Capital Equipment News September2022

DIGITALISATION

A fully automated ship loader by thyssenkrupp.

Digitalisation on capital equipment and safety at mines and quarries

Digitalisation on capital equipment improves safety at mines and quarries. This feature highlights some of the digital technologies found on capital equipment today, explores how digitalisation on equipment improves safety, and takes a look at the uptake of these technologies in the mining industry. By Mark Botha A ccording to Willem Odendal, sales manager at Unisource, examples of how digital technolo gies improve safety on mines include automa tion and autonomous vehicles. “Autonomous mining vehicles have “Regardless of what your business procedures are or where you’re located, your mining operation has several unique requirements to ensure the highest productivity and, at the same time, the safety of your workers.” He says the security system needs to ensure that workers can access their assigned shifts and get to work on time.

been around for decades now and have been used to increase mining safety,” he says. “Autonomous mining equipment works through the integration of robotic components, advanced software, GPS, and internet connectivity. When combined, these elements allow operators to control heavy machinery and other gear from a safe point above the earth’s surface.” He says biometric devices are being used, as well as touchless access control workforce management for mine security.

“Delays add up, costing your business money as well as time. And, due to COVID-19, ensuring that no employee shows symptoms of infection is even more pressing in mines because of how narrow miners’ work areas are. This has also been assisting from a safety point of view in that all workers going underground are accounted for. In open pit mining, accurate GPS and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are useful for tasks such as machine guidance, grading, dozing, drilling, collision avoidance,

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS SEPTEMBER 2022