International Mining

Is AI mining's next frontier? Last week at MINExpo, Weir Minerals launched its new digital offering, NEXT™ Intelligent Solutions, which, it says, extends and expands Weir's current capabilities and transforms its process optimisation services into real-time digital solutions. Built by experts who have a proven record in delivering innovative technology into the toughest mining applications, NEXT is all based on Weir's unmatched experience in supporting customers. Weir knows its market-leading products better than anyone, and when this expertise is combined with the latest in AI capability and the modelling of its proprietary data, it is able to make a real difference to customers. The company has packages available for all of its market-leading solutions – pumps, cyclones, HPGR, screens and hoses and spools. These are built around key customer needs: Insight – Actionable visibility of system health and performance; Uptime – Extend availability using predictive condition monitoring; and Production – Maximise process efficiency with AI-powered optimisation. All of these packages are fully supported by its unmatched service centre network – bringing customers closer than ever to its experts. Find out more in this in-depth interview with Ole Knudsen, Director – Minerals Digital, Weir; Martin Rugfelt, Director – Intelligent Operations, Weir; and Bjorn Dierx, Global Product Manager – HPGR, Weir. #Digitalmine #NEXTIntelligentSolutions #MINExpo2024

‘The’ mine electrification talking point Running through the three halls at MINExpo 2024 in Las Vegas last month, the electrification theme was everywhere – numerous booths pulled in attendees with battery symbolism or, in some cases, actual electric machines; others presented new concepts, with variations of dynamic trolley being a particular talking point. While it is clear there is a wider ‘electric’ offering coming to the market, it is also becoming apparent that the discussion must move on from individual electric machine capabilities to the wider infrastructure at hand and how to manage a site’s available energy constraints. For IM this was crystallised during several meetings around the show, with the two notable examples coming from a discussion with Joachim Braun, Division President at ABB Process Industries, and a presentation from Brian Weller, Vice President of Electrification for Caterpillar Inc. During these discussions and more, it became clear that the energy management paradigm will require mine sites of the future to have even more integrated workflows underlined by higher levels of autonomy. It is this understanding that will lead to an accelerated uptake of electric solutions from where the industry is today. Read the full piece below for more... #mineelectrification #TheElectricMine #MINExpo2024 #energymanagement Sylvain FROIN Cat Mining

Iberian Pyrite Belt growth reflected in new Sandvik machine handovers at MMH At the 5th MMH. Mining and Minerals Hall event, being held in #Seville, #Spain, this week and being attended by International Mining Editorial Director Paul Moore, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has handed over some major equipment units to key customers in the region. The size of the MMH this year, with the exhibition covering all three FIBES-Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Sevilla halls, and the presence of numerous machines enroute to customers, are indicative of the growth being seen in the #IberianPyriteBelt which straddles Spain and #Portugal – both at existing mines and through major greenfield projects in the pipeline. First off, inside Pavilion 2 of the impressive #Fibes event centre, Sandvik has been showcasing its twin boom DD422i smart face drilling rig, which is destined for mining customer Sandfire MATSA, which operates three underground #copper-#zinc-#lead mines in Spain’s #Huelva province – #AguasTeñidas, #Magdalena and #Sotiel. The new rig is being deployed to Aguas Teñidas. The presentation was made to Rob Scargill, CEO of Sandfire MATSA; along with Manuel Picón, Maintenance Manager; and Victor Manuel González, Mine Manager. Sandvik Ibérica was represented by Enrique Mota, General Manager and RAFAEL CABRERA, Commercial Manager of the South Zone. Sandvik states: “We hope you enjoy your new smart drilling rig, and as always, thank you very much for trusting us once again.” The DD422i offers a 60 m2 coverage and according to Sandvik has one of the widest ranges of automatic drilling functions available in its class, allowing it to achieve reduced over-breaking with maximised pull-out per blast. Moving to the outside area in front of the Fibes entrance to the MMH event, Sandvik has three machines on display during the event – a Pantera DP1100i hydraulic, diesel-powered, self-propelled top hammer drill rig; plus two underground machines – a large 21 t class Sandvik LH621i LHD in a loading position above a 63 t payload Sandvik Toro TH663i #miningtruck. The #Pantera #DP1100i and #LH621i loader were earmarked for Sandvik’s customer, the major mining contractor and mining services company INSERSA, and were officially handed over on the afternoon of the second day of the event on October 16. The ceremony took place in the presence of Francisco de Aspe, President of INSERSA, together with Javier de Aspe, CEO; Rafael Moreno, Financial Director; and Manuel Martín, Director of Mining. The #LHD is the 48th delivered to INSERSA, and the Pantera crawler drill the 15th. Finally, the Sandvik Toro #TH663i mining truck is heading to Sandvik’s Portuguese distributor Cimertex for deployment to Almina - Minas do Alentejo S.A.’s zinc-lead-copper mine in #Aljustrel, Portugal. It is part of a major contract announced in July this year for ALMINA through Cimertex. #futureofmining #Iberianmining

More Cat XE underground loaders on the way Having additional success selling underground loaders to mining customers, Caterpillar Inc. is gearing up to release more machines that leverage that same “architecture” technology as the Cat® R2900 XE diesel-electric LHD, Mike Berry, Vice President and General Manager of Load and Haul for Caterpillar, told IM at last month's MINExpo. “Similar to rolling out this technology from the surface with the 988 XE wheel loader to this machine [the R2900 XE], yes, we plan to take that technology up and down the underground loader product line,” he said. The most likely haulage and loading candidates for the ‘XE treatment’ are machines that currently only come in diesel form, have not recently been updated and have large populations out in the field. And, there could even be a form of 'hybridisation' on the way, with Berry's colleague, Thad Litkenhus (Director of Product Management) raising the prospect of a form of the Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET) solution currently equipped for surface haul trucks being converted for underground use. Read the full interview below... Cat Mining #minedecarbonisation #miningequipment #MINExpo2024 #R2900XE Paul Bitter

'Circularity in action' “This is all part of Metso’s plan to do what is needed to make the industry more sustainable,” Lars Furtenbach, Director, Research & Technology Development, Mill Lining, told IM during last month's MINExpo 2024 when discussing the company's expanding mill liner recycling offering. Get the full picture by reading the story below... #PlanetPositive #mineralprocessing #MINExpo2024 #millliners #circularity

Komatsu’s underground battery electric program – robust and simple Earlier this year, International Mining Editorial Director Paul Moore was able to see the Komatsu Mining #WX04B #batteryelectric #LHD in action as part of a sneak preview at a #Komatsu customer event at its test mine, which is located at the University of Arizona’s #SanXavier Mining Laboratory near #Tucson, Arizona. Doug Eamer, Komatsu Senior VP of #HardRockMining: “This is our first battery electric LHD and features our dynamic #batteryswap system. You have your battery pod at the rear – it is an #ESS or #EnergyStorageSystem. When I say the swapping is dynamic, the vehicle has onboard power to be able to offload the depleted battery and pick up a charged battery. It is a patented ground level system – which is allowed for in the shape & design of the ESS body and the departure angle from the #LHD.” Competitor battery swap systems are vertical lifts, and use electro-hydraulic cylinders to support the battery and/or require the battery to be deposited into a dedicated tray or flat concrete pad. Eamer states: “With our design, the battery can be unloaded onto uneven ground, even on a negative grade off-set from where the machine chassis is and even where there are some loose rocks – our system still allows the pod to be picked up, pulled on and locked into position.” The WX04B went through months of testing earlier this year. The proof of concept machine is significant because it forms the basis for all of Komatsu’s planned larger LHDs moving forward – the next iteration of which will be a 7 t LHD set to be launched in 2025/2026. That machine will also have ground level battery swap like the WX04B plus it will have an on-board tramming battery pack. In addition to the 7 t machine, Komatsu has plans to introduce larger battery electric LHDs in the future. The company is also continuing the development of hybrid LHDs to offer customers who want that flexibility before going to full battery. Komatsu will also look at introducing battery electric models for its underground trucks. In addition, with the recent GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH acquisition, there will be synergies with some of its models and designs as well. These design attributes are intended to keep it as simple as possible to make the machines as flexible as possible across all types of hard rock mines including small & mid-tier operations including narrow vein sites. And the ground level system means swapping batteries can be done in most parts of the mine – it doesn’t need a dedicated and purpose-built swapping area. Eamer: “We went through many iterations of our battery LHD design & the feedback from early BEV adopter customers was always – we want robust and simple, so that is what we have done.” In addition, competitor batteries need auxiliary cooling for thermal management – the Komatsu battery #thermalmanagement system is integrated into the ESS so that auxiliary cooling is not needed. #theelectricmine #futureofmining

BHP opens new and improved remote ops centre in Santiago With an investment of more than US$48 million, BHP has significantly modernised its operations centre in #Santiago originally inaugurated in 2018, it says putting the company at the forefront of integrated remote operations centres in the region. Today, the operations of #BHP #Copper Advanced Services (CAS) began, a new company whose integrated operations centre will allow it to provide remote and fully autonomous operation services to BHP’s copper operations in Chile, namely #Spence and #Escondida. The new remote operations centre will handle 5.4 terabytes of information daily, using a subsea data cable link from #Antofagasta to Santiago, and consists of a new data centre with the capacity to back up and protect the latest technologies being used, plus ensuring greater security, while also permitting further technology growth. It also bolsters coordination and informed decision making and allows for greater remote and automated operation of machinery in complex environments. The BHP Copper Advanced Services facilities occupies 3,400 m2 in the Titanium building, located in the financial centre of Santiago. It involved a total investment of US$48.3 million and includes more than 230 staff. “This is the most modern remote operation centre in the copper industry. We have cutting-edge technology that allows us to deliver a remote operation service of the highest quality, thousands of kilometres away from the sites, in their different stages. and unit processes,” said Marcelo Castillo Tarifeño, Director of BHP Copper Advanced Services. As part of the entry into operation completed today, the teams officially launched the integration of data from Minera Escondida and Minera Spence, giving way to a remote operations centre with a data centre that has a future growth capacity of up to ten times considering its current capacity. Furthermore, in line with BHP’s gender balance policy, CAS will be made up of 51% women in its general operation with a 40% female presence in leadership roles. #futureofmining #mineofthefuture

EACON Mining's autonomous fleet tech moves into iron ore EACON Mining has recently secured its first #ironore project by partnering with #Xichang Mining, a #Baowu Group company, to automate operations at the #Taihe iron mine, which marks a significant step for EACON as it expands its footprint from coal, aggregate, and gold mining into the iron ore sector. The project will automate six SANY Group electric #miningtrucks, with a payload capacity of 70 tons, reinforcing EACON’s leadership in sustainable #autonomousmining solutions. This is the first phase of the mine’s automation, with plans for a full site rollout following successful implementation. In this project, EACON Mining will provide its OEM-agnostic autonomous haulage solution (AHS) #ORCASTRA® for the fleet of SANY #batteryelectric trucks, each equipped with drive-by-wire systems per EACON’s requirements and standards. Alongside the onboard AHS system ORCASTRA® Pilot, EACON will deploy its full suite of #AHS capabilities, including the #fleetmanagement system, ORCASTRA® Conductor and the crewed equipment & vehicle system, ORCASTRA® Crew. ORCASTRA® Conductor will also schedule the #chargingcycles of #electrictrucks for optimal efficiency and ensure operational continuity. The Taihe iron ore mine poses unique challenges, particularly in its crusher zones and loading area. The #autonomous trucks have to share one crusher pocket and loading area with crewed trucks. And the limited space in these areas leads to overlapping paths and complex traffic flows. By offering flexible and adaptable automation solutions with a low entry barrier, EACON says it provides a strong value proposition for miners seeking to enhance safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. With the global shift towards automation, EACON adds it "is poised to lead the next wave of innovation in mining technology." #theelectricmine #futureofmining #chinamining #mineofthefuture

Multotec's firm Chilean foothold Multotec Group of Companies has established a strong global presence in major mining markets, in addition to its South African presence. The #KemptonPark-headquartered company (near Johannesburg) entered the Chilean market in 1998 and began making screening media in the country the following year in 1999 – International Mining Editorial Director, Paul Moore caught up with Felipe Caroca, Screening Media Operations Manager of Multotec Chile S.A, earlier this year at the EXPONOR CHILE - ¡Nos vemos en EXPONOR 2026! 2024 mining show in #Antofagasta. Caroca said that #Multotec today is looking to further consolidate its position in Chile’s mining industry while looking at growth in other major mining markets in the region. For example, Multotec still services the Peru market from its Chilean base, but in 2023, the company established #MultotecPeru with the ultimate aim of setting up a dedicated facility there. The company also has a key operation in Brazil, with a focus on iron ore, managed from its facility in #BeloHorizonte, Minas Gerais. The main Multotec location in Chile is just north of Santiago in #Lampa, which includes both an office with a full commercial team as well as a highly capable factory. The sales team is primarily based in the central and northern part of Chile, with offices in the #Copiapó, Antofagasta, and #LaSerena, allowing them to remain close to their mining customers. As expected, the #copper mining market dominates, with additional gold and iron ore business primarily with sales both direct to mine owners as well as through the major EPCM companies. But what are Multotec’s strongest technologies in Chile in terms of installed base and sales? Caroca explained: “In Chile today, our two main business lines are #screeningmedia and capital equipment, which includes mining samplers and #hydrocyclones. For #samplers, we are a global centre of excellence for the company and this equipment is vital for metallurgical accounting.” Multotec #miningsamplers include cross belt, wet and dry cross-cut and combination #samplingsystems, guaranteeing extremely accurate ore samples. In Chile, wet samplers are predominantly used in the mill circuit or to sample flotation feed or tails as well as in fines circuits. Local manufacturing in Chile has been key to growing the market share of the organisation. . Their key advantage includes unbiased sampling due to the equipment taking a full stream cut, with many designs having a radially tapered cutter slot, with constant cutter speed. Caroca said that the rubber and polyurethane screening media business in Chile includes both vibrating flat #screeningpanels as well as #trommelscreens installed at the end of grinding mills. All the trommel frames, the #trommel screening panels and the flat panels are manufactured locally in Chile. #mineralprocessing #chilemining #futureofmining

Combining mining technology and AI “Weir combines the best of the start-up world where you can afford to be at the leading edge of AI, with the experience of one of the world’s leading mining technology companies” - Martin Rugfelt, Director – Intelligent Operations, Weir. It is this combination that has led to the development of Weir’s new digital offering, NEXT™ Intelligent Solutions, which extends and expands the OEM’s current capabilities and transforms its process optimisation services into real-time digital solutions. Watch this 🎥 below - also featuring Ole Knudsen, Director – Minerals Digital, Weir, to find out more. The full video can be found ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eMJXXgKj #digitalmine #AI #miningtheintelligence Weir Minerals The Weir Group PLC #NEXTIntelligentSolutions