Production and maintenance personnel are rostered around the clock to ensure plant equipment availability is maximised and running as smooth as possible while faced with the constant threat of costly downtime. Critical components must therefore be constantly monitored to prevent any potential issues where unplanned repairs will result in a complete or partial plant shutdown.

Not only are machine components subject to wear and tear, abrasion, impact, dust, corrosion, humidity, and high temperatures, but there’s also the inherent health and safety risks that personnel face as they perform their day-to-day tasks.

This is why intuitive condition monitoring is such an integral part of any reliable industrial operation. The ability to diagnose and eliminate faults before they happen, subsequently improving operational performance, can’t be overstated.

An obvious, yet technologically sophisticated solution is machine performance monitoring. With more than 170 years of building reliable and innovative pumps, the ITT range of monitoring and control systems are designed for the mining, oil and gas, chemical, power generation, and biopharmaceutical industries.

The new i-ALERT3 wireless condition monitoring is a unique product that exemplifies ITT’s commitment to innovation in the industrial space.

Decades of experience and R&D in monitoring and rotating equipment technology, are packaged into the i-ALERT. This has led to the development of an accurate, flexible, scalable and easy-to-use machine health system.

The i-ALERT identifies issues and diagnoses mechanical and electrical failures in pumps, motors, and other industrial machines, before they occur – And, it does it faster, more accurately and cost-effectively, while enabling proactive intervention, reducing production outage and lost revenue.

The availability of automated, real-time diagnostics via a free mobile app, or Ai platform, prove a real value add alongside auto full-spectrum FFT and time wave-form vibration analysis.

Approved for use in IECEx Hazardous areas, which creates an even safer environment for operators, i-ALERT has a broad range of applications including pumps, fans, mixers, motors, gearboxes, and structural studies. Plant operators can integrate data with Control Room available, and can detect stage 2 bearing defects before failure.

ITT principal reliability engineer Omar Grand explained how the new technology is not only making machine performance monitoring easier than ever, but what makes the technology different to anything else on the market.

“Our new solution is ultimately designed to improve machine protection, optimise plant reliability, and reduce downtime,” said Grand.

“The sensor uses a wider vibration frequency range for more efficient issue detection, and also features a field-replaceable battery, which minimises replacement time and cost.” said Grand.

“The i-ALERT is an advanced remote condition monitoring solution that provides real-time insights into equipment health and performance. This is achieved through the combination of wireless sensors, data analytics, and cloud-based software that enable proactive maintenance and optimise asset reliability.”

Grand said that the i-ALERT features Bluetooth communication for easy set-up via the i-ALERT Mobile App, as well as expanded 24/7 capabilities through the i-ALERT Gateway and Ai Platform. “This enables users to track the performance of all their machines fitted with i-ALERT sensors in a single, convenient place, remotely from anywhere.”

Other notable features of the new system include robust wireless software updates that seamlessly add new features and enhance existing ones. Additionally, a new magnetic flux sensor that includes electrical health analysis capabilities for motors, accurate run speed and load trending, and faster wireless data speeds using the latest Bluetooth technology (BLE 5.0) reduces data download times with the Mobile App.

“Compared to other remote monitoring systems, i-ALERT offers a number of unique features that make it the trusted maintenance tool industrial and mining companies have come to expect,” added Grand.

For more information on how i-ALERT works, watch the video, call +61 8 9302 1855, or visit https://www.i-alert.com/

The post Next generation i-ALERT3 takes machine monitoring to new levels appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Hearing loss is one of the most common occupational health and safety challenges confronting mines across Australia. Whether it’s blasting or crushing practices, the use of earthmoving machinery, or mineral processing applications, mine operators are subject to unavoidable noise generation.

This excessive noise can result in workers’ compensation claims as a result of deafness and the impact on quality of life. Settling these claims presents an expensive proposition for mining companies. Reducing the prevalence of this problem reduces the healthcare cost burden placed on companies, which means they can allocate more of their capital to resource extraction and less on compensation.

However, detecting hearing loss is difficult as it builds up gradually over time as workers are exposed to noise. In order to better understand the day-to-day noise hazards workers are exposed to, sophisticated monitoring of noise exposure is critical.

Companies are regulated by law to implement noise monitoring systems into their operations. Now, Svantek’s portable and wearable noise and vibration monitoring devices present operators with the most comprehensive and sophisticated system on the market.

Distributed by specialist calibration and acoustic instruments supplier Acu-Vib Electronics, Svantek’s noise monitoring products solve a range of problems facing mine operators.

Health & Safety – Noise & Vibrations

For the personal worker, Acu-Vib offers the SV104BiS noise dosimeter. The device is small, lightweight, compact and cable-free, which means it easily attaches to the worker’s shoulder without inhibiting their work or movement.

This dosimeter records audio events through an attached microphone (with lifetime warranty) and offers real-time analysis. It transmits to an OLED display screen, which is visible in full daylight or darkness. Unlike traditional dosimeters, regardless of working conditions, the worker can quickly check on potentially hazardous noise exposure on a clear and brightly-lit display screen.

The SV104BiS is intrinsically safe in accordance with ATEX, IECEx and Anzex regulations, ideal for underground mining conditions where exposed batteries are prohibited. The device features a robust half-inch shock-resistant MEMS microphone, with a large dynamic range of 90 db. This allows it to measure noise from 60 dbA to 140 dBA. Health and safety regulations stipulate that average noise exposure above 85 dBA over an eight-hour working day is considered hazardous, and this dosimeter is perfectly designed to track these levels.

Aside from the innovative design of these wearable devices, the software underpinning its functionality is equally impressive. The SV104BiS links to an analysis system called Svan-supervisor.

Acu-Vib sales manager, Julian Kielt, highlighted the remarkable capabilities of this system.

“It’s software that’s dedicated to occupational instrumentation and report generation,” he said.

“It comes free of charge. Although some companies charge for the software, we offer clients the ability to download if automatically for free with purchase. You can save the files and set-up file, then simply just reload that setup file. Then you go on to the website platform, connect the device ready for the worker to perform their job, then download the report at the end of the day.”

An impressive feature of Svan-supervisor is the precision of its data generation, and the predictive capabilities built into the system. Worker safety can be tracked and analysed to exact time and location.

“You can use the system to map out the worker’s day, and track at each point their exposure to a potential noise or vibration hazard,” Kielt said.

“The exposure is recorded through the device and transmitted and analysed by Svan-supervisor. You’re essentially predicting how workers should operate, because the exposure might hit a certain level after three hours of work or so, the exposure might become too much, and then you can organise workflow to keep exposure within safe limits. All of this can be pre-defined with the software, if someone needs to change a job, or move to a different section, after three of four hours, because of exposure. And then you can divide up an eight-hour or 10-hour day, to reduce noise exposure, and mitigate how much noise a worker is exposed to. It’s a sophisticated reporting software program with predictive capabilities.”

Svan-supervisor can also analyse noise exposure captured over a period of an hour, and then stretch it out to calculate noise exposure over an eight-hour period. In this way, from a single hour of work, the worker and the company can properly and accurately determine potential noise exposure across a full working day, and then act accordingly to mitigate any potential safety failure.

Svan-supervisor fulfills complex tasks, but the setup and running of it is relatively simple. The software program is also tied to Svantek’s range of vibration monitoring devices. Like noise hazards, worker exposure to excessive and repeated vibration can have deleterious effects on health. Hand-arm vibrations resulting from jackhammers and drills, for example, can lead to pathological changes in the nervous system of the hands and fingers, commonly called white finger disease.

With no cure for damage to the nervous system caused by vibration, protecting the safety of workers comes down to one option – a preventative monitoring system.

The SV103 hand-arm vibration dosimeter and analyser fulfills this function. The dosimeter attaches to a strap that wraps around the arm, linked in turn to the hand in which the vibration occurs. Like Svantek’s noise vibration monitors, the SV103 is compact enough to take vibration measurements without interfering with normal working activities.

It’s integration with Svan-Supervisor supports data download, instrument configuration and provides a complete set of tools for the determination of occupational vibration exposure from measurements in accordance to ISO 5349-2 standards. Measurement results are expressed in m/s (squared) and can be directly compared to limits given by the European Directive 2002/44/EC. It’s also possible to convert units into Points widely used in the health and safety sector.

For whole-body vibration monitoring, Svantek has designed the popular SV100A. This device is particularly suitable for truck and heavy machinery operators and is already widely used throughout the Australian mining industry. The instrument is fitted to the seat upon which the operator sits. The device is equipped with both RMS and RMQ detectors which allow the calculation of daily vibration exposure A(8) based on RMS and VDV simultaneously. All measurement results are stored in a large 8GB internal memory, which permits continuous recording over long periods.

The Bluetooth interface enables current results to be previewed on a smartphone or tablet using the SvanMobile Android application. And like the noise monitoring devices, the mapping and predictive capabilities of Svan-supervisor makes this product particularly attractive.

“Imagine a miner is driving over a certain stretch of road. The SV100A tracks the vibration. It can then say, well, this miner shouldn’t travel on this road for longer than four hours, because the vibration exposure will exceed set parameters. So he should then hand over to someone else. A mine site can do its research, its measurements, and then figure out what these drivers are encountering at work,” Kielt said.

“You can map out the vibration that a worker is exposed to throughout the day, and with those data insights, you can create a sort of work log, saying workers can only work four hours at a time in this area of the site before they have to hand it over.”

This degree of precision is why Svantek’s noise and vibration monitoring systems are so remarkable. The marriage of tough and compact hardware with intelligent software means that when a company purchases these products, it isn’t purchasing a simplistic monitoring system, but one that actively helps them plan and map out a comprehensive and effective safety regime, all built upon precise data and real-time information flow.

Environmental – Noise & Vibrations

In addition to worker safety, Svantek has developed products to ensure that mines can operate under strict noise and vibration control guidelines designed to protect the surrounding environment and community relations. The blasting of rock and ore generates noise and vibration, and if these exceed certain limits, and if a mine site is situated too close to a nearby residential zone, the quality of life of residents can be negatively impacted.

Svantek’s portable SV200A noise monitoring terminal and its SV258 Pro indoor/outdoor sound and vibration monitoring system help companies comply with environmental regulations in a precise manner. The SV258 Pro is designed for simultaneous noise monitoring and ground and structure vibration logging. It sits on the ground in a lockable case, nearby a structure of interest, to record.

In the general cacophony of a mining operation, it is often difficult to isolate which particular sources of noise are breaching standards. To solve this vexing problem, the revolutionary SV200A, a top-tier noise monitoring station on its own, features built-in noise directivity technology. It can isolate and locate any source of noise, both vertically and horizontally, from an area of measurement, exclude other sources of noise, and then map out and report the targeted noise source using Google Maps.

The SV200A is linked into SvanPC+ software. With regards to reporting capabilities, when a monitoring station records a breach in noise levels, an alarm is triggered, with SMS and emails sent directly to workers in the field. Additionally, due to the noise directivity feature, operators know exactly which source of noise has breached a set threshold.

Whether it’s the precision of noise directivity or real-time analysis of vibration effects on workers, for companies who want precision and intelligence in their operations, Acu-Vib’s Svantek products are the way to go. All units are calibrated in accordance to NATA specifications in the Acu-Vib Electronics accredited Sydney Laboratory in Acoustics & Vibrations.

For more information, call +61 2 9680 8133, email enquiries@acu-vib.com.au, or visit https://acu-vib.com.au/

The post Acu-Vib Electronics: Precision and Intelligence for Mining Operations appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Working at heights presents many unexpected dangers. A dropped object, no matter its size, weight, or the height it falls from, can be disastrous and negatively impact productivity, operational costs, and the lives of site personnel.

Mines, oil and gas platforms, refineries, power generation and petrochemical plants, civil infrastructure projects, and food processing facilities, demand quality, reliable, and engineered systems that protect workers day-in day-out.

Although many different types of dropped object prevention systems exist, only one patented system has proven itself for over a decade.

Invented by BLH Safety Solutions founder Shane Gill, Stop Drop^TM Barricading is the original dropped object prevention solution used by the world’s largest oil, gas, energy, and mining companies. With patents in over 50 countries worldwide, the company is strategically positioned to supply its innovative barricading to projects, no matter the scale, location or climate.

According to Gill, Stop Drop^TM Barricading technology is truly unique.

“It’s like comparing night and day; no other system in the market, anywhere in the world, comes close. Our product has been independently tested and complies with the strictest industry, safety and quality standards on an international level. It is designed to withstand constant exposure to corrosive chemicals, salt water, high winds, flames, and UV rays, as well as the safe intercept or deflection of falling objects.

“It is the only system in the market with a 10-year lifecycle warranty delivers significant cost savings over the long-term. There’s no question over the product’s quality and longevity in the harshest industrial environments,” said Gill.

Stop Drop^TM is specifically is engineered to minimise the risk of falling objects from work areas such as platforms, scaffolding, access walkways and stairways. Featuring advanced polymer technology, it is quick and easy to install and remove, and the flexible polymer material is lightweight.

The product is not only fully recyclable and chlorine-free, but the polymers are manufactured in a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facility that meets the highest quality environmental standards, with lower emissions in the manufacturing process. It has been tested for both extreme heat/cold in one system, therefore there is no requirement for two systems like others in the market.

Gill highlighted the reasons behind the success of the product, which comes down to the seamless installation and suitability to existing industrial sites.

“Our innovative snap lock and clip-on design eliminates the need for bolts or additional fasteners, plus the smaller, lighter panels streamline installation with less manual handling involved. The panels can be easily attached to any railing configurations of different sizes, thicknesses, and shapes.

“In offshore oil and gas platforms, high winds and turbulent weather conditions can wreak havoc on exposed structures. Stop Drop^TM features a higher wind rating than any other available barricading system. It is Cat 5 wind-rated and has a lower wind drag (Cfig rating), so it doesn’t impede the structural integrity of the asset to which the barricading is affixed.”

Stop Drop^TM is non-heat conductive and UV stabilised with a 10-year UV rating, and is corrosion, chemical, fire, impact and glare resistant, and can be supplied with static resistance upon request. It is also free of sharp edges, pinch points or catch points, and does not obscure line of sight or block out illumination.

“Our barricading system is a proven, cost-effective solution for both permanent and temporary installations, and many of our clients now manage installation themselves, which saves money,” added Gill.

“You don’t need a hot work permit as no onsite design or fabrication work is required, and the quick installation minimises downtime. Although we have dedicated technicians available to install the product, we also offer installation training to our clients so they can utilise their own personnel.”

Want to become a distributor for BLH stop Drop^TM barricading?

BLH Safety Solutions is currently searching for reputable distributors globally. Whether you’re located in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South Africa, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe or the Middle East, it’s time to partner with the world leader in safety barricading.

Stop Drop^TM Barricading is a common sight on the world’s largest projects, which are operated by major oil, gas, energy, and mining players.

If you’re interested in becoming a distributor for Stop Drop^TM, please contact Shane Gill on 0419 592 868 or email info@blhsafetysolutions.com.

More information on the product range can be found at www.blhsafetysolutions.com/

The post Safeguarding your most valuable assets with the BLH stop DropTM barricading system appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

The Roy Hill project in Western Australia, is about to become the site of the world’s largest single autonomous haulage fleet, once all of its 96 trucks are converted to operate within this revolutionary new system.

This globally significant autonomous control system is the result of a collaboration between ASI Mining in the USA, Epiroc in Australia and the Roy Hill mine itself. Each partner has brought a significant contribution to the whole and the end result is a scalable autonomous solution that is OEM agnostic (ie: it can be applied to most OEM brands and models of mobile mining equipment). It has now been proven and field tested to operate at the highest level in one of the harshest environments in the world.

Development

For over 20 years, ASI Mining has been developing and building automation systems for mining equipment that were not tied to any specific make or model. They have been working tirelessly to offer a mature and viable alternative to current OEM programmes – their OEM agnostic solution. This end goal has now been fully matured and commercialised with the success of the Roy Hill project.

There are many advantages to this type of system for mine operators. Firstly, they are not locked into any particular make or model of haul truck, dozer or loader fleet. Each truck model is fitted with standard control hardware and a tailored actuation kit that converts the truck to drive-by-wire capability (which we will discuss later), which ultimately allows it to operate autonomously. ASI Mining’s system also allows interoperability at key points in the technology stack, which includes an interface with third-party fleet management systems.

This interoperability extends further though. At the system level and the machine level, the ASI Mining system can talk to the vehicle’s OEM onboard systems via various open interfaces. For participating OEM’s, including Liebherr and others, this allows the ASI Mining system to talk to the truck system natively. For other OEM trucks, ASI Mining installs a retrofit kit which converts the vehicle to autonomous control. In Roy Hill’s case, both Caterpillar and Hitachi trucks are controlled and monitored just as a human operator would.

Flexibility

Such a flexible and powerful system is also scalable across a variety of mining applications such as drills, blasting programmes, wheel loaders, dozers and more.

Modern mining is a constantly changing and evolving environment, which means that mining operators are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and remain environmentally compliant. Decarbonisation and the push towards carbon zero production is driving the industry towards clean technology such as electric and hydrogen powered vehicles. The ASI Mining system offers the flexibility to pivot to the truck solution of choice, regardless of its brand or powerplant. It is a future proof solution for autonomy.

Furthermore, having a system that can be fitted to a combination of makes and models provides mining operators with the broadest possible options for purchasing or leasing a new fleet. They are not locked into any particular brand and can therefore acquire trucks that best suit the application and budget, rather than having to purchase vehicles that will work with a given OEM autonomy programme.

The industry seems to have been asking for this type of solution for many years and it is now available in a mature, safe, compliant and high performing package with full aftermarket support, warranty and parts supply. It is a truly proven commercial alternative for autonomous vehicle control.

Iron Clad Partnership

ASI Mining started from humble beginnings. Their first project back in 2006 was automating a CAT 777 truck, building the hardware and designing the software. Over the years, they developed into a company that now delivers rapid and agile solutions in what seems to be two-to-three times faster than typical OEM offerings. The Roy Hill project has been their coming of age, however, due to its scale and rigorous demands.

The massive Roy Hill automation system had to incorporate, among many other things, a cyber security protocol, compliance with the WA Safety Code of Practice and it also had to be scalable to cope with 96 trucks and over a hundred other ancillary vehicles. In addition, the hardware had to be tough enough to endure dirt, dust, heat and vibration on a non-stop basis. Its software had to integrate with Roy Hill’s existing fleet management system (Wenco) and blend seamlessly with its daily operations, while delivering boosts to safety and efficiency. This aggressive and ambitious set of requirements has honed the final product into a truly global solution that can be tailored to any mining application.

Apart from over 20-years of development from ASI Mining, the final success of this ambitious project also required the critical input of Epiroc and Roy Hill.

Epiroc brought a considerable contribution to the table. Initially, they provided their experience to assist in commercialising the product. They applied the engineering knowledge from their world class drill technology as well as a local team of more than 100 staff to provide boots on the ground in WA. The size and scope of their operation also meant that they could provide logistics, global supply chain management, warehousing of parts and after sales servicing and maintenance.

Epiroc will also establish training boot camps around the world to train local staff and provide a controlled roll out of the system in due course. This will initially include the USA, Canada, and South America.

Roy Hill’s contribution of time, resources and operational expertise was critical to the ultimate success of the autonomous haulage solution (AHS) project. Onsite testing at the company’s extensive Pilbara operation provided the real-world data and conditions necessary to fine tune ASI Mining’s autonomous system and create a fit-for-purpose autonomous haulage solution.

In an active mine, it is not possible to predict exactly what can go wrong or when, so having the opportunity to test in the actual environment in which the trucks would operate was invaluable.

Working on site allowed a Roy Hill-specific solution to be developed that responds in a safe and predictable way, in accordance with their specific criteria.

Installation and Operation

ASI Mining has developed dozens of different retro-fit conversion kits for a wide range of mobile mining machinery, while its parent, Autonomous Solutions Inc. (ASI), has developed kits for well over 100 models of various machine types.

While much of the on-board hardware is standard, the actuation kit module is developed specifically for that particular vehicle, allowing control of throttle, brake, transmission, steering and tipping (in the case of haul trucks). Applications range from early Komatsu 930E2 trucks (20 years old with 60,000+ hours on the clock) to the very latest autonomous ready trucks.

Most of these trucks were not originally designed to be autonomously controlled so ASI Mining’s engineers had to leverage the OEM systems to gain access and allow remote operation and monitoring.

Each vehicle is fitted with two modules. The first is a tailored, model-specific, control kit which enables electronic actuation of the vehicle and allows it to be operated remotely.

The second is a generic automation kit, which also includes obstacle detection, system inputs from sensors and gives it perception capability. This module then allows the vehicle to communicate and integrate with ASI Mining’s software – Mobius. This allows it to become a fully independent and autonomous addition to the mine site.

Mobius brings the vehicle to life. This smart software not only monitors the state and position of the vehicle but also makes localised decisions based on its assigned path and tasks as well as right of way hierarchies and road rules.

The key to the whole system is the fact that each vehicle is fitted with these two modules, which allow it to not only perform its own duties but also interact with all other vehicles on site in a huge, orchestrated operation that never needs rest, is always operating at peak efficiency and functions with the best possible operating procedure in place for that particular piece of equipment.

Apart from monitoring the state and health of the vehicle and reporting any critical faults, Mobius takes information from the fleet management system and passes it to the truck.

This is used to create a route, determine speeds and generally set the behaviour of the truck once in operation.

Its onboard telemetry uses mission assignments received from Mobius and GNSS coordinates to plot its path, while its other sensors are constantly monitoring its proximity to other vehicles and obstacles.

Epiroc’s team handle the installation of both modules, which arrive on two pallets and currently take approximately four days to install into each truck. This installation time is constantly reducing though, as the team become faster and more familiar with the process. At the time of writing, Epiroc had completed 16 trucks, with 80 still to go. Installation is simultaneously being carried out on a fleet of support vehicles, including graders and dozers. It is anticipated that these will be completed at a rate of 15 vehicles per month.

Disruptive Flexibility

The net result of decades of development and this recent alliance between three highly complementary partners, is a highly flexible and agile autonomous solution, which can be applied to virtually any piece of machinery – regardless of brand, model or age.

Furthermore, the adaptive software and robust hardware allow the system to be tailor-made to suit any mining application anywhere in the world.

Mine operators now have access to a fully mature and complete automation solution that allows them to integrate all their equipment, from haul trucks to dozers and graders, into one comprehensive system.

A system which is OEM agnostic and will interact seamlessly with existing fleet management and monitoring software.

The Roy Hill project has given rise to a truly viable alternative to OEM autonomous vehicle control. Managing the largest single fleet of autonomous trucks in the world is an excellent way to make your mark and prove your value to other miners in Australia and around the world.

In a time when the mining industry faces unprecedented challenges in labour supply, a proven system for vehicle autonomy has never been more relevant or important.

Independence Day has arrived.

SOURCES:

ASI Mining

www.asirobotics.com

Epiroc

www.epiroc.com/en-au

Roy Hill

www.royhill.com.au

The post Independence Day – The time for a proven, alternative autonomous haulage system is at hand appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

BHP (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) have announced their intention to collaborate with technology providers, equipment manufacturers, reagent suppliers, start-ups, and research groups worldwide to improve tailings dewatering and management performance.

The mining giants are inviting expressions of interest from innovative thinkers who can help them identify a portfolio of tailings management partners to accelerate the development of technologies that could increase water recovery and reduce potential safety risks and environmental footprints associated with tailings storage facilities.

Tailings management is a critical area for safety and sustainability in mining operations, as tailings are the waste materials produced by mining activities.

Tailings contain a range of substances, including chemicals, metals, and minerals, which can pose safety risks and environmental challenges if not managed properly.

Tailings storage facilities, which are used to store tailings after they are dewatered, are also a significant source of dust emissions.

BHP and Rio Tinto’s search for new partners follows their previous collaboration on a large-volume tailings filter unit trial at a BHP copper mine in Chile.

The companies have now extended their collaboration and are looking for partners to help them develop new tailings technologies that can improve safety and sustainability across their operations.

BHP’s head of sustainability innovation Ingrid Oyarzun said that there are many innovative thinkers out there, and the company wants to bring them in as partners to help improve in this critical area for safety and sustainability.

Rio Tinto’s chief advisor research and development Saskia Duyvesteyn added that the company wants to tap into the wealth of great ideas and innovations that they know are out there and work together to find ways to improve safety and reduce the environmental footprint of tailings facilities.

Tailings management includes tailings dewatering and transport technologies, chemical amendment, and dust mitigation.

Ideas and technologies considered may be market-ready for mining, involve technologies previously applied in other industries, or may be original ideas at the earliest stages of research and development.

Interested parties are invited to obtain further information about the process and submit their expression of interest in becoming involved by visiting www.tailingsopencall.com.

BHP and Rio Tinto’s invitation to collaborate on new tailings technologies is an exciting opportunity for technology providers, equipment manufacturers, reagent suppliers, startups, and research groups worldwide to help improve safety and sustainability across the mining industry.

By identifying a portfolio of tailings management partners and accelerating the development of new technologies, the companies are working towards reducing the environmental footprint of tailings storage facilities and increasing water recovery while mitigating safety risks.

The post BHP and Rio Tinto to collaborate on tailings technology appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Remote Control Technologies, known as RCT, is headquartered in Perth, Australia, with customers in more than 70 countries. The company provides automation and remote-control solutions applicable for either a single machine or an entire mixed fleet of machines regardless of manufacturer or type of equipment. RCT also provides data and information systems, fleet and machine management systems, and machine protection systems.

RCT has about 225 employees and had revenues in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, of approximately MAUD 85 (MSEK 600).

“Automation is increasingly important for the mining industry to strengthen safety and productivity, and RCT’s advanced solutions complement Epiroc’s existing automation offering well. Together we will provide complete automation and remote-control solutions to support our customers on their journey towards optimal operations,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “We are especially pleased that Bob Muirhead, RCT’s founder and a true pioneer within mining automation, will continue in an active management role. We look forward to welcoming the strong RCT team to Epiroc.”

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter 2022. The transaction is not subject to a disclosure obligation pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. To learn more about RCT, please see https://rct-global.com/.

RCT will belong to Epiroc’s Parts & Services division once the acquisition is completed.

The post Epiroc to Acquire Leading Provider of Mining Automation Solutions appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Digital marketing expert and PWD Managing Director Oli Woods says user experience is king for mining businesses trying to stand out from the crowd.

Having recently worked with ASX-listed mining contractors NRW, Tiger Tasman Minerals and EV Metals Group to name a few, Mr Wood understands the niche of the industry and the challenges companies are facing.

And with a reduction in the number of IPOs in Australia and markets tightening, Mr Wood recommended telling the most compelling messages early — especially investor audiences.

“It’s a matter of telling target audiences what those reasons are as clearly and quickly as possible,” he said.

“For example, a company focused on battery minerals exploration should use imagery that highlights the end game – so electric vehicles, renewable energy – rather than the outdated outback landscape.

“We need to think about how clearly and concisely we show what the company does, what its service offerings and credentials are.

“Too often websites require people to read pages of information, download long-winded documents, or on the flipside, don’t provide anywhere near enough information but just go straight to the hard sell ‘contact us for more information’ without earning that right first.”

Mr Wood said a company’s online presence can make or break a business in today’s highly competitive market, particularly when they have less than a minute to communicate messages to site visitors.

“On average users spend just 54 seconds qualifying the information they are seeing,” Mr Wood said. “Users are making an immediate decision on whether the pages and information presented looks credible, authentic. And then there’s the added difficulty of holding their attention.”

Mr Wood said his company had experienced a surge in clients looking to enhance their digital presence, with PWD’s focus being website load speed, navigability and device compatible design. “Up to 85 per cent of traffic is estimated to come from a mobile device or tablet in 2022, so these days you must think about mobile first design,” he said.

“If your site is taking more than three seconds to load, statistics say you lose about 50 per cent of your audience before they even get there.

“The overall user experience of a company’s online presence can be the difference between securing an investor or strategic partner, or losing them to a more tech savvy competitor.”

The post Unearthing a gold mine through UX appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

The Australian Mining Review recently spoke to pipefreezing specialist Richard Griffin about what makes the company’s services so valuable for companies with a pipe issue?

AMR: How would you talk a potential client into using pipe freezing?

RG: The main advantage of pipe freezing is that we can maintain a system’s uptime and the client doesn’t have to shut that critical pipeline down.

Essentially, if people need to work on a pipeline, for example they may need to do a weld on a pipeline, the only way other they can do that is to drain the pipeline down and get all the water out of it to do their work.

What we do is we freeze the contents of that pipe – and it can be oil, it can be diesel, it can be water, whatever – as long as it’s got a hydrogen atom in it, we can freeze the pipeline and make a temporary block with a cryogenic ice plug.

The client can then cut open the pipe make their repair without having to drain the water, refill or purge the air from the system.. This saves water and crucial down time.

For example, say it is a bore line that might be 100 kilometres long– you are talking about millions of litres of water which they will have to work out how they will deal with it. By freezing just a small section of the pipe we can keep all that water in the pipeline yet still achieve the job that they need to do.

AMR: How large is the area are you freezing?

RG: It depends on the size of the pipe, the larger the diameter, the longer the plug we develop.

However with pipefreezing it is essential that there is no flow or air in the pipe.   In our job planning we work with the client to determine the best approach for their specific requirements.

AMR: What are some of the benefits your service is providing to mining companies?

RG:  The key benefit is maintaining system uptime. By pipe freezing we only need to isolate the exact area where work has to be carried out.  This allows the continued use of the wider system.  For example

I am about to undertake work at a major South Australia  mine site. Our work is focused on the ring main that services safety shower network.

There are only two  pipes that are faulty so they only have to replace a small amount of pipe work on these two lines, By using pipefreezing. the other 50 odd showers on that line, are live and ready to use.

The other are alternative would have required draining the entire system resulting in having the safety showers inoperable for whatever length of time it took, then to do the repairs and finally refill the lines to get the system back up and functioning.

Another example is a fire protection situation for a power station. That power station provides about 40% of South Australia’s power and there was a requirement to replace a valve on a fire protection line. Now there are probably around 50 valves of that size in this plant, but there is no other way to isolate them because the valve is an isolation point. If we didn’t freeze that pipe they would have to drain that line down which we calculated was carrying close to 700,000 litres of water. If that line is shut down then there is no protection for the plant

AMR: There must be a great deal of expertise and experience in operating a critical service like this. How long have you been doing this for?

RG: I’ve personally been involved for nearly 15 years and our technology partner in Sydney has been in the business for over 30 years now. We’ve successfully completed well over 300,000 pipe freezes between us.

We would be biggest dedicated pipe freezing group in Australia. .

We are also the only Pipefreezing company in Australia that has all the relevant ISO certifications, we are certified to ISO 9001:2015 / ISO 45001:2018 / ISO 14001:2015.

AMR: Finally, why would mining companies hire Pipefreezer?

RG: Mining is all about keeping the “beast” moving. One minute of downtime for a major mine is extremely costly and our bill is insignificant compared to saving just one minute on that plant’s run time.

At the same time, water is a very big component of a mining operation and where we can also add value is with water conservation. The miners don’t want to be dumping millions of litres of water in the desert to repair a pipe, when we can save them all that waste. There are new water conservation guidelines coming through so this is going to become more and more important.

Our purpose at Pipefreezer is to provide a cost effective and environmentally friendly method of pipe isolation on projects requiring pipe modification, pipeline maintenance or pipe repairs.

We add value for our customers by understanding their needs. We deliver quality, technical innovation, and a responsive service.

By partnering with us on your fluid isolation project, we significantly minimise system downtime and consequently reduce the impact of any pipe repairs or pipeline maintenance. One of the key benefits we can bring to the table is allowing your plant and equipment to continue normal operations with minimal disruption.

Pipefreezer’s passion is to provide a superior, value-add service to its clients in the mining, HVAC, plumbing, fire services and building management industries by offering cost-effective and first-rate solutions to costly and time consuming system drain downs.

Our aim it so keep our impact on the environment at a minimum and we always put safety first in all of our practices.

Our processes and procedures are innovative, well planned and client focused – designed to create value through saving time and resources.

Why should they choose pipefreezing?

• It maximises system uptime
• There is absolute shutoff – no leaks
• Its cost effective
• It saves time
• Its environmentally friendly – there is no wastage of water, chemicals, glycol or other pipeline contents
• It provides isolation for leak detection
• We partner with you to tailor the best solution for your particular requirements

SOURCE

Richard Griffin

Pipefreezer

T: 1300 747 373 or 0404 555 552

E: E: info@pipefreezer.com.au

W: https://www.pipefreezer.com.au/

The post Save Time, Money And Valuable Water With Pipefreezing appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

The XMPro platform – as a part of the Synertrex digital ecosystem – will facilitate the delivery of event intelligence, predictive analytics, and real-time insights. It allows for data orchestration and value creation from multiple sources, including sensors, miners’ digital ecosystems, and data only available to Weir Minerals as an OEM, like maintenance data and 3D engineering models.

The platform identifies critical events by applying AI and predictive analytics, which will provide Weir Minerals’ customers with the next generation of predictive services and recommended actions. XMPro facilitates easy collaboration between reliability engineering and operations by providing real-time information and equipment insights, viewed via mobile devices and the Synertrex intelligence web portal.

Weir Minerals also recently signed a digital partnership framework for strategic cooperation with AVEVA, an end-to-end pioneering industrial software provider. Weir Minerals will utilise the AVEVA PI System to collect and contextualise IIoT data streams, which will become the IIoT data foundation of its Synertrex digital ecosystem.

“XMPro takes an actionable and collaborative approach to data that closely aligns with our Synertrex digital ecosystem. It is a platform ensuring maximum customer value from all the data we collect, ranging from equipment and process data to the in-house data we have access to as an OEM,” Ole Knudsen, Weir Minerals, Director Digital, said.

“We see the multiple data source approach as essential to build the holistic digital twins providing ‘intelligence’ to our customers in terms of insights, predictiveness, and recommendations allowing for a proactive approach to maintenance planning and execution.
Within the foreseeable future, we see these platforms and the building of the multiple data-source digital twins providing even more value for Weir Minerals and our customers, which is enabled by closing the loop between real-time operations, equipment design, and manufacturing.”

The post Weir Minerals announces new partnership with XMPro appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Available from Control Logic is Emerson’s PACSafe Configurable Safety Controller for integrated Category 4, Performance Level e, SIL3 machine safety applications in the packaging, food and beverage, life sciences, and manufacturing industries. With an extensive library of TÜV-certified SIL3 function blocks, and icon-based, drag-and-drop configuration, the PACsafe controllers enable quick deployment and a safe state reaction time of 15ms, so you’ll no longer have to choose between performance and flexibility.

Emerson’s PACSafe solutions easily scale from small to complex machines, with the intuitive graphical-based software, complete with an extensive library of TÜV-certified SIL3 function blocks. This can enable quick integration of e-stops, pull wire, interlock gates, optical sensors, two-hand controls, safety mats and many more safety devices. Available as standalone free software or integrated into Emerson Machine Edition Automation platform, the software is complete with simulation tools, online monitoring and live diagnostics capabilities to provide quick system transparency.

The Din Rail expandable design allows up to a couple of hundred safety and non-safety I/O, with OSSD, dual relay safety outputs and configurable pin input output configuration. Choose from six different expansion models that ensure a scalable solution. The innovative LCD built-in display and diagnostics, enable users to actively monitor system status to assist in troubleshooting and commissioning.

PACSafe Configurable Safety Controllers come with built-in Ethernet with support for PROFINET and Modbus/TCP protocols that ensures industry automation device connectivity. With seamless safety control integration into Emerson’s industrial controls portfolio or VersaMax architectures, the PACSafe solution ensures reduced safety control development and commissioning costs into new designs or you’re existing PACSystem.

Unlock the full potential of your control systems without ever compromising on operator safety.

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The post Emerson PACSafe Integrated Safety Controller appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.