Tag Archives: Tom Cawley

MaxMine talks up data-led emission reductions for open-pit mines

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

MaxMine has been talking up the potential of data in the quest for reducing emissions and boosting productivity at mine sites, with Tom Cawley, Executive Chair and Interim CEO, arguing that there is still plenty of low hanging fruit for mining companies to leverage on their way to achieving longer-term net zero mining targets.

MaxMine, the company says, is an automated, high-resolution data-based business reporting tool that combines advanced data acquisition technology with AI analysis to fully optimise mobile equipment and operator performance within mining and other mobile equipment-based operations, measuring performance differently and using gamification to change behaviours.

According to Cawley, the average open-pit mine can reduce Scope 1 emissions by up to 10-15% by leveraging data, with MaxMine insights enabling this average open-pit mine to improve productivity while also reducing its carbon footprint by around 15,000-20,000 t of CO2.

IM put some questions to Cawley to find out more.

IM: In terms of your expanding product portfolio, where are clients receiving the biggest and potentially quickest return on investments (ROIs) from your solutions?

Tom Cawley, Executive Chair and Interim CEO of MaxMine

TC: MaxMine has the most extensive dataset in the open-cut load and haul mobile mining equipment sector. We continuously collect data from all sensors across 10 original equipment manufacturers or equipment manufacturers. We have around eight million hours of data, enabling MaxMine to provide unique levels of measurement in the mining sector and equip us with an unparalleled range of potential applications. This enables us to cover a broad scope across all mines while delivering tailored solutions to our clients, depending on their requirements from site to site.

The areas of the highest value proposition for our clients include improved TMM (total material moved) by increased payload, reduced cycle times via driver feedback, improved haul road conditions, enhanced safety and faster incident investigations. Cost reductions are delivered by reduced queueing, off-haul travel, idle time, and improved tyre life. High-resolution data is used to measure the performance of and diagnose mining trucks delivering greater efficiency via engine performance improvements and increased availability via predictive analytics and faster fault resolution.

IM: Although you have a specific product focused on decarbonisation (MaxMine Carbon), would you say the majority of your solutions are providing emission reduction benefits? In terms of adding new clients, is this where a lot of the emphasis is?

TC: Yes, there is a strong correlation between productivity and fuel intensity reduction. The better productivity, the better the carbon intensity.

MaxMine Carbon enables mine sites to measure fuel burn on every asset, every second of the day. MaxMine’s high resolution data allows the difference between business as usual and improved operations to be measured, allowing the fuel saved to be included in the productivity benefits.

MaxMine’s high resolution data is used to:

  • Measure actual truck performance, identify trucks operating below design efficiency and provide diagnostic information; and
  • Provide granular feedback to drivers, which can be used to reduce fuel burn.

MaxMine Carbon isn’t only a separate fuel-saving feature; its capability allows open-cut mining companies to measure, manage and reduce their carbon footprint associated with Scope 1 diesel emissions and reduce operating costs related to diesel consumption.

IM: Where is the development of MaxMine Carbon for underground mining? What timelines do you have around the development and rollout of this solution?

TC: Open-cut mining is a large sector and offers significant opportunities for growth. It is much more energy-intensive at the equipment level compared with underground mining.

MaxMine is growing robustly in this area, and we’ll continue focusing on further penetration in the open-cut mining space in the near and medium term.

IM: Is your market proposition stronger at bulk mining operations than others?

TC: Our market is focused on open cut-mining and larger-size trucks, with a size class greater than 100 t.

IM: Outside of your existing portfolio, where do you see room for growth with different solutions? Are you actively engaged in pursuing such opportunities?

TC: We continue to focus and remain disciplined on our core markets, and our unique selling proposition delivers huge opportunities for MaxMine and the open-cut mining industry.

MaxMine taps Snowflake data cloud capabilities to aid mining’s net-zero ambitions

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MaxMine, a technology solution for open-pit mines sites, has chosen Snowflake, the data cloud company, to help mine sites become more efficient, safer and environmentally sustainable as customers race to achieve net zero by 2050, it says.

Under the collaboration, Snowflake’s single, integrated platform will manage more than 25 TB of MaxMine’s operational data from its mining clients, providing high-quality data and near real-time analysis to help mining supervisors and operators, including those in remote locations, improve equipment lifespan, optimise their operations, make informed decisions faster and deliver operational changes in their sites.

By leveraging the Snowflake data cloud, MaxMine continues to build out its core product analytics capability, creating large critical data sets in running complex and large-scale queries on regular schedules, it says. The Snowflake data cloud will equip the company’s customer-facing business intelligence and product development teams to decouple their workloads to maximise value to our customers, MaxMine says.

Tom Cawley (pictured), Executive Chair and Interim CEO, MaxMine, says the average open-pit mine can reduce Scope 1 emissions by up to 10-15% by leveraging data.

He said: “MaxMine employs data enabling the average open-pit mine to improve productivity whilst also reducing its carbon footprint by around 15,000-20,000 t of CO2. At the same time, MaxMine’s safety solutions use data to determine incident causes and opportunities to improve truck operator behaviour. Huge amounts of data are vital to our mission to get Mining Done Different, so we needed a partner of Snowflake’s calibre. With Snowflake, we are able to derive greater value and deliver tangible benefits to our customers, supporting them and accelerating their decarbonisation journey.”

Ben Chartier, Head of Product Development, MaxMine, added: “We were impressed with Snowflake’s approach to decoupling compute and storage from the underlying data technology. With Snowflake, we were able to get a technical proof of concept up and running in a week, and so were able to demonstrate a meaningful capability uplift with a short time to value.”

Theo Hourmouzis, Regional Vice President, Snowflake Australia and New Zealand, said: “Snowflake looks forward to the continued collaboration with MaxMine, using data as the driving force, leveraging advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, enabling more mining operators globally to improve efficiency and achieve their net zero goals.”

MaxMine equips customers by maximising payloads, reducing idle time, off-haul or wasted operation and more efficient driving, the company says. With MaxMine’s innovative technology and data analytics capabilities using custom-built smart algorithms, AI and intuitive software, the company can support mining companies in developing a pathway to lower carbon emissions that maintains or even increases production.

Former BHP data strategist to lead open-pit mining equipment data specialist MaxMine

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Former BHP Global Data Strategy Lead, Coert Du Plessis, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of mining technology business MaxMine.

Du Plessis commenced in the role of Chief Operating Officer of MaxMine on May 1, 2020, working with MaxMine’s management team behind the scenes over the past 12 months to successfully configure and guide MaxMine through its significant Series A funding round announced last month, the company said.

MaxMine is an automated, high-resolution data-based business reporting tool that combines advanced data acquisition technology with AI analysis to fully optimise mobile equipment and operator performance within mining and other mobile equipment-based operations, measuring performance differently and using gamification to change behaviours.

On July 1, 2021, Du Plessis was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Du Plessis commenced his professional career with global consulting firm, Deloitte, moving up the ranks to become senior partner before the age of 40. He then established and led the firm’s Western Australia data analytics practice. He then moved to BHP to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies and cultivate collaborative ways of working. His scope at BHP included the design and establishment of an Innovation Mine at BHP’s Eastern Ridge operations in Western Australia, developing the BHP Dahling Industrial IoT platform, embedding next generation digital technologies at existing operations and major new capital projects – such as Jansen – and steering the final technology investment review of the South Flank iron ore project.

Du Plessis said three things ultimately convinced him to move from BHP to take up the new roles at MaxMine:

  • “One, the calibre of the existing leadership team and their adaptive business mindset; demonstrated in successfully raising growth capital in a year disrupted by COVID;
  • “Two, generating industry leading data quality and confidence in their results, an order of magnitude better than incumbent fleet management system. It means MaxMine users transition from teams arguing about the validity of data to knowing what needs to be done next; and
  • “Three, the ability to over-come digital inertia and drive technology adoption with front line operators and operational leadership teams month in and month out.”

He added: “It was inspirational to see the speed at which the MaxMine team could develop these incredible technologies and develop the unique delivery approaches whilst maintaining an incredible focus on customer value.

“MaxMine has gone further than any other technology product and service I have come across in solving the challenge of delivering consistent value for mine site operations. The quality of MaxMine’s data asset sets us apart in the industry, and we believe we can apply the same operational improvement approach that allows us to enable delivery of more tonnes of ore, to also significantly reduce CO2 tonnes expelled in mining operations. Moving beyond the growing list of CO2 reduction aspirations to reductions delivered is an outcome I deeply care about.”

MaxMine Director, Robin Schleich, who is also Dupont Sustainable Solutions’ global operations director, said: “Mining companies need, and want, to partner with true industry innovators such as MaxMine to help them navigate the ramp up in digital disruption in the industry and combat growing operational cost pressures.

“Based on the significant investment last month, it is clear MaxMine provides one of the strongest platforms to drive industry productivity and emissions transformation.”

MaxMine’s outgoing CEO, Tom Cawley, will transition to Executive Chair, focusing on adjacent business opportunities for the company and setting up the board to support the company’s growth.