Modern Mining September 2025

MINING TECHNOLOGY

Weir’s detailed technical knowledge and historical data can be applied to necessary adjustments on physical equipment.

Weir has detailed knowledge of how their equipment operates and performs over decades, allowing them to build predictive models.

as the components are only being replaced when their actual condition warrants it – rather than being changed on a time schedule. In the past, time-based replacement was the only safe way of conducting maintenance when there was no visibility of the components wear. “The longer component life translates into lower total cost of ownership for the equipment, without making any compromise in mitigating the risk of downtime,” she says. Eskola points to another solution in the Uptime package – which is automated adjustment. This feature allows certain parameters on Weir equipment to be adjusted quickly and without the manual intervention of any operators. “Using the example of a slurry pump, NEXT Intelligent Solutions offer optimal throatbush adjustment for both axial and rotational repositioning using hydraulic or electro-mechanic solution,” she says. “This has the important benefit of reducing wear on critical components while improving hydraulic efficiency and reducing recirculation. The intervention extends the life of critical components while also improving safety on-site, as no personnel need to be in proximity of the pump to conduct this adjustment manually.” Vega describes the third package in NEXT Intelligent Solutions: Production. The focus of this package is to empower customers to maximise their process efficiency with AI-powered optimisation. “Within this package is an intelligent assistant, being rolled out by Weir this year,” says Vega. “By making use of the data gathered through the Insights and Uptime packages, the Production package can give constructive recommendations to metallurgists, process engineers and operators.” He notes that mining operations will have their own specific targets and imperatives, so this package helps to guide decisions to achieve those goals, such as a production target or a desired product size for the classification circuit. n

Weir uses different AI tools to predict the useful lifetime of equipment and the probability of mechanical failure.

operational efficiency,” she explains. Each package focuses on a key phase of the digital journey, allowing the customer to steadily gain more value from this intelligent technology as they progress through different stages of implementation. “Our Insight package is the foundation, giving customers access to critical information about the performance and condition of their equipment in real time,” she says. “We apply our in-depth technical understanding of all our equipment, including data on trends and parameters, and then apply key performance indicators and algorithms to assist customers in their decision-making.” An important differentiator between NEXT and other condition monitoring systems is that it goes beyond simply alerting the user to any potential issue with equipment. The system can also recommend a course of action for the customer to follow, to address the issue being flagged. In the Uptime package, predictive capabilities are added, so that the customer can forecast the remaining useful lifetime of critical components in the equipment. This can lead to extended life,

32  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | SEPTEMBER 2025