its high level of support wherever its products are installed, through which it builds long-term relationships.

“We therefore partner with credible companies like Insucam, with the requisite technical skills, resources and footprint to ensure the optimal performance of our PDS products,” he says.

Insucam has over a decade of experience in systems to improve the operation of mining machinery, and serves customers in South American countries including Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico.

The technology advances made by Booyco Electronics’ CXS solution elevates it from being a warning system only to being a fully-fledged collision avoidance system – avoiding collisions between vehicles or between pedestrians and vehicles. It therefore provides a comprehensive and integrated response to Level 7, Level 8 and Level 9 safety levels – as defined by the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT).