MechChem Africa January 2019

⎪ Automation, process control and instrumentation ⎪

MMI from Epiroc enables superior situational awareness to oversee a mining operation in all its complexity. With the use ofMMI, KimberleyEkapaMiningwill beable to track assets in real-time in order to visu- alise and integrate machine data, machine location and shift plans and to close the loop between plans and reality. “MMI will help us start tomodernise our old diamond mine and establish a tipping point in terms of production optimisation.” says Howard Marsden, general manager of Kimberley Ekapa Mining. “It will allow us to tag and keep better track of our mining personnel and equipment and give us ac- cess to real-time data, whichwill shed some light into the normally dark world of the underground mine. We expect this is to be productivity game changer,” he adds. Thanks to its open architecture, MMI can be integrated easily with other systems in the mine. Kimberly Ekapa Mining will rely on MMI to compile information from other systems and make all information searchable andeasily accessible todecision- makers – in real time. “MMI is a world’s leading multi-role 3D location based decision support system infrastructures for participants in rural areas with limited Internet access. It presents the hope that we can develop our own advanced automation skills pipeline and stop relying on imported skills,” she says. The Connected Industries Conference at Africa Automation Fair 2019 will focus on the challenges, opportunities and economic impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industrie 4.0 / IIoT) on South – and Sub- Saharan Africa. Africa Automation Fair is a focused net- working platform for the Automation and Control Industry and works closely with industry associations including the IIG and SAIMC. The fair targets senior buyers from South Africa, the rest of Africa and invites participation from international buyers. Presented by Reed Exhibitions, Africa Automation Fair, the Connected Industries Conference and Pollution & Waste Technology Africa will be staged from 4 to 6 June 2019 at the Ticketpro Dome, Northgate, Johannesburg. q

Introtech, the process control instrumentation and industrial electronics specialist, will again be exhibiting at AAF 2019, which will take place from 4 to 6 June.

Mobilaris supports digitalisation journey Kimberley Ekapa Mining has chosen to use Mobilaris Mining Intelligence (MMI) at its diamondmine to embrace digitalisation and create a superior decision support system to proactively enhance safety and increase productivity. for enhancing safety, productivity and ef- ficiency in mining operations,” says Ulla Korsman-Kopra, global business manager for automation and information manage- ment Systems at Epiroc’s Underground Rock Excavation division. “Users can access the web-based MMI interface from differ- ent devices to visualise the locations and movements of workers, vehicles and other equipment in real-time.Whenaproblematic

situation arises and, for example, lives are at stake, MMI can be critical. One needs to act quickly and make informed decisions to save time and, ultimately, lives,” says Korsman-Kopra. Epiroc will supply Kimberley Ekapa MiningwithanMMI hardware and software package that includes personnel training and support and the systemwill be installed and operational by early 2019. q

Mobilaris Mining Intelligence (MMI) from Epiroc will help Kimberley Ekapa Mining to modernise its old diamond mine and establish a tipping point in terms of production optimisation.

January 2019 • MechChem Africa ¦ 23