International Mining’s Post

Cavotec ready to drive mine electrification forward Cavotec’s rise in the #mineelectrification space was inevitable. Its origins as a designer and provider of connection & #electrification solutions in ports & industrial applications provided an obvious analogue for a mining sector on the lookout for such tech. On top of this, its electrification, #powerdistribution & #automation systems have previously been employed by many major miners & equipment OEMs. Since securing an order in 2022 that signalled its entry into industrial #batterycharging for heavy-duty vehicles for a mining application in Australia, Cavotec has gone on to launch its ultra-fast #MegawattCharging System (MCS) to provide up to 3 MW of power from a single connector. This turnkey #DCcharging solution with grid-to-inlet functionality supports industry decarbonisation. The MCS is also a modular solution, featuring either manual or automated connection to the vehicle inlet. It has three different power levels (350 kW, 1 MW, 3 MW) with an active #connector & cable cooling system (included in 1 MW and 3 MW chargers) and a vehicle inlet included in the 3 MW charger. A specified connector size & minimum weight is used depending on the power level while an advanced power management system incorporates user dashboards & controls the charging process. We spoke with #Cavotec’s Chief Technology Officer, Jim Andriotis, to find out more ahead of his appearance at The Electric Mine 2024, in Perth, Western Australia, taking place at the Crown Perth Complex, on May 21-23. This included discussion of where #staticcharging & its MCS fit into the large open pit mine application area. Andriotis had this to say: "Most open-pit applications will have equipment that has to move between pits, or pits to base. The large haul trucks are the prime example where they have a repetitive cycle and a waiting time where they can quickly take on energy. This is perfectly suited to the high-power charging system." He adds: "When we look at shovels, excavators & surface drill rigs, there may be a small percentage which will move to #batteryelectric but the majority will remain tethered by cable reel as they are staying primarily in the pit & only moving larger distances during major layout changes. In the end, electrification of these large haul trucks & pit equipment will need a variety of solutions. The #dynamiccharging systems in place work very well but are suited to larger, more mature mines where these throughways are fixed permanently (or almost permanently). In the end, both solutions have a place in mining, including together in some applications." Cavotec is a Gold Sponsor of The Electric Mine 2024, with the company having a major indoor display in the exhibition. Andriotis will also be presenting, ‘Transforming mining fleets: The collaborative journey with the Megawatt Charging System’ during Day 2. Register at www.theelectricmine.com #futureofmining #chargingsolutions #towardsnetzero

Electrical systems are the unsung heroes of mining environments, and today they offer much more than simply powering vital equipment. Find out how upgrading electrical systems and enabling digital monitoring solutions are vastly improving reliable uptime for operations at the BHP-Mitsubishi Alliance Goonyella Riverside mine in Australia. https://bit.ly/3PsL5Ow #ABB #ELService #service #assetmanagement #productcare #maintenance #lifecyclemanagement #electrification #services #safety #modernization #upgrades #electrification

🚀 Introducing the Ultimate Mining Compressed Air Solution from CED Compressed Air and Atlas Copco! Are you in the mining industry and seeking top-notch compressed air solutions that guarantee performance, safety, and energy efficiency? Look no further! CED Compressed Air proudly presents the latest innovation in compressed air technology in collaboration with Atlas Copco. 🔍 Product Spotlight: Mining Air Compressors and Blowers 🛠 Robust & Reliable: Our compressors and blowers are engineered to withstand the toughest mining conditions. From surface and underground mining to process tunneling and beyond, trust in equipment that's built to last. ⚠️ Safety First: Your personnel and investments are safeguarded with our extensive array of built-in sensors and safety valves. Feel confident in every operation knowing that safety is our top priority. 💡 Energy Efficiency: Say goodbye to unnecessary energy costs! Our mining compressors boast unrivaled energy efficiency, helping you save big while contributing to a sustainable future. 📈 Case Study: Revolutionizing Mining Operations 🔍 Challenge: A leading mining company faced mounting pressure to reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency by 2030. 💼 Solution: Implementing CED Compressed Air's cutting-edge compressors and blowers proved to be a game-changer. With decades of industry experience and a comprehensive portfolio tailored to mining applications, our equipment delivered exceptional results across various mining processes: 🌍 Geological Exploration: From scaling to blasting, our compressors and blowers ensured consistent performance in the most demanding environments. ⛏ Mineral Processing: Achieve optimal efficiency with large volumes of low and medium pressure air for beneficiation, refining, and more. 💧 Wastewater Treatment: Our solutions offer reliable air and gas supply for efficient treatment processes, contributing to environmental sustainability. 📈 Results: By embracing our innovative compressed air solutions, the mining company not only met but exceeded their emission reduction goals. They experienced increased operational efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and enhanced productivity across their entire operation. Don't let outdated equipment hold you back. Upgrade to CED Compressed Air's state-of-the-art compressors and blowers today and experience the difference firsthand. Reach out to our team to learn more about how we can tailor our solutions to meet your specific needs. www.cedcompressedair.ca #facilitymanagement #facilitymanager #productionmanagement #productionmanager #manufacturing #operationsmanager #manufacturer #energysaving #mining #mininglife #miningindustry #miningequipment #aircompressor #engineeringlife #innovation #engineer #maintenance #compressedair #compressor #mechanicaldesign #compressores #industrialautomation #production #atlascopco #industrialengineering #engineering #mechanicalengineering #mechanic

GM and Komatsu have announced a partnership to co-develop a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered mining truck, one of the largest vehicles in the world. GM and Komatsu will jointly design and validate the technology, according to a statement. The first vehicle planned for the project is the Komatsu 930E mining truck, which currently uses a diesel engine to generate power for electric motors and has a payload capacity of 320 tons. Komatsu said that these vehicles are typically deployed at a single mining site for their full lifecycle, which theoretically can make hydrogen fueling infrastructure less complicated. The two companies point to fuel cells as being “ideal” for electrifying applications traditionally powered by diesel engines because hydrogen provides an effective method for packaging large quantities of energy onboard, without compromising payload carry capacity. Komatsu also sees potential for the mining vehicles to "provide an additional pathway for decarbonization beyond battery-trolly or battery-static charging solutions, without the need for additional charging infrastructure within mines”. GM and Komatsu provided few specific details as the project is still in early prototype stages but said that the Hydrotec technology will produce more than 2 megawatts of power. The Komatsu project follows a GM announcement to provide fuel cells to Autocar. GM is aggressively looking for commercial applications for its Hydrotec fuel-cell technology, following on plans announced to do so in early 2022. Ahead of that, GM and Navistar also announced plans for GM to supply Navistar and are exploring rail and marine applications as well. The Hydrotec technology was born from the GM-Honda fuel-cell partnership; Honda’s first application is expected to be in the CR-V in 2024. (S&P Global Mobility AutoIntelligence's Stephanie BrinleGeneral Motors (GM) has extended the duration of the holiday break at several US plants to address maintenance and parts shortages, according to media reports. Five plants will remain closed until Jan. 8, 2024. In addition, the Fort Wayne Assembly (Indiana), Factory Zero (Michigan), Spring Hill Manufacturing (Tennessee) and Oshawa Assembly (Canada) plants will be closed through Jan. 8, 2024, to address maintenance concerns. The Lansing Grand River (Michigan) plant will also be closed during the week beginning Jan. 2, 2024, as production of the Chevrolet Camaro ends, with the plant to resume production on Jan. 8. The Wentzville (Missouri) plant will also be down during the week beginning Dec. 18, 2023, because of a parts shortage, with production expected to resume on Jan. 2, 2024. GM’s Orion (Michigan) plant is set to close over the holiday period, though as previously announced, production is not due to begin again until 2025 as the plant is to be reworked to build full-size electric trucks, instead of the Chevrolet Bolt compact electric vehicle (EV) and electric utility vehicle (EUV).

Why Lithium Titanate Oxide for mining, and why ABB? “The mining environment presents a unique combination of high-power charge and discharge, continuous operation, and significant thermal management challenges that are not found in many other applications,” said Krunal Desai, First Mode's Director of Electrical Engineering. “Lithium titanate oxide based cells are an ideal fit for this application, with excellent power performance and inherent safety that meets our operational needs.” “Our battery technology with high level of inherent safety, enhanced power charging capabilities and long lifetime is the right choice for this demanding application, and enables a highly energy efficient mine operation,” said Beat Guggisberg, Head of ESS, ABB Traction Division. First Mode’s order for 80 ABB BORDLINE® ESS based on lithium-ion battery technology extends the companies’ collaborative efforts in the ⚡electrification of heavy transport. In 2022, started by removing the diesel engine from a colossal mining truck and replacing it with ABB’s megawatt-scale DC-to-DC converter to launch the world’s first ultra-class haulage truck powered by a hydrogen fuel cell ✔ According to First Mode, replacing just one diesel truck with an electric model would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,700 metric tons a year — about the same as taking 700 passenger cars off the road ✔ The next-generation powerplants, refueling systems, and other infrastructure are being built and tested at First Mode’s engineering and development facilities in Seattle, Washington, USA, which include a 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility slated to come online later this year. The systems will be demonstrated at First Mode’s Proving Grounds starting in early 2024 🤩   https://lnkd.in/gEzWMaas

ABB, Komatsu out to create 'world-class interoperability' Komatsu Mining and ABB have signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to, they say, jointly develop and bring to market integrated solutions that will help move net-zero emissions for heavy industrial machinery a step closer to reality. The two global leaders will leverage industry expertise and equipment in a bid to create world-class interoperability, ranging from renewable energy generation to fully electrified mining equipment for customers, through an open platform. Komatsu is known as one of the world’s largest providers of construction and mining machinery and will now link up with global leader ABB for its expertise and technologies for automation and electrification. Both companies bid to accelerate decarbonisation in mining alongside customers, partners and suppliers, enabling continued productivity, energy efficiency and value across the industry. ABB and Komatsu’s collaboration is geared towards reducing diesel consumption and ultimately eliminating it through the electrification of mine operations. The companies are developing innovative solutions such as fully-electrified mining machinery and advanced energy management systems, with Robot Automated Connection Device (ACD) one of the first to be showcased on the Komatsu booth at #MINExpo 2024 next month. The Robot ACD is planned to be a fully automated interoperable connection device working in tandem with the ABB eMine™ FastCharge solution for future battery-electric trucks. Joachim Braun Dan Funcannon #mineelectrification #netzeromining #minedecarbonisation

SANY doubles down on large hybrid mining trucks with SET240S Due to concerns about maintaining productivity using all battery powered large mining trucks, in particular relating to charging strategy and energy management, there is a lot of attention towards development of hybrid solutions. One of China’s big hitters in mining and construction equipment is SANY Group – which has had its 136 t class #SET150S #hybrid #miningtruck running for some time now at sites in Russia, China and Uzbekistan; plus has now developed a larger follow up model, the 220 t class #SET240S at its mining truck development and manufacturing facility in #Shenyang. Both trucks have electric wheel motors powered by #hybrid diesel engine and battery power. Interestingly SANY has opted for a multi-engine approach where smaller engines replace high-power engines, it says reducing overhaul costs by half and maintenance costs by 20%. It adds that they also have dual braking with a high-power electric brake plus hydraulic brake for superior braking performance. The SET150S has two 565 kW Weichai Power Co., Ltd WP17 engines and a 300 kW battery pack for a gross power of 1,430 kW. The SET240S has three 565 kW Weichai WP17 engines plus a 396 kW battery pack for a gross power of 2,091 kW. Volvo engines are available as an option. Through electric turbine control technology and energy flow management, SANY says the engines can supply different power levels to work reliably under different working conditions. SANY says this will overcome the pain points of traditional mining trucks, such as high fuel consumption, high noise, and emissions, while greatly improving their energy efficiency and reliability. The battery supplier for these trucks is #RiseSunMGL (#荣盛盟固利) based in Beijing, sometimes called #RongshengMenguli. RiseSun MGL stated in 2023 on the SET240S: “The #battery box has been verified by heavy-duty mining trucks under actual road conditions, and the product is safe and reliable. With the three-engine system, the maximum power of the vehicle can reach 2,091 kW, which is 12% higher than similar products on the market. It has fast heavy-load climbing speed and high transportation capacity; the battery has built-in PTC heating and an insulation layer, which can meet the ambient temperatures of -35 to +55℃ for normal operation. It has strong environmental adaptability, ensuring efficient operation of mining trucks under extreme working conditions." SANY launched the SET240S at its factory in Shenyang and carried out an acceptance review on June 8, 2023. SANY says the SET240S total power exceeds competitor mining trucks of the same tonnage class by 12%. The heavy load climbing speed is fast, and the comprehensive transportation capacity is cited to be increased by more than 10%. #futureofmining #hybridmining #theelectricmine

Our new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive with electric drivetrain combines power and innovationThe new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is the first of Epiroc’s large-capacity mine trucks to feature the latest generation electric drivetrain. Along with an upgraded and powerful diesel-engine, the hauler combines the cost-effectiveness of a traditional mine truck with the productivity of an electric one – without requiring change to... The new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is the first of Epiroc’s large-capacity mine trucks to feature the latest generation electric drivetrain. Along with an upgraded and powerful diesel-engine, the hauler combines the cost-effectiveness of a traditional mine truck with the productivity of an electric one – without requiring change to a mine’s infrastructure. The Minetruck MT66 S eDrive has been completely redesigned to feature an electric drivetrain, powered by the strongest engine yet in Epiroc’s line-up of underground mine trucks. With several other upgrades, such as weight reduction and better utilization of the engine’s sweet spot, the truck can reach up to 11% higher ramp speed compared to current models. “Minetruck MT66 S eDrive has been built from scratch with room for an additional tonne in the box, making it the largest capacity underground mine truck on the market. By combining power with innovation, it really is the best of two worlds”, says Wayne Symes, President, Underground division. While the Minetruck MT66 S eDrive enables both higher maximum payload and increased speed compared to other high-capacity mine trucks, it also reduces fuel consumption by up to 7% thanks to the electric drivetrain. The removal of mechanical parts also lowers maintenance costs, promising reduced total cost of ownership. All in all, with all these improvements on board, Minetruck MT66 S eDrive offers an easy step to improve productivity quickly. “In a typical mining application, the increased payload capacity means that the Minetruck MT66 S eDrive can add an additional cycle each day compared to a 65-tonnes mine truck. That means well over 23 000 additional tons annually for our customers’ productivity” says Martin Wallman, Global Portfolio Manager Underground Trucks, Underground division. The Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is being displayed at MINExpo International in Las Vegas, September 24-26. After the show, field trials will be conducted together with Gold Fields Australia, starting in Q2 2025. Africa-Middle East Mining and Energy News

E-Liberator In the world of underground mining, operations are migrating to more sustainable environmentally friendly solutions. Fermel’s wide range of Battery Electric Vehicles exemplifies this with it’s commitment to the development of BEV for mining applications The Electric Liberator is engineered to meet the demand of underground mining logistics, with an 8-ton payload capacity. It’s 159kWh battery that is easily replaced for ‘quick” swap out philosophy stores sufficient energy for an average six hours of range in a typical work cycle. The vehicles design incorporates a range of versatile interchangeable cassettes, enabling transportation of various types of cargo promptly and effectively. Powered by a permanent magnet synchronous reluctance traction motor, the E-Liberator delivers a nominal continuous power output of 90kW. It provides a continuous output torque of 363 NM and a maximum torque of 1000Nm ensuring the vehicle performs optimally even in challenging conditions. The E-Liberator battery pack is a pinnacle of modern engineering. Comprising 7040 cells and 880 cell modules configured into 22 total modules and 4 banks, this is 642 Norminal VDC battery pack. The battery system is equipped with advanced safety features including state-of-charge monitoring, HVIL (High Voltage Interlock Loop), fault and error reporting and CAN Bus communication for seamless integration and control. In terms of electrical safety, the battery pack includes thermal protection, over-voltage and under-voltage safeguards, over-current and arc flash protection, fire protection and an IP55 eating for dust and water resistance. It’s active liquid cooking method ensures that the battery operates within optimal temperature ranges between 20°C and 25°C and ambient temperatures between – 10°C and 50°C enhancing both safety and performance. The Electric Liberator is designed for time efficient charging system with a charging current of 110-180 A, allowing for a full recharge in 1.5 to 2 hours using a DC fast charger. The maximum charging voltage is 740 VDC and the vehicle supports charging capabilities ranging from 120kW to 240kW, minimizing downtime while maximizing productivity. Additionally the battery offers an impressive operational range of 30 kilometers or 5 hours with regenerative braking capabilities supplementing the battery charge at 40A on declines to provide additional retardation for safe downhill tramming. The Electric Liberator comply to CVS II international charging standards when considering charge connectors. Various benefits for using electric vehicles: ·        ROI over a longer period in terms of fuel cost ·        Lower Ventilation cost ·        Lower carbon emissions ·        Noise reduction ·        Lower operating temperatures ·        Carbon tax savings #ElectricVehicles #BatteryElectricVehicles #CleanEnergy #ZeroEmissions #BEV #Fermel

In the late 19th century, mining operations began to embrace electricity, seeking a more efficient and safer alternative to coal-powered steam engines. This early adoption of electric power transformed mines, bringing electric lights, machinery, and enhanced ventilation systems, creating a safer and more productive environment. However, as the 20th century progressed, the landscape of mining technology shifted dramatically. The demand for greater mobility, flexibility, and efficiency led to the widespread adoption of diesel engines. Fast forward to the modern era, where technological advancements and the mounting pressure to reduce carbon emissions have reignited interest in electrification. Today, the market boasts battery-electric haul trucks, drills, explosives, conveyors, and light towers. Despite this progress, diesel-powered vehicles still accounts for a large portion of a mine's total energy consumption. Our latest article, written by our intern Brian Joo, examines the rise of modern electrification, the catalysts which have spurred recent progress and the challenges which still lie ahead when it comes to achieving full electrification. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/gUrnrWrh #electrification #decarbonisation #mining #miningindustry #technology