Automation

thyssenkrupp is expanding its solutions for bulk materials handling by developing its Train Load Out Station to use artificial intelligence and machine-learning techniques to improve loading accuracy.

The Western Australian Government invited nine of its regional mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies to the 2021 Austmine conference, ensuring small to medium businesses keep connected to the mining sector.

BHP Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) asset president Brandon Craig has emphasised the importance of technology for advancing the company’s productivity in the future.

Epiroc has acquired MineRP to improve mine productivity and efficiencies through multiple data streams.

GR Engineering has agreed to acquire engineering, automation and technological services company Mipac Holdings in an effort to enhance the company’s industry services.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has released a new tunnelling jumbo, the DT923i, for high power face drilling in tunnel and cavern excavations.

ABB and Hitachi Construction Machinery have agreed to work together to develop electric, automated and digital solutions to mining trucks and excavators.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted mining by pushing the industry further in the path of digital and cultural development. Vanessa Zhou speaks with Deloitte Australia partner, consulting, Paul Klein about the prevailing shift.

Kirkland Lake Gold has outlined zero harm and a lower environmental footprint in its requirements for technology innovation at the Fosterville gold mine in Victoria.

Austmine speaks with Accenture about the approach mining companies should take in evaluating the needs and benefits of automation in their projects.

FLSmidth has received an order for its BulkExpert digital solution from a customer in Brazil. The solution will fully automate the stockyard operation of two large iron ore shipping export terminals in the south of the country.

BHP chief executive Mike Henry has confirmed in a shareholder Q&A session this week that the company isn’t currently planning to introduce fully autonomous trains.

The adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the mining sector has highlighted the lack of skills needed to deploy it, according to Inmarsat research program, the Rise of IoT in Mining.

ABB has partnered with the Enterprise Transformation Partners (ETP) and the University of Western Australia (UWA) to digitalise Gold Fields Australia’s Granny Smith mine in Western Australia.

Bis has announced a joint venture with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to launch mining technology company Auto-mate.

WesTrac has opened an autonomous technology training centre near Collie in Western Australia – the second facility of its kind in the world.

More than 20 Sandvik employees have signed up for a digital training course being piloted by vocational training bodies across the country.

Rio Tinto has pledged almost $60 million to accelerate the development of automation skills in Western Australia’s mining workforce.

Mining operations can reap huge benefits from automating their drill and blast operations, but Drilledge says workforces must have the right amount of expertise to take full advantage of the technology. 

Scott Technology has started constructing an automated mine site laboratory at Rio Tinto’s Koodaideri Iron Ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.