Tag Archives: Todd Peate

RCT boosts automation capabilities of Jevons Robotics ARTEV6000 explosives/stemming unit

Automation, Explosives and blasting, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , ,

Jevons Robotics can now deliver explosives or stemming via its ARTEV6000 product using RCT’s remote control set either via line-of-sight or teleremote control, RCT reports.

Implementing this technology has eliminated the need for personnel to conduct quality assurance or load the blast holes manually, removing exposure hours associated with highwalls, cavities and fatigue. The company has been demonstrating this to interested parties via pilot unit at the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct in Western Australia.

RCT’s Custom Manager, David Wright, said this project was different to any job done before and, therefore, its specialised bespoke department was given the job.

“It is the first time we have remote controlled this type of vehicle carrying out this job scope,” he said. “We were able to use standard loader code, getting it on the machine and talking to the machine.”

The job, in its manual state is well-known as being high risk, which also makes the role difficult to not only recruit for but then retain the staff.

“The great thing about the Jevons platform is that it can be used for a variety of applications on a mine site to remove additional hazards and its flexibility is something that will bring great value to the industry, so we were so pleased to be able to work together on it,” Wright added.

Jevons Robotics CEO, Todd Peate, said that when Jevons was looking for a teleop and line-of-sight capability, it was immediately drawn to the established competency of RCT and its deep experience in mining.

“We wanted a solution that eased our customers mind on automating this process and we certainly have that with RCT,” he said.

ABD Solutions to collaborate with Jevons Robotics on automation-enabled EVs

Automation, Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

UK-based ABD Solutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Australia-based Jevons Robotics to integrate its autonomy and communications platform, Indigo Drive, with Jevons Robotics’ suite of automation-enabled industrial electric vehicles.

These vehicles will be operated autonomously and supervised from a central control room improving safety and streamlining the mining process, both operationally and financially, ABD says.

Todd Peate, CEO of Jevons Robotics, said: “We are delighted to announce a long-term partnership with ABD Solutions, a globally regarded automation company with substantial experience working with autonomous mining solution providers. We are focused on changing the way the world currently works in hazardous environments. We are working with several mining companies to deploy payload-agnostic driverless electric vehicles to operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably within hazardous working environments.”

Peate said the Jevons Robotics team will be working closely with ABD Solutions, leveraging its knowledge and experience for the benefit of its partners and the industry.

“The automated electric vehicle solution brings significant improvements to safety by removing people from high-risk work areas, as well as providing increased operational efficiency and employee engagement,” he added.

ABD Solutions Managing Director, Matthew Price, said: “We very much look forward to working with Jevons and forming a long-term partnership. We have experience implementing automation across a huge range of vehicles, including electric, so our solutions are great fit for Jevons.”

With a focus on safety, Indigo Drive enables site operations to become more efficient and safer by limiting employee exposure to extreme, dangerous and often unpredictable environments, ABD says.

Back in August, ABD signed an agreement with AIM- and TSX-listed Amaroq Minerals Ltd to investigate the potential for the introduction of vehicle autonomy systems for various mining vehicles at the Nalunaq gold mining project site in Greenland.

Bis looking at hybrid, electric and automated Rexx haul truck variants, Peate says

Automation, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Power supply for mines, , , , , , ,

Bis is already offering clients a “step change in flexibility and efficiency” with its Rexx haul truck, but Chief Development Officer, Todd Peate, says the company has plans to offer hybrid, electric and automated versions of the 160 t payload vehicle as it looks to offer customers a further boost in productivity and their environmental footprint.

Speaking in a blog post on Bis’ website, Peate said the launch of Rexx, a solution that can come out of pit and travel up to 30 km while reducing fuel consumption up to 40%, is a fantastic example of a lower cost approach to running mining fleets.

Rexx was launched in 2018, with Peate saying six customers have been running detailed trials of this solution during 2019 and 2020 as part of fleet replenishment and cost optimisation project assessments.

Among these are trials at Gold Fields’ Granny Smith mine and Glencore’s Murrin Murrin operation, both in Western Australia.

“Rexx speaks directly to improvements in environmental footprint and productivity for our customers,” he said, adding that, in Bis’ short- to medium-term roadmap, variants will be available in both hybrid and electric forms, with the existing solution capable to be retrofitted with automation capability.

“With the success of Rexx and feedback from the market, we have a roadmap for a product family that will see Rexx continue to grow well into the back end of this decade and beyond,” he said.

Meanwhile, in other areas, Bis is developing a “category disruptor” in the underground market in the early part of 2021, Peate said.

He concluded with the news: “From an automation point of view, we’ll be bringing something to the market very soon in the form of an offering that has potential application for not only our equipment, but for all equipment in the industry.

“Stay tuned!”