Tag Archives: simulators

Immersive Technologies launches ‘world first’ underground mining simulator at MINExpo

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The Immersive Technologies IM360+ is, this week, being unveiled for the first time publicly at MINExpo 2024, in Las Vegas, along with never before seen visual system innovations to drive value for underground miners, the company says.

This solution is designed for underground miners, who often face unique challenges in equipment operator training.

Equipped with a best-in-class visual system, the IM360+ is the first underground mining simulator to combine stereoscopic 3D, photo-realistic graphics and RealView™ head tracking technology, Immersive claims. “The IM360+ delivers realism and training value at a level not previously seen by the underground mining industry,” it added.

The platform builds on the success of previous Immersive Technologies platforms that have trained over 250,000 mining equipment operators across 51 countries.

Immersive says the IM360+ offers:

  • High Fidelity – class-defining 3D stereoscopic display system with true to life graphics delivers depth perception and sensory immersion at the highest levels possible;
  • Reliability & asset life – designed to operate continuously in harsh mining environments, the IM360+ uses professional-grade components with extremely high uptime. The platform is based on the most durable design in mining simulation that has a proven asset life of 10-plus years.
  • Training Value – providing best-in-class training value and continuous improvement capability, the IM360+ incorporates new technologies designed to increase training retention and trainer efficiency. Mine owners and contractors can expect the highest level of skills transfer to the job in the shortest time possible, creating real operational value, Immersive says; and
  • Safety & Comfort – the IM360+ incorporates best-in-class safety and comfort with air conditioning and heating capacity for the most extreme environments, zero trip ultra-low profile motion platform, and positive pressure airflow system to prevent dust entering from the mining environment.

David Anderson, CEO, Immersive Technologies, said: “Our close collaboration with mining companies paired with our extensive mining technology experience is a catalyst for innovation to solve real mining challenges. At MINExpo 2021 we launched the PRO5 for surface mining and the uptake has been massive due to the training value of stereoscopic 3D and true to life graphics. We knew that underground miners needed a similar capability, so we launched the IM360+ at MINExpo 2024. This is another big step towards our mission to make resource companies measurably safer and more profitable.”

Immersive says its Advanced Equipment Simulators are the mining industry’s benchmark solution for operator training and workforce optimisation. These platforms have verified real results from the likes of BHP, Rio Tinto, Vale, Glencore, Barrick, Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan and Anglo American.

Immersive reflects on 30 years of equipment simulator and training success

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From humble beginnings producing computer-based training for companies like BHP, Caltex, WesTrac and Macmahon, Immersive Technologies is now able to reflect on 30 years of advanced equipment simulator and training solutions.

By the mid 1990s and with only seven staff, the business was on a journey to develop the world’s first Advanced Equipment Simulator (the AES Series – 1, pictured above) for the mining industry.

The first commercial simulator was exhibited at the Diggers and Dealers Conference (Kalgoorlie, Western Australia) in 1998. The business opportunities exploded and the next two sales were overseas to Kaltim Prima Coal, Indonesia, and Geita Gold, in Tanzania, the company said. Soon after another “first” was launched with Immersive’s mining excavator range and then the “first” mining wheel loader simulator was delivered. In 2005, the first Dragline simulator was produced.

By the end of 2006, the business had sold 85 simulators in 17 countries and, by 2008, 155 simulators in 23 countries. By 2010, the underground range was released, and the business had customers in 29 countries. By 2016, Immersive’s exports reached mines in 40 countries.

“Fast forward to today, Immersive Technologies products and services are trusted by hundreds of mine sites across 49 countries and we are still driven by our passion to provide innovative and valuable workforce solutions,” the company said. “Having delivered over 560 simulator platforms and 1,400 Conversion Kits, simulating 22 different mining OEMs, our solutions to industry challenges are much broader than just simulator technology.”

Immersive’s PRO5 – Advanced Equipment Simulator equipped with 3D stereoscopic display and professional grade visual system

Immersive says its service and advisory expertise is extensive with a portfolio of work that delivers quantifiable value in mine safety, productivity, reliability and sustainability. As advancements in mine technology create new training needs, it develops new learning technologies to support operators and supervisors running collision avoidance and autonomous haulage solutions, in addition to Immersive’s collaboration with Komatsu in the area of tele-operation of mining machines.

“It has been our privilege to respond with agility to the needs and voice of our customers and to earn the mining industry’s trust,” the company said. “Throughout our 30 years in business and into the future, it is our partnership with you that drives us forward.”

Immersive Technologies equips EPSA with simulator program to train up truck operators in Saudi Arabia

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Immersive Technologies and earthmoving contractor EPSA have partnered on a new simulator training program in Saudi Arabia for community workforce development at a phosphate project.

The two companies, who have been involved in a number of joint community workforce development projects in the past, are pursuing a Komatsu HD785-7 truck simulator training program with a focus to enhance operational readiness and support EPSA’s strategy to train a growing Saudi Arabian workforce.

For the majority of operators, the simulator training program represented the first opportunity to get behind the controls and gain hands-on equipment operating experience, according to Immersive.

“Simulation provides a safe and risk-free environment to not only build basic machine operation skills, but also specific techniques related to safety, machine care and production optimisation,” it said. “One of the main project objectives was to streamline the training process at EPSA mining operations to ensure long-term operator productivity and reduced risks associated with newly developed workforces.”

Deploying simulation technology has, according to Immersive, aided in EPSA maintaining a level of zero percentage of lost time injuries from the project’s start and has also helped EPSA reach Saudization milestones with more than 80% of the current haulage operators being Saudi Arabian.

Mahfoud Snacel Training Manager of EPSA (pictured on the left with Lucas Natoli, Regional Manager for Immersive Technologies in Europe & Middle East, on the right), said: “EPSA aim to deliver a high degree of equipment availability and production levels for our mines. We also have an ongoing focus on improving safety. Our partnership with Immersive Technologies has helps us prepare workforces to meet these goals and to support a culture of safety and benefit to all workers.”

Johan Stemmet, Regional Vice President – EMEA & CIS for Immersive Technologies, added: “Immersive Technologies is fully committed to supporting EPSA’s strategic workforce development strategy. This includes ensuring the mining communities have the right people, process and technology to develop safe and productive workforces.”

EPSA also uses workforce development solutions at Isaac Downs in Queensland, Australia, and have acquired two PRO5 Simulators at its open-cut coal mine in Australia.

Immersive Technologies and Liebherr renew simulator and training tech pact

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With 16 years of delivering advanced Liebherr equipment simulators for mining customers to its name, Immersive Technologies and Liebherr have chosen to renew their technical information agreement for a further five years (20 years in total), Immersive says.

Immersive Technologies has a long history of providing quantifiable return on investment to Liebherr fleet owners, it says.

The first Liebherr mining equipment simulator was developed by Immersive Technologies in 2006 for a large copper mine in Arizona and, now, dozens of mines around the globe benefit from improved production, safety, and cost-per-tonne achieved through operator skills optimisation, it says.

The solutions significantly evolved over the years to include a range of haul trucks, excavators, shovels and autonomous panel add-ons for loader operators to manage autonomous haulage trucks.  These long-standing customer relationships have shaped the requirements for high-performance simulation, it says. With the two companies focused on customer outcomes, the following results have been recently achieved by mines:

  • 11% spot time reduction (fleet management data);
  • 36% reduction in machine abuse events (fleet management data);
  • 8% instantaneous dig rate improvement (fleet management data); and
  • 100% engine fire pass rate (SimData).

“We are proud that our partnership with Liebherr will continue for another five years, by providing high-quality training technology and working closely with mining customers we continue to significantly improve the safety and profitability of mines,” David Anderson, CEO of Immersive Technologies, said.

Sleipner Finland boosts site safety and productivity with new simulators

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Sleipner Finland Oy says it has taken the need for improving working safety and remote training to a new level with its E-series simulator products.

The company has launched both portable and static simulators to train excavator operators at mine and quarry sites, it said.

The two new simulators have been created for different solutions. The portable simulator is light and movable, while the static simulator is a training station installed at the working site. With the simulators, operators can be trained on the new E-series products, or they can be retrained to maintain a certain quality level for operating the E-series, the company said. And since the world has changed more towards working remotely, the simulators create the possibility for completely remote training.

Sleipner has now completed testing at two mines in Finland with around 20 operators. The feedback from the operators was very good, according to the company.

Teijo Höylä, Product Manager at Sleipner, said: “For example, we trained excavator operators at the Boliden Kevitsa mine. Many of the attendees had variable working experience with excavators. The new simulator saved our customer almost two full days of valuable production time. Also, I noticed that both experienced older operators and younger ‘PlayStation generation’ operators were able to learn on the simulator very quickly.”

Training with the simulator can reduce costs by 66% compared with traditional on-site training by saving fuel, maintenance and resources from productive work, according to Sleipner.

Karl Marlow, Training Manager & Product Support at Sleipner, said: “The mine supervisors were happy that we were not taking machines out of production. Also, there was not a classroom of operators waiting for their turn on the simulator, so they could return to their work until their turn.”

He added: “Normally we would do a classroom theory session with around five to 10 people pending on the mine production releasing operators. Then we could send some operators back to work and call them back for their turn on the simulator, as sometimes it can take up to an hour per operator.”

Benefits from the simulator training can be sorted into four groups: work safety, increased training efficiency, increased productivity, and lower maintenance and training costs, the company said.

Marlow added: “The benefits to the customer include no losses in production from taking two machines out for training, no risk of accidents or incidents as the training takes place in a classroom instead of the mine area, and less lost time by not having operators just sitting around.

“Also, the level of operating skills required can be zero, meaning untrained operators spend more time on the simulator rather than posing a risk in the mine or pit. The one simulator can cover both small excavators and larger ones. Also, all the tasks we cover in theory and practice can be done on the simulator.”

Holmesglen Institute invests in ThoroughTec CYBERMINE simulators for UG training

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Holmesglen Institute, a leading and diversified TAFE (technical and further education) operating throughout Victoria, Australia, will acquire two highly-advanced, fifth generation CYBERMINE simulators to train underground equipment operators.

The Sandvik DS421-C and DD420 simulators from ThoroughTec Simulation will enhance Holmesglen’s training offering in the mining and tunnelling sector, it said. The simulators will be deployed at the Australia-first, Victorian Tunnelling Centre at (Drummond Street campus) in Chadstone, Victoria, which offers specialist training to workers in the mining, construction and tunnelling sectors.

Associate Director of Holmesglen’s Centre for Energy and Infrastructure, Dr Ross Digby, said there was high demand for innovative immersive training.

“The new simulators at Holmesglen will teach underground workers practical skills in a safe, controlled and highly realistic setting that reproduces a variety of site conditions and scenarios,” he said.

Business Development Manager at ThoroughTec Simulation, Joel Leatt-Hayter, said the training simulators will help workers familiarise themselves with widely used machinery in Australia.

“The Sandvik DD420 drill rig is an immensely popular tunnelling drill rig used and proven throughout the world, while the Sandvik DS421-C is a rock reinforcement bolter for specialised cement grouted, cable bolt installations,” Leatt-Hayter. “Both machines are extremely complex pieces of equipment requiring a high degree of proficiency to operate safely and efficiently.”

CYBERMINE simulator systems are extremely effective at preparing operators for the challenges and complexity of real-world mining, allowing operators to hone their skills in a controlled, safe environment while being exposed to a wide array of scenarios, many of which would be impossible to train otherwise and consequently better prepare them for conditions underground, Holmesglen Institute said.

“As an example, operators can be exposed to jammed drill bits or even vehicle fires, which obviously would be difficult to safely replicate on the actual equipment,” Leatt-Hayter said. “It’s vital that operators are accurate in positioning the rig and booms to ensure accurate patterns are drilled and optimal blasts achieved. Of equal importance is the correct application of feed pressure, rotation speeds and percussion to maximise work rate without compromising drill string life.”

Holmesglen Institute has developed strong relationships with industry partners to develop and provide customised training for workers at its Drummond Street campus.

“Our aim is to give industry partners the training solutions they need for their projects and create the best possible learning experience for workers,” Dr Digby said. “The simulators offer a lot of flexibility to customise training. We’ll be able to meet changing project needs over time too.”

The two simulators being delivered to Holmesglen Institute will be deployed on a CYBERMINE 5 Base Unit which features full HD laser projected displays, 5.1 surround sound, and an advanced instructor station to develop customised training exercises and monitor students in real time. The system also features comprehensive debriefing and reporting facilities to further enhance student skill development and knowledge retention.

Immersive Technologies continues to support Liebherr fleet owners with simulator solutions

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Immersive Technologies says it is celebrating 15 years of providing “workforce optimisation solutions” to Liebherr fleet owners.

The company has a strong history of supporting mining customers in the development of safe and productive equipment operators, and, over the past 15 years, Immersive says it has brought the most effective and efficient Liebherr simulator training solutions to mines across the world.

In 2006, Immersive Technologies developed the first Liebherr T282 haul truck simulator for a large mine in the US. Rapidly thereafter the product range expanded to support a large range of hydraulic shovels, backhoes and additional haul trucks.

The largest end user of the Liebherr simulator range have been the Tier 1 Western Australia iron ore mines, while the Liebherr equipment simulators have also produced significant benefit to mines in 14 other countries, including multiple Global Business Improvement Award winners.

Some recent examples of customer value realised by training operators with the Immersive Technologies solution include an 11% spot time reduction, a 36% reduction in machine abuse events and an 8% instantaneous dig rate improvement.

David Anderson, CEO Immersive Technologies, said: “It is our continual focus on customer outcomes which has produced quantifiable return on investment for many Liebherr fleet owners across the mining industry. We are proud to support these mines, many of whom operate mixed fleets and benefit from our all makes all models approach.”