AM Oct 2019

TECHNOLOGY MINING EQUIPMENT MINERALS PROCESSING

VOLUME 111/9 | OCTOBER 2019

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TECHNOLOGY MINING EQUIPMENT VOLUME 111/9 | OCTOBER 2019

MINERALS PROCESSING

MATERIALS HANDLING

INNOVATION ON THE MOVE

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SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

Introducing

ReCYN III

COMMENT

HOW MINING IS EXECUTING AN IMAGE REFRESH BEN CREAGH

Ben.Creagh@primecreative.com.au

WHAT ARE THE INITIATIVES BEING INTRODUCED BY MINING AND METS COMPANIES TO MAKE THE INDUSTRY MORE APPEALING?

A

n urgent move to position mining as a more attractive industry to support and be involved in is being put into action.

The modern mining industry continues to face negativity from parts of mainstream Australia that fail to appreciate the value it delivers to the country.

This perception coincides with a dwindling number of mining engineering students across the country and a general disinterest from the future generation to make it an industry to pursue as a career.

Strangely, for those involved in mining, the abandonment comes at a time when market conditions are strong, and innovation is making the industry as dynamic as ever.

The mining and METS (mining equipment, technology and services) sectors have responded by making it a priority to shift opinion back in the industry’s favour.

They are achieving this by focussing on both the future generation of workers and the communities in which mining is part of.

For workers wanting to break into the industry, for example, it is not as difficult as it once was. In the past, having no experience as a miner was a setback that aspiring workers found difficult to overcome.

Now, however, the industry is offering training and employment opportunities to ‘cleanskins’ in ways previously unthinkable.

BHP, for instance, has launched the ‘School of Rock’ Underground School of Excellence at Olympic Dam in South Australia for this reason (see page 14).

The program, which aims to create new job opportunities for people without experience in mining, involved 87 people from a variety of nonrelated industries over its first six months.

BHP hopes the program will prepare Olympic Dam for the future as it moves towards heavily expanding the site.

The METS sector is also realising the role it can play to refresh the image of the industry in not only mining communities, but also in cities around Australia.

Technologies and products designed by METS for mining don’t necessarily need to be developed in mining or rural areas of the country, the sector is educating future workers.

People, even in Sydney or Melbourne, have an opportunity to play a role in making the mining industry safer or more environmentally friendly through innovation.

The METS sector and its supporting industry bodies are doing their bit to remind all Australians how they can be involved.

Considering mining is often viewed as an industry that resists change, that perception isn’t true in this case. And the journey of bridging that disconnect is starting to accelerate.

Ben Creagh Managing Editor

FRONT COVER

In this edition, we look at the materials handling sector with a series of feature articles on companies in this area of mining This issue reviews the Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) in Sydney, including the issues discussed by experts at the event.

FIFO working arrangements have been under the spotlight this year.

In a feature article, we investigate the industry’s changing approach to FIFO and what impact it is having on local communities.

This edition also focusses on the mining services sector and how companies have benefitted from improved market conditions and emerging technologies.

And as usual, we review the latest mining equipment and technology in our regular products spread.

Cover image: thyssenkrupp.

MANAGING DIRECTOR JOHN MURPHY MANAGING EDITOR BEN CREAGH Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: ben.creagh@primecreative.com.au JOURNALISTS VANESSA ZHOU Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: vanessa.zhou@primecreative.com.au ALEX GLUYAS Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: alexander.gluyas@primecreative.com.au ANDY EWE Tel: (03) 9690 8766 Email: andy.ewe@primecreative.com.au

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AUSTRALIANMINING

5

OCTOBER 2019

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CONTENTS AIMEX

COMMENT

18-20

58-59 UPGRADING SENSORS VEGA improves iron ore site’s performance

INSIGHTS FROM THE SYDNEY EVENT The future of mining takes centre stage

WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT

INDUSTRY COMMENT

60-61 FIFO AND ITS COMMUNITY IMPACT How regional centres cope with FIFO arrangements

THIRTY YEARS OF AUSTMINE Three decades of fleet management change

71 22-24

IMARC

MINING EQUIPMENT

62-63 BATTLE OF THE BEASTS When a dump trucks races a supercar at a mine site

THE MELBOURNE EVENT RETURNS Attracting the next generation of miners

26-27 MINERALS PROCESSING

ENVIRONMENT

64-65 CDE META AND GREENGOLD INNOVATION Two leaders in the future of minerals processing

TRANSFORMING A LEGACY COAL MINE Alcoa teams up with the Eden Project in Victoria

73 28-31

DIGITAL MINING

INNOVATION

32-34

66-67

QUALITY MINING PRODUCTS Developments from Fenner Dunlop and John Sample

THE DANGERS OF SOFTWARE Intov8 alleviates the risks of technology

MINING SERVICES

INFRASTRUCTURE

68-69

OPPORTUNITIES EMERGE Ausdrill and WesTrac talk up their recent growth and what’s next

KEEPING MINING MOVING Innovative solutions from Hydroflux and Crusader Hose

36-39 MATERIALS HANDLING

ENGINEERING

SPECIAL FEATURE Experts of the materials handling sector tell all

GAINING MOMENTUM NSE takes strides in domestic market

43-51

71

INDUSTRY COMMENT

INTERVIEW

53

73

LEARNING INDUSTRY LESSONS What mining can learn from other industries

TECHNOLOGY

REAL-TIME DUST MONITORING TSI gets intrinsically safe monitoring off the ground

55-57

PRODUCTIVITY

74

INNOVATION IN MINING Three of the latest technology trends impacting the mining industry

PRODUCTIVITY CONNECTS WITH SAFETY Minprovise innovation stands the test of time

REGULARS NEWS 9-16

PRODUCTS 75-77

AUSTRALIANMINING

6

EVENTS 78

OCTOBER 2019

SANDVIK ROCK TOOLS SERVICES YOU’LL NEVER WORK ALONE Sandvik is a world-leader in the supply of mining and rock excavation tools and equipment. In addition to supplying your operation with the premium brand of rock tools, our range of added services and digital solutions support your drilling operations, everyday – all year round.

And we can also take full responsibility for the supply and life cycle management of your tools with our Rock Tools Contract Services.

Overall, we do everything we can to ensure you get maximum life, productivity and performance from your rock tools, so that you can achieve the lowest total drilling costs. With Sandvik Rock Tools, you will never work alone.

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NEWS

THE LATEST MINING AND SAFETY NEWS AUSTRALIAN MINING AND SAFE TO WORK PRESENT THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE MINE AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. VISIT WWW.AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU AND WWW.SAFETOWORK.COM.AU TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. AUSTRALIAN GOLD OUTPUT HITS ALL-TIME HIGH GOLD MINING IN AUSTRALIA HAS REACHED RECORD TERRITORY.

Australian gold production has reached an all-time record of 321 tonnes (10.3 million ounces) in the past financial year, according to gold mining consultants, Surbiton Associates.

With the gold price sitting in record territory in Australian dollar terms, the country-wide output is worth approximately $23 billion to local gold miners.

Australia’s 2018-2019 financial year gold production compares with the 310 tonnes produced in the previous fiscal period and 317 tonnes in the 2018 calendar year.

The achievement was driven by a bumper June 2019 quarter where gold production totalled almost 82 tonnes, making it the highest quarterly production for more than 20 years.

“Reporting yet another record gold production is good but becoming

rather repetitive, with Australian dollar gold prices near record levels, the 2018/19 output is worth almost $23 billion a year at current prices,” Surbiton director Sandra Close said.

Alongside being the world’s second largest gold producer, Australia also imports a considerable amount of impure gold each year for refining.

Since Australian domestic consumption is relatively small, the additional imported gold, once refined, boosts the export tonnage and value even further.

“The outlook for Australian gold production seems positive, however, many things can happen, I can’t predict the future and am very conscious of the many factors and uncertainties that affect gold prices, exchange rates and production,” Close said.

Newcrest Mining’s Cadia underground operation in New South Wales was the standout producer during the period with more than 910,000 ounces.

Cadia’s output was well ahead of Australia’s second largest mine, Newmont Goldcorp’s Boddington operations, which produced around 690,000 ounces.

The Gruyere joint venture in Western Australia between Gold Fields and Gold Road Resources also joined the list of Australian gold producers in recent weeks.

Gruyere, which cost around $620 million to develop, will produce around eight tonnes of gold a year when in full production.

“Higher production is also expected from Royal Nickel’s operations at Beta Hunt and its newly acquired Higginsville plant in Western Australia, while Kirkland Lake’s Fosterville mine in Victoria continues to build up output to around 600,000 ounces of gold in 2019,” Close said.

The Fosterville mine has reported an extraordinarily high grade, averaging 39.9 grams per tonne of gold for the June quarter, which is almost 1.3 ounces per tonne.

Fosterville’s performance is drawing parallels to the grades seen in some of the famous old mines over a century ago.

Turning to the Victorian Government’s

AUSTRALIAN MINING GETS THE LATEST NEWS EVERY DAY, PROVIDING MINING PROFESSIONALS WITH UP TO THE MINUTE INFORMATION ON SAFETY, NEWS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING AND RESOURCES INDUSTRY.

recent announcement that it would impose a royalty on gold production, Close said it appeared that it had not been properly thought through.

“Let me stress that I am in favour of royalties on the production of minerals which are owned by the people of the state, however, royalties are an additional cost burden on production and need careful and sensitive consideration, to ensure the outcomes are of overall benefit,” Close said.

“While I appreciate Victoria has not imposed a gold royalty to date, to announce its imposition without warning was difficult to understand.”

ATLAS IRON EXTENDS BGC CONTRACT AT MT WEBBER BGC Contracting has secured a contract extension with Atlas Iron at the Mt Webber iron ore project in Western Australia.

Atlas has extended BGC Contracting’s existing mining contract to June 2022. The updated contract is a lifeof-mine extension that will see BGC Contracting provide services up to the end of operations at the Pilbara site.

BGC Contracting will continue to provide a range of mining services, including drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, dumping and mineral

processing for the operation.

The two companies will strengthen a relationship that was first formed in August 2013 with the extension.

BGC Contracting chief executive officer Greg Heylen said the new contract signified a strong vote of confidence in the contractor’s ability to deliver well into the future.

He believes Atlas Iron’s senior team has recognised BGC Contracting’s commitment to work in alignment with its brand pillars of project delivery, strong relationships and

AUSTRALIANMINING

great people.

“BGC’s long standing relationship with Atlas Iron has seen the two companies work collaboratively over the better part of the last decade. During this time, we have continuously and reliably met Atlas Iron’s safety and production targets,” Heylen said.

“Through the various challenges posed by the mining cycles over the years, the one thing that has remained constant is we have maintained our strong relationship

9

OCTOBER 2019

with Atlas Iron at all levels of the organisation and continue to deliver great outcomes for their projects.”

Atlas Iron, which also operates the Abydos iron ore mine in the Pilbara, was last year acquired by Hancock Prospecting for $427 million.

Atlas CEO Sanjiv Manchanda said the award of the extension followed the long-term friendship between the parent company’s executive chairman Gina Rinehart and Len Buckeridge, the late founder of Buckeridge Group of Companies (BGC).

NEWS

FORTESCUE LEADS THE WAY TOWARDS GENDER PARITY Fortescue Metals Group has committed to signing the ParityPledge, becoming one of the first companies in Australia to engage the initiative to foster an inclusive and diverse workforce.

The parity pledge aims “to close the gender gap at the highest levels of business, where the gender gap is most acute.”

It is a public commitment to gender parity by interviewing and considering at least one qualified woman for executive-level roles.

According to the global gender gap report, when women are in leadership roles, more women are hired throughout the company, ensuring a pipeline of future female leaders.

Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines said the best results came from an inclusive and diverse workforce that was encouraged to reach its full potential.

“Making this commitment to the parity pledge builds on Fortescue’s practical policies to support women and to foster a workplace that truly embraces diversity,” Gaines said.

“By focussing on supporting

FORTESCUE HAS MADE THE COMMITMENT TO GENDER PARITY.

leadership development, the retention of female talent and providing more balance and flexibility in the workplace, we want to ensure that as many women as possible have the opportunity to participate and make a strong contribution to the Australian resources sector.”

Solomon general manager Jessica Pringle said Fortescue was building a pipeline of women ready to pursue a career in the mining industry.

“To benefit from increased diversity in the mining sector, we need to focus on capability as part of the recruitment process and ensure we are building a greater pool of talent,” Pringle said.

“Programs such as Fortescue’s Trade Up and Vocational Training and Employment Centres are helping to provide our female team members with practical measures to gain operational and trade qualifications.”

Fortescue is a member of the 30 per

cent Club in Australia, which aimed for 30 per cent women on ASX200 boards by the end of 2018.

In the 2018 financial year, Fortescue was one of six Australian companies recognised by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for supporting a gender diverse environment across the business.

Gaines, previously Fortescue’s chief financial officer, became the company’s first female CEO in 2018.

RIO TINTO CONTRACT INCREASES NRW PRESENCE AT KOODAIDERI Rio Tinto has awarded a $95 million mine pre-strip contract for its Koodaideri iron ore project in Western Australia to NRW Holdings.

The scope of the project includes the development of initial mining pre-strip and earthworks infrastructure to enable mining operations to start.

NRW’s contract activities include

mobilisation and site establishment, drill and blast operations, construction of access, haul roads, drainage construction, and clearing and stripping topsoil and subsoil.

The project is scheduled to span approximately 78 weeks with works to commence in November 2019.

At its peak, NRW expects there will be over 150 site-based

personnel required for the project.

The contractor will use major plant from its existing fleet.

NRW chief executive office Jules Pemberton said the contract award highlighted the company’s strong reputation and capability across mining and construction projects.

“NRW looks forward to continuing our relationship with Rio Tinto and

supporting their iron ore operations in the Pilbara,” Pemberton said.

The latest contract builds on NRW’s presence at Koodaideri, having already been awarded a $137 million contract for the south Koodaideri railway.

This coincides with subsidiary RCR Mining Technologies receiving an equipment package for the project.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA REINFORCES ZERO EMISSION TARGET FOR MAJOR PROJECTS The Western Australian Government has released a new greenhouse gas emissions policy for major projects assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The state government reiterated its commitment to working with all sectors of the Western Australian economy towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

This policy supports proponents of major new projects or project expansions that emit significant emissions, according to the state government.

It also supports those who are

developing greenhouse gas management plans that detail their contribution towards achieving the state’s aspiration of net zero emissions by 2050.

This policy falls in line with the federal government’s target of reducing emissions by 28 per cent by 2030.

“Protecting and creating jobs is, and will always be, our number one priority,” WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston said.

“Industry and the broader community have been calling for more guidance, and this aspiration provides the certainty needed for future AUSTRALIANMINING

major projects.”

The EPA is forming its own greenhouse gas guidelines and welcomed public feedback on the initiative.

The consultation aims to ensure the greenhouse gas guidance used in its assessments is reasonable and can be practically implemented by proponents, according to EPA chair Tom Hatton.

The EPA’s revised emissions guideline, which recommended offsets for project proposals with direct emissions above 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year,

10

OCTOBER 2019

sparked industry backlash earlier this year.

Woodside Energy chief operations Meg O’Neill has said the guidance could jeopardise major projects such as the company’s Browse, Scarborough and Pluto Train 2 development.

“Government will always respect the independence of the EPA,” Johnston said.

“The EPA has historically called for more clarity from government about its policy on greenhouse emissions – this (new) policy provides that clarity going forward.”

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NEWS

TUMBLING COPPER PRICES IMPACT OZ MINERALS OZ Minerals has recorded a decline in revenue in the first half of 2019 due to deferred shipments and lower copper prices.

The company’s revenue fell from $530.3 million in the 2018 first half to $419.2 million this year, generating 84 per cent less profit in the period.

Its average copper price realised during the period was three per cent lower than the comparative period.

OZ Minerals chief executive Andrew Cole, however, indicated the company was on track for a stronger second half.

“Pleasingly, we have already seen revenue rebound strongly in the second half and all 2019 production tonnes are committed,” Cole said.

“Our cash balance combined with a solid operating performance from Prominent Hill (in South Australia) has allowed us to implement our growth strategy and transition to multiple operations whilst consistently rewarding shareholders.”

OZ Minerals also remains well positioned to complete development of the Carrapateena site in South Australia on schedule.

Cole said significant progress was made at Carrapateena in the first half, with above ground construction nearing completion and over 100,000 tonnes of development ore stockpiled.

“The project is expected to deliver first saleable concentrate in November (ahead of a circa 18-month ramp up to full production) for a capital cost of $920–$950 million, with 2019 growth capital expenditure of $540– $570 million continuing to track to

OZ MINERALS IS NEARING COMPLETION OF THE CARRAPATEENA PROJECT.

guidance,” Cole said.

At Prominent Hill, OZ Minerals reported improved underground production rates, with costs expected at the lower end of guidance over the full year.

The company is looking to expand Prominent Hill, with gold ore trials and a haulage feasibility study under way.

OZ Minerals is applying its cash

resources to both of its South Australian operations consistent with a capital management strategy.

It also continues to advance its Brazilian operations.

The company is continuing a feasibility study at Pedra Branca in the Carajás, and expects to determine the commencement of early works on the project shortly.

OZ Minerals also plans to continue its near-mine exploration at Antas as part of its processing hub strategy.

The company has declared a 2019 copper production guidance of 103,000–115,000 tonnes and a gold production of 122,200– 135,600 ounces on the back of its Antas, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena mines.

RESOLUTE LAUNCHES RAVENSWOOD EXPANSION PROJECT Resolute Mining has commenced an upgrade of the Ravenswood gold mine in Queensland that has been designed to deliver a significant boost to the site’s processing capacity.

For stage one of the project, the Ravenswood expansion includes the recommissioning of the third grinding mill at the Nolan processing plant, which will return processing rates to five million tonnes per annum.

The three existing mills at Ravenswood were operational up until 2011 at this rate.

Following the suspension of open pit mining at Ravenswood’s

Sarsfield deposit however, the Nolans processing plant was derated to 1.5 million tonnes per annum to exclusively process higher-grade ore from the Mt Wright underground mine.

Resolute has started recommissioning of the third mill, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2019.

The increase in processing capacity will allow Resolute to process greater volumes of low-grade material that has been stockpiled during open pit operations at Sarsfield.

Resolute’s stockpiled material currently includes an inferred

AUSTRALIANMINING

mineral resource of 32.6 million tonnes at 0.4 grams per tonne of gold for 390,000 ounces.

It plans to beneficiate the material via a combination of contract crushing. Screening is also expected to result in an uplift in head grades to 0.5-0.6 grams per tonne and annual production to approximately 80,000 ounces, at an all-in sustaining cost of $1600 an ounce from the end of this year.

Resolute chief executive officer John Welborn highlighted the importance of the increase in processing capacity at Ravenswood and the implications

13

OCTOBER 2019

of beneficiation on the potential for larger scale production over a long mine life.

“Increasing the plant capacity at Ravenswood to its historical rate of five million tonnes per annum and using this capacity to process available low-grade stockpiles, will deliver an immediately cashflow positive, profitable mining operation at Ravenswood,” Welborn said.

“As a result, this solution allows Resolute to focus on the ultimate transformation of Ravenswood into a large scale, low cost Tier 1 Australian gold mining operation with an exceptionally long mine life.”

NEWS

DOWNER STRENGTHENS FLEET WITH POSITION PARTNERS TECHNOLOGY

DOWNER’S EQUIPMENT WILL BE ENHANCED

BY THE POSITION PARTNERS SOLUTION.

Downer Group plans to upgrade the technology on its mining fleet across four Australian sites with Carlson machine guidance solutions supplied by Position Partners.

The mining services company will install the high-precision technology on 27 machine systems across

dozers, excavators, drills and supervisor vehicles.

Carlson is a management tool that provides an in-depth understanding of machine and fleet performance.

It gives mine managers visibility into exactly how machines are operating, including the volume

and location of material moved per hour, according to Position Partners mining business manager Andrew Granger.

The Carlson machine guidance solutions purchased by Downer include Drill Grade, Excavator Grade, Dozer Grade, Grade Supervisor

and Carlson Command.

“Downer and Position Partners have worked closely on tailored mining solutions since 2014, when the company purchased its first Carlson high precision machine guidance system,” Granger said.

“Through a deep understanding of Downer’s requirements, along with a commitment by Carlson to listen to customer needs and design solutions to meet them, we were able to deliver a customised volumetrics module to get maximum productivity gains from their technology investment.”

A Downer spokesperson said the company partnered with local companies that have both technical capability and “boots on the ground” support. “(That) is why Position Partners with the Carlson solution is a preferred supplier,” the spokesperson said.

Carlson’s custom-designed volumetrics module is integrated into the Carlson Command software platform, providing office reporting tools to the Downer Group on productivity and utilisation of the high precision machine guidance systems.

BHP PREPARES FUTURE WORKFORCE WITH ‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’ PROGRAM BHP has launched a training program at its Olympic Dam site in South Australia, creating job opportunities for people without experience in mining.

The underground school of excellence, named ‘The School of Rock’, is a tailored five-week program of theory and practical training.

It aims to provide new starters with the skills, language and confidence needed to make a safe and productive start to a mining career.

The School of Rock also includes

modules on BHP’s history, company purpose, working culture and mental health.

Olympic Dam asset president Laura Tyler said the program was “an example of BHP playing its part in building South Australia’s skills base and providing new opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to join our team.”

The school has welcomed 87 people through the school over the past six months, with BHP reporting “positive results.”

BHP also stated the injury rate for new starters was significantly lower than the mine average and retention rates were also increasing.

“Olympic Dam is a world-class multigenerational resource that continues to make a significant contribution to the South Australian economy,” Tyler said.

“We are at an exciting time in Olympic Dam’s history. We are investing strategically in infrastructure and technology and developing our underground mine to ensure we

continue to create shared value for South Australians for decades to come.”

South Australian premier Steven Marshall applauded BHP’s innovative skills training program for its future workforce.

“BHP’s commitment to expanding the pool of workers that mining operations in South Australia can draw upon dovetails neatly with the state government’s investment in 20,000 new work-based apprenticeships and traineeships,” Marshall said.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA RELEASES MINE REHABILITATION STANDARDS Western Australia has introduced a guide for mine site rehabilitation that was backed by funding from mining companies such as BHP, Rio Tinto and Roy Hill.

The guidance outlines agreed environmental standards that indicate the success of rehabilitation.

“While considerable progress has been made in mine closure and rehabilitation planning in Western Australia (last year), there remains a need to build capacity

and understanding of how to best measure rehabilitation success and to set practical outcomes and measurable completion criteria,” the report stated.

Mining companies are also advised to prepare sufficient investment in financial and staff resources for rehabilitation and closure right from the start, instead of just towards the end of a mine’s lifetime, according to the report.

“Effective mine closure is critical to AUSTRALIANMINING

ensure the long-term environmental sustainability of the industry,” WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said. “(The guideline) provides industry with greater clarity and consistency in the development of mine closure plans across different locations and commodities.”

The project, which was developed by the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute, also received funding from Iluka Resources,

14

OCTOBER 2019

South32, Independence Group, the Western Australian Government and Australia’s leading universities.

The work is the first in Australia to be produced by government agencies, science experts and industry representatives.

“Working together with industry to improve regulation and regulatory practice is a key part of the McGowan Government’s Streamline Western Australia initiative,” Johnston concluded.

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NEWS

AUSTRALIA TARGETS INDIA AS MAJOR COAL MARKET India has been flagged as the market with the greatest potential for Australia’s thermal coal, as the country continues its consumption of the commodity in order to meet increasing energy requirements.

The potential of the Indian market was revealed in the office of the chief economist’s Coal in India 2019 report, which examines the future of thermal coal in India, its future import requirements and implications for Australian exporters.

As the world’s third largest energy consumer and second largest thermal coal importer, India stands as an appealing market for Australian companies, according to Minister for Resources Matt Canavan.

“There is no market in the world that has as much potential for increased trade with Australia as India. This report clearly illustrates that potential,” Canavan said.

“Australia is already a strong and reliable energy partner for India as it continues its rapid development trajectory and brings its people out of poverty. We can grow this relationship further.”

Canavan said the report found India’s coal consumption was likely to continue increasing over the next decade, and possibly beyond, to meet India’s growing energy needs.

“India is a large coal producer

and its domestic production is growing. Australian coal is a perfect complement, not a replacement, for Indian coal. We specialise in a high quality coal that can be easily blended with Indian coal to produce better outcomes for all,” he said.

“There is also room for us to boost our exports of metallurgical coal to India as their steel sector continues to grow.”

The growth of India’s energy sector

has been significant. Since 2000, more than 500 million people have received access to electricity, with coal providing around 44 per cent of India’s energy mix.

However, in 2017, there was still 168 million people living in India with no access to electricity, equating to almost seven times the population of Australia.

“If we could lift our thermal coal exports to India to the same market

share we currently have with China – to just under 25 per cent of their imports – we could export an additional 37 million tonnes of high energy, low ash thermal coal,” Canavan said.

“That is the equivalent of three or four new Adani Carmichael-sized coal mines. If this investment occurred in the Galilee Basin, it would open up a new, sustainably-sized coal basin in Queensland.”

AUSTRALIAN COAL IS ATTRACTIVE AS AN ENERGY SOURCE IN INDIA.

MICROMINE LAUNCHES SUBSCRIPTION-BASED SOFTWARE Micromine has unveiled a bundle subscription model for its mining software solutions.

The subscription model will be available for new Australian customers to keep pace with industry requirements.

Micromine offers software solutions that span the mining lifecycle, including geological exploration, data management, resource estimation, 3D mine design, planning and

production control.

Chief commercial officer Vicky Bevilaqua said the new model provided greater flexibility and accessibility to its software.

“Consumers no longer want to buy software and services outright, they want the flexibility and convenience to use services and systems as and when they need,” Bevilaqua said.

“For junior explorers in Australia, for whom traditional one-off purchases

is cost prohibitive, Micromine’s new offering alleviates the need to find the capital to invest in software upfront and they can choose the subscription period they need.

“For larger customers, who purchase multiple licenses, they benefit from a lower initial cost and the ability to offset the costs over a number of years, as well as an ability to change their licensing arrangements and software choices as their needs

change and projects evolve from exploration through to full production.”

Software bundles include explorer, resource modeller, and mine designer, among others. All bundles provide tailored solutions to customer’s needs.

All bundles can be purchased on purchase daily, monthly and yearly subscriptions to suit specific needs while reducing up-front costs as licenses do not have to be purchased outright.

CSIRO INITIATIVE HELPS MINING BUILD SOCIAL LICENCE CSIRO has launched the Voconiq business to help companies tackle the issue of achieving a social licence to operate, one of the top risks facing industry today.

Voconiq, which captures real-time insights into community sentiment across time and locations, aims to help industries and communities build greater trust and mutually-beneficial outcomes.

CSIRO mineral resources director Jonathan Law said: “Our social insights capability has grown strong market demand from customers including BHP, Rio Tinto and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, so we were able to spin out Voconiq, creating a new Australian company poised for international growth.

“Businesses will be able to draw on CSIRO-developed science through

AUSTRALIANMINING

Voconiq, who can grow their service to benefit more communities, the resources sector and any other industry where community trust is essential to their business.”

CSIRO research shows that a social licence to operate is influenced by trust between companies and the communities they work in.

If trust is lost, consequences from conflict equate to hundreds of millions

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OCTOBER 2019

of dollars in delays or the complete abandonment of a project.

Voconiq operates in key Australian mining regions, including the Pilbara, Western Australia and the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

The company uses a clear framework of community engagement, community surveys, data collection, analysis and reporting that companies can proactively respond to.

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AIMEX

MINING COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD ATTENDED THE AIMEX CONFERENCE.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE OF MINING AS THE MINING INDUSTRY EMBARKS ON A DYNAMIC PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT, AIMEX 2019 PROVIDES A PLATFORM TO EXPRESS BOTH CONCERNS AND EXCITEMENT ON WHAT’S TO COME. ALEX GLUYAS WRITES.

W

hile visitors can’t be blamed for getting lost in the present among the plethora of exhibition stands at the Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX), there is a distinct futuristic feel at the 2019 event.

Virtual reality, vehicle simulators and remote flying objects are ubiquitous while also being almost unavoidable as industry enthusiasts descend on the Sydney Showgrounds for the 15th edition of AIMEX. Against the backdrop of a sector that is prospering off a record gold price, AIMEX provides the opportunity for suppliers to showcase their products and latest technology to eager onlookers.

Walking into the exhibition centre, it is impossible to miss Hitachi’s bright orange ZW370 wheel loader that towers over visitors.

If anything, the placement of the impressive piece of mining machinery is a statement of a shift back to the conference’s glory days when colossal vehicles dominated the exhibition floor.

Behind Hitachi’s vehicle, there are a scatter of the big mining services companies that have traditionally dominated Australia’s resources landscape.

For Hitachi and Hilliard Corporation, whose stands are frolicking with activity on the first two days, it is an opportunity to immerse with decision makers in the industry.

The front pavilion is also home to some of the most dynamic AUSTRALIANMINING

I’VE BEEN WATCHING THE RISE OF AUTONOMY AND IT’S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY AND THE AUTONOMOUS WORLD.” and innovative companies that are making strides in the mining industry and taking the opportunity to showcase their newest products.

Strata Worldwide has its popular refuge chamber on display, while ifm capitalises on the increasing safety focus of mine sites to showcase its O3M smart sensor, offering a glimpse into the innovation that awaits mining in the years to come.

Visitors are able to switch between the various product demonstrations provided by exhibitors and the AIMEX conference stage, where key industry stakeholders discuss the next horizon in technology,

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OCTOBER 2019

sustainability and safety.

For the first time, the conference features a ‘Mining Pavilion,’ which attracts some of Australia’s biggest names, as both services and mining companies alike listen in on the challenges facing the industry going forward.

This section of AIMEX attracts leading coal producers, such as Centennial Coal, Glencore, Mach Energy, Whitehaven Coal and Yancoal Australia, and day one of the conference doesn’t miss a beat as a result.

The opening topic revolves around the relationship between

AIMEX

the mining sector and regional communities, which has plagued the perception of the industry at times.

Austmine chief executive officer Christine Gibbs-Stewart chairs a panel discussion between numerous relevant parties.

From the outset, Gibbs-Stewart urges the industry to improve relationships with communities, given the “poor image the mining industry has, which seems to be increasing.”

Against the backdrop of a country that has been divided by Adani’s approval at the Carmichael mine in Queensland, Gibbs-Stewart is steadfast that communication, both internally and externally in the industry, is crucial to improving its reputation.

“Partnership and collaboration is the key, it’s important that we discuss on the panel how to work with the METS sector to change the image of mining and change the way we do things to create the community we want for tomorrow,” Gibbs-Stewart says.

Yancoal Australia manager, environment, approvals and community relations Mark Jacobs is on hand to provide the viewpoint of a mining company with operations in close proximity to regional communities.

He says mining companies are facing increased pressure to listen to, and develop relationships with surrounding towns, given how accountable they are in the digital era.

“Things like the digital age and the availability of information, makes us more visible to

(LEFT TO RIGHT) NGAIRE BAKER, KIEREN MOFFAT, MARK JACOBS AND ANNA LITTLEBOY JOIN PANEL CHAIR CHRISTINE GIBBS STEWART.

communities, with good reasons, they are concerned with what we do,” Jacobs says.

“We are still trying to break down the mistrust from the last 15-20 years, however, we still have some way to go.”

The discussion comes amid ongoing sentiment within the sector that the increasing shift towards automation is negatively impacting jobs.

For those in favour of the adoption of automation, however, the benefits are widespread and not only allow

for increased efficiency at mine sites, but also the opportunity for jobs.

Enterprise Improvement Solutions managing director Craig Hurkett is one advocate who is excited about the industry’s autonomous future.

“I’ve been watching the rise of autonomy and it’s an exciting time to be involved in the industry and the autonomous world,” Hurkett says.

For the most part, the protechnology crowd at AIMEX is riding the wave of excitement around the benefits of automation, which Hurkett says offer higher

VISITORS EXPLORE THE VEHICLES ON SHOW AT AIMEX.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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OCTOBER 2019

productivity rates in the range of 2030 per cent.

The somewhat tainted image of the mining industry is again a hot topic as the conference moves to its second day, with murmurs of a bumper morning of activity permeating the showground floor.

Day two doesn’t disappoint, with a noticeable buzz capturing the audience as mining leaders turn their focus to the issue of gender imbalance and the attraction of young talent within the industry.

Leading off the hot topic of day one – preparing for a digitised and autonomous future – the question for industry leaders is how to appeal to the next generation in order to develop the skills necessary to capitalise on the industry shift.

Weld Australia’s chief executive officer Geoff Crittenden is particularly vocal on the need to start educating youth of what the mining sector offers as early as school.

“We need a well-trained, vibrant sector in order to bring people into mining trades,” Crittenden says.

“We need to reach out to people that influence kids, such as career advisors, parents and teachers, saying there are opportunities in mining and engineering, and encourage them to go down this pathway.”

The requirement stems from a need to change the common perception of mining jobs, according to Gibbs-Stewart.

She points out that for many,

AIMEX

HITACHI’S ZW370 LOADER GREETED VISITORS AT AIMEX’S ENTRANCE.

jobs associated with mining such as welding are simply viewed as someone standing with a welding gun in 50-degree heat in remote Western Australia.

Gibbs-Stewart emphasises that this isn’t the case and that instead, the industry offers stimulating jobs that often aren’t exposed to the rigorous environments associated with it.

“Most mining jobs are actually in the city and within the METS sector, not necessarily out in remote regions,” Gibbs-Stewart says.

“I’m not saying that doesn’t happen, but if that is what a young person has in their mind, of course they won’t be appealed to that.”

Tackling the gender imbalance and the impact a lack of equality has on the industry’s image is also at the forefront of discussions.

The panel conversations, which allow for audience engagement in the form of a question and answer, are well received by AIMEX visitors that are inquisitive about what is being done within the industry to even out the gender balance.

Whitehaven Coal chief financial officer Kevin Ball has noticeable faith that while the gender imbalance in mining will not be a quick fix, it is trending the right way and will gradually even out over time.

“A lot will change, I think it’s a decade thing, not a year thing; in 2025-2030 the gender balance will be better, leadership structures more balanced and there will be multiple

races and religions,” Ball says.

“If (the industry) provides flexible workplaces and support for parenting, then over time the gender issue will be more balanced.”

This is set to not only benefit the industry as a whole, but also companies in general, given the business outcomes that result from a more diverse workplace, according to HVTC chief executive officer Sharon Smith.

“There’s a lot of research that says if you have culturally diverse leadership and policy then you get better decision making and organisational performance,” Smith says.

The outlook coincides with the employment of Indigenous Australians in the industry, a major focus for a number of large companies over many years.

Rosemary Howard, chairperson of the AIMEX panel and of the mining leaders group, says the sector has great potential to assist with creating jobs for Indigenous Australians.

“As jobs shift to cities and there are less high skill jobs in rural areas, this sector is in a unique position to help Indigenous communities,” Howard says.

Howard, pointing to the work Whitehaven Coal does with Indigenous communities, including its reconciliation action plan, believes mining has and should continue to make strides with Indigenous employment.

The issue of energy security and climate policy, along with the inevitable adjustment the mining AUSTRALIANMINING

industry faces as regulation clamps down and community expectations rise rounds out the conference sessions on the final day of AIMEX. New innovations, such as the use of hybrid renewable generation and leach processing, are highlighted as ways the sector can use cheaper, lower emission renewable energy.

REMOTE FLYING OBJECTS WERE AMONG THE INNOVATIONS ON SHOW.

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It caps off a jam-packed three days that are largely focussed on what’s to come rather than what has happened.

While the mining industry undoubtably faces some challenges ahead, leaving AIMEX it is the prospects and potential growth that is arguably the most resonating. AM

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WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT

FIFO VS RESIDENTIAL HIRE: A TUG OF WAR

NEW CENTURY MD PATRICK WALTA WITH RESOURCES MINISTER MATT CANAVAN AT THE CENTURY REOPENING.

NOT ONLY ARE COMPANIES CONSTANTLY FACED WITH HIRING DECISIONS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF A MINE LIFE, THEY MUST ALSO CONTEND WITH THE FIFO DEBATE IN AUSTRALIA’S MINING REGIONS. VANESSA ZHOU REPORTS.

T

he mining industry is encountering mounting demands to buy and employ local, despite the efforts of sociallyresponsible companies to satisfy increasing pressure on both accounts.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor John Bowler goes as far as saying that a number of mining companies are bludging on their “good” peers – those mining companies which are doing the right thing.

The so-called bludgers are not incentivising against fly-in, fly-out (FIFO), buying local or contributing enough to the local economy, according to Bowler.

While a lot of Australia’s regional towns perceive FIFO as “a mountain that can’t be moved” and “the elephant in the room,” Bowler begs to differ.

In fact, if the mining sector can convert 10 to 20 per cent of

IN A COMPETITIVE LABOUR MARKET, MINING COMPANIES NEED TO OFFER A VARIETY OF WORKFORCE ARRANGEMENTS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES.” FIFO workers coming in and out of the Western Australian mining city, he admits he’ll be “a very happy man.”

“I’m not a fool. I recognise there is a place for FIFO, particularly for isolated mine sites and those which don’t have a long mine life,” Bowler tells Australian Mining.

“You’re not going to rebuild a town. But we already have a town, a regional centre such as KalgoorlieBoulder, Mt Isa, Broken Hill. It is immoral for companies, and even governments to allow them to go out of their way and engage FIFO rather than encouraging residential employment.”

AUSTRALIANMINING

Bowler blames part of the FIFO concern in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Canberra’s “immoral” tax system, which he believes encourages Australians to live away from their families.

While there are cases where FIFO is the only answer, there are long-standing regional cities which make great places to live and have extensive infrastructure, he says.

In Queensland, the state government controls FIFO employment by prohibiting large resource projects that are nearby a regional community from having a 100 per cent FIFO workforce.

The legislation aims to increase

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local employment in towns like Middlemount, Blackwater, Clermont, Moranbah, Cloncurry, Mt Isa, Nebo and others.

This ruling stands over 69 large resource projects across Queensland (at the time of writing), affecting operations such as Century (New Century Resources), Bauxite Hills (Metro Mining), Moranbah North (Anglo American) and Peak Downs (BHP Mitsubishi Alliance).

The legislation, however, has minimal impact on New Century’s historic Century zinc mine. The company employs the majority of its workforce from the northern Queensland region.

This is not limited to only the bigger cities such as Townsville and Cairns, but also Charters Towers and the Gulf communities of Doomadgee, Karumba, Normanton and Mornington Islands, according to New Century’s head of corporate affairs and social

WAT E R

SCIENCE

TECHNOLOGY

WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT

NEW CENTURY RESOURCES REPROCESSES TAILINGS AT CENTURY MINE.

responsibility Shane Goodwin.

New Century is enjoying the fruits of a successful community engagement program that was built over 16 years before it acquired the site, and is still sustained today.

The company’s operational plans intend to deliver an even higher proportion of the site’s workforce from local communities once a mine expansion is under way, according to Goodwin.

He says when the Queensland Government extended a 100 per cent FIFO workforce ban to the mine, the operation couldn’t be less affected. The FIFO ban came at zero cost and impact to any of New Century’s activities.

“New Century has maintained 15–20 per cent of Gulf communities’ employment throughout the

operational life of its mine,” Goodwin tells Australian Mining.

“There was no period of adjustment at all when the 100 per cent FIFO ban was introduced to us. We were consulted by the government on the legislation when it was being developed, so we were well across with what was being introduced, and very comfortable with it when it was introduced.”

What Goodwin deemed the “most significant” change for New Century was a need to articulate its encouragement of applicants who come from the local communities stated in the legislation.

The Century mine is now significantly smaller than when it was at full flight under previous ownership. The peak workforce

during those days was around 1000 people, according to Goodwin.

With a workforce of around 230–240 people at any one time now, New Century negotiated for more employment training opportunities across the Gulf communities.

New Century is delivering onsite training, funding a teachers’ assistance program and employing mentors at a Townsville boarding school where it’s seeing improved attendance.

The initiatives are designed according to what the communities express as their needs to back the region’s sustainable development, as opposed to being dictated by New Century.

“Companies provide local recruitment, training and education programs, dedicated procurement programs to maximise local supplier engagement and investments in community and regional infrastructure and initiatives to support liveability and inclusion,” Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable tells Australian Mining.

“Working arrangements should be based on locational issues and factor in transport options, shift requirements, job vacancies and their expected duration. In a competitive labour market, mining companies need to offer a variety of workforce arrangements to attract and retain employees.”

Constable believes that labour mobility is also critical to ensuring a diverse workforce.

Companies should be able to use a range of alternatives including FIFO, bus-in bus-out (BIBO) and drivein drive-out (DIDO), with suitable accommodation arrangements

KALGOORLIE-BOULDER IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF AUSTRALIAN MINING CITIES ALLIANCE.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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OCTOBER 2019

and locally sourced labour, Constable says.

Bowler argues, “Some of them may only be able to employ FIFO workers, but what we want to see is the best efforts are made to try and encourage families to come to these regional towns so there’s encouragement for workers to live with their spouse and children.

“The simple thing is children should be tucked in to bed every night by their parents. Because if mining companies do have their workforce living in regional cities, they’ll have a happier, more stable workforce, and they’ll be helping the town with the profits being made.”

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has appointed multinational firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) to speak with various mining companies, drilling companies and supply firms to establish gold standards for the sector.

PwC will particularly be seeking feedback in respect to employment (FIFO versus residential hire), local procurement (buy-local policy) and community engagement (contribution to sporting events and special groups in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder).

The investigation and findings will be shared with the sector by the end of the year to urge for improvement and keep mining companies up to standard, according to Bowler.

“We’ll continue to talk to the federal and state governments and the mining industry, and appeal to their better nature. Because there are mining companies in KalgoorlieBoulder that are trying to do the right thing,” Bowler concludes. AM

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MINING EQUIPMENT

A BATTLE OF THE BEASTS HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DUMP TRUCK RACE A SUPERCAR? IF NOT, DON’T FRET, BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A SHOW OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NATIONAL GROUP AND THE MOBIL 1 MEGA RACING TEAM, AN EVENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE HAS BECOME A REALITY. ALEX GLUYAS WRITES.

F

ollowing a trip to Queensland’s mining hot spot in the Bowen Basin earlier this year, professional race car driver James Courtney proposes a tantalising challenge to his Mobil 1 MEGA Racing teammate Scott Pye. It is a suggestion so out of left field that nothing quite like it has been replicated around the world: the proposition of a Supercar facing off against one of National Group’s Caterpillar 777F dump trucks.

The challenge initially surprised National Group managing director Mark Ackroyd, whose somewhat disbelief soon turns to sheer excitement.

“Mining equipment is definitely not seen racing around a track very often, they are usually busy moving tonnes of dirt from point A to point B,” Ackroyd comments pre-race.

National Group’s MD, like many others, is enthralled by the prospect of two dominant vehicles in their respective industries facing off in the pure terrain of his National Group owned quarry in Nebo, Queensland.

“It will be an interesting matchup as our dump trucks are more wellknown for their large engine capacity, sheer size and brute force; race cars

NATIONAL GROUP MD MARK ACKROYD (CENTRE) WITH SCOTT PYE AND JAMES COURTNEY.

on the other hand are more about speed and agility, so we’ve put a few obstacles in the way to even the score,” Ackroyd continues.

“Let’s see if the king of the mines can out muscle the king of the racetracks, I’ll even start the race myself.”

It set the stage for a battle of the beasts, with absolutely no denying of the competitive nature between Courtney and Pye. As Courtney hides the keys in his palm, Pye is challenged to choose a hand in order to decide which driver

will operate each respective vehicle.

In this moment, Courtney sends a cheeky jab at his opponent Pye, “I’ll let you choose Scotty. I’m fairly confident I have got this either way.”

The result sees Courtney enter the starter’s line in the familiar surroundings of his Mobil 1 MEGA Racing car, while Pye rolls up in the colossal dump truck.

“This is not something you get to do every day. We drive for a living, but I’m sure this will be a totally different experience. We’re both looking forward to the challenge,” Pye says,

THE CATERPILLAR DUMP TRUCK LINES UP AGAINST THE SUPERCAR.

AUSTRALIANMINING

26

OCTOBER 2019

IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING MATCHUP AS OUR DUMP TRUCKS ARE MORE WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR LARGE ENGINE CAPACITY, SHEER SIZE AND BRUTE FORCE; RACE CARS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE MORE ABOUT SPEED AND AGILITY, SO WE’VE PUT A FEW OBSTACLES IN THE WAY TO EVEN THE SCORE.”

MINING EQUIPMENT

with a hint of nerves.

The race course is set in a way so each vehicle can capitalise on their respective strengths – the Supercar must weave through obstacles to highlight its agility, while the sheer brute power of the dump trucks will be showcased as it streams forward in a straight line.

As the vehicles wait to start the race, Pye exclaims: “this thing is huge… I’m about 20 feet off the ground.”

Ackroyd starts the race and as the supercar hit its first obstacle, the dump truck begins to pick up momentum leading into the finish line. While Pye takes the initial bragging rights, the challenge isn’t quite over.

“Let me have a go mate, I’m curious to see myself how these big mining trucks handle,” Courtney says.

After switching vehicles and enjoying the power offered by National Group’s dump trucks, the two drivers have time to reflect on the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Growing up, almost every little boy imagines themselves driving

around big trucks. Thanks to the National Group, James and I got to be young kids again for the day. We had a ball,” Pye says.

Equally excited, Courtney shares his experience with Australian Mining, “the whole day was awesome.

When you’re involved in motorsports, you love anything with an engine, no matter the shape or size.”

For the National Group, the race highlights an opportunity for the mining and racing communities to come together and celebrate the relationship that exists with Mobil 1 MEGA Racing.

“Today was a great opportunity to showcase our partnership with the Mobil 1 MEGA Racing and most of all have some fun combining our industries’ machines together for a never before seen event,” Ackroyd says.

As Courtney and Pye head back to the busy schedule of the professional race car tour and National Group staff work on their next fleet of mining vehicles, this race will undoubtably be etched in the memory of both drivers for a while to come. AM

MINERALS PROCESSING

CDE SETS THE SCENE FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF CDE META’S LATEST AUSTRALIAN PROJECT, THE COMPANY IS CONFIDENT A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE MINERALS PROCESSING PRACTICES WILL CONTINUE TO EMERGE THANKS TO ITS NOVEL MODULAR APPROACH. BEN CREAGH WRITES.

A

culture of sustainability has become contagious in mining and for CDE Meta – CDE’s miningfocussed division – that can only point to a promising future.

CDE’s push for sustainable wet minerals processing practices has emerged at a fitting time for mining as the industry pursues new methods to unlock valuable resources.

Sustainable mining now comes in many forms. For CDE, the company’s aim in mining is to maximise product value through modular wet processing solutions, while minimising tailings deposits and reducing environmental impact.

From Northern Ireland origins, CDE’s modular processing plants have gained traction around the world as more mining companies have considered sustainable initiatives, which its solutions are aligned to.

In Australia, the company’s legacy will forever be linked to its inaugural mining project in the country at SIMEC Mining’s iron ore operations in South Australia.

CDE designed, manufactured and installed two plants with a joint capacity of 950-tonne-per-hour of iron ore waste beneficiation for SIMEC at the Iron Baron and Iron Knob sites in the Middleback Ranges.

Commissioned in late 2017, the two plants were designed to convert around 17 million tonnes of low-grade iron ore stockpiled in waste dumps into a saleable product.

The SIMEC project continues to reflect the direction CDE believes the industry will move in, according to CDE Meta head of mining Adam Holland.

He says CDE’s ethos is to support this new world of resources where sustainable practices are an integral part of mining company strategies.

“The purpose of CDE and the culture that the company has, I think, sits alongside how resources around the world are dwindling,” Holland tells Australian Mining.

“In mining, many of the big companies still have a lot of material to dig, but we need to be increasingly mindful about how sustainable those resources are. A lot of the producers AUSTRALIANMINING

are waking up to that and I think that’s where CDE can bring value.”

CDE’s modular, bespoke plants were delivered to the SIMEC sites just 18 months from the receipt of order after being designed and manufactured in Northern Ireland.

The first plant, at Iron Knob, processes stockpiles of low-grade iron ore accumulated since mining commenced in 1930. It is then shifting to the Iron Empress and Iron Baroness scree ore deposits.

“We have taken a waste, low-grade overburden iron ore material at 42 to 55 per cent grades and our plants beneficiate that through washing separation and gravity separation up to 63 per cent, at almost a 50 per cent yield,” Holland says.

“There are a number of opportunities with mining companies who are looking at similar projects using waste and overburden that has gathered over the life of their mines.”

SIMEC’s processing solution features a range of CDE equipment, including the M-Series modular washing plant, AggMax modular logwasher, EvoWash fine washing

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plant, dry screening Infinity screens, and AquaCycle thickeners, as well as incorporation of some third-party gravity separation equipment.

CDE has encouragingly expanded its Australian presence this year by delivering a wet processing plant at Centrex Metals’ Ardmore phosphate site near Mt Isa in Queensland.

Ardmore is being developed to produce phosphate concentrate, a highly sought-after commodity in the agriculture industry.

The plant, installed in August this year, will wash, scrub and de-slime free-digging ore to produce premium 35 per cent P2O5 and ultra-low cadmium phosphate rock concentrate to be used to manufacture phosphoric acid.

Scheduled to reach full-scale development in 2021, the plant initially has a 70-tonne-per-hour capacity. It is designed for a phase two expansion to double capacity to the equivalent of 800,000 wet tonnes per annum.

In phase one, the start-up plant will provide up to 30,000 tonnes of wet concentrate to a number of Centrex Metals customers.

Created in collaboration with

MINERALS PROCESSING

WE HAVE TAKEN A WASTE, LOW-GRADE OVERBURDEN IRON ORE MATERIAL AT 42 TO 55 PER CENT GRADES AND OUR PLANTS BENEFICIATE THAT THROUGH WASHING SEPARATION AND GRAVITY SEPARATION UP TO 63 PER CENT, AT ALMOST A 50 PER CENT YIELD.”

SIMEC MINING’S IRON KNOB SITE, WHERE THE FIRST CDE PLANT IN AUSTRALIA IS BASED.

geometric shape,” Holland says.

“That is an advantage of our modular approach, you can use it in a flexible way for a pilot plant, then bring it down and incorporate it into your future plans.

“The fact that each module is pre wired, pre commissioned and tested in controlled conditions in our Northern Ireland factory also de-risks installation on site, leading to a more rapid, safer and cost effective build and commissioning.”

Holland believes CDE’s modular approach is what sets the company apart at both Australian projects and for mining companies it works with around the world.

He says it enables CDE to put its equipment together to deliver a specific solution that is ideally suited to each mine site.

“It’s very collaborative at the start. We provide advice during

Centrex Metals, CDE has designed the plant using its trademark modular approach in order to facilitate a simple transition to the 140-tonne-per-hour phase two plant.

CDE’s modular approach was an enabling factor for the project. It allowed for the development of a pilot plant requiring minimal civil infrastructure, while being delivered at a capex and opex to support a start-up operation. Each module is carefully designed to be easily dismantled and incorporated into a wider process plant at a later date.

CDE’s modular design also solves many of the problems presented by Ardmore’s remote location by providing flexibility that protects the initial investment when moving to the fullscale plant in two years.

“We have designed the plant to be adaptable so its modules can be broken down and relocated in a different

studies from the beginning and stick with the project as the companies move through feasibility and start production,” Holland says.

“The modules go together in a different way for each customer, allowing us to develop a solution that is bespoke to our customer’s needs.

I can say with confidence that each of the 2000-plus plants delivered

by CDE worldwide will be unique compared to the next.”

Due to the challenges around water availability, CDE has also supplied the Centrex and SIMEC sites with its AquaCycle technology, a high-efficiency high-rate thickener and water management system that recovers up to 90 per cent of the process water for recirculation.

For Holland, the project has reached a point where it will deliver a sustainable outcome for Centrex Metals, setting the scene for similar opportunities in the future. He hopes it paves the way for other junior miners to capitalise on a modular route to a sustainable and cost effective start-up operation.

“We believe sustainability will be the next revolution in mining where companies will be buying on the strength of sustainable projects in the future, rather than just price and quality,” Holland concludes. AM

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MINERALS PROCESSING RECYN III COMBINES CYANIDE RECOVERY, GOLD RECOVERY AND TAILINGS DETOXIFICATION IN ONE SIMPLE CIRCUIT.

RECYN III NOT A FOOL’S GOLD IN PROCESSING REDUCTION IN CYANIDE PURCHASED FOR GOLD RECOVERY IS NOT WISHFUL THINKING. GREENGOLD TECHNOLOGY TELLS AUSTRALIAN MINING ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD REVOLUTIONISE GOLD PROCESS PLANTS.

G

reenGold Technology is not afraid to tackle the negativity surrounding cyanide in gold processing plants head-on.

Cyanide is still considered the best lixiviant for gold, and alternative processes have their problems, according to GreenGold chief executive Malcolm Roy Paterson.

With over one million tonnes of cyanide consumed each year in thousands of gold mines around the world, the gold plant effluent is sometimes discharged without adequate detoxification.

This action is mainly due to the high cost of conventional detox processes.

Any significant failure or leakage from the storage facility compounds the negativity associated with cyanide usage.

In response, GreenGold has commercialised a resin-based technology that can reduce the overall cost and use of cyanide in gold projects by 50 per cent, producing a thoroughly decontaminated tailings stream from the process plant.

“Back in the 1990s, we were developing a variant of ReCYN technology for gold recovery, but we had mixed success with that,” Paterson tells Australian Mining.

“We moved away from gold to

focus on detoxification and cyanide recovery, which is now being successfully implemented. However, clients are saying, ‘Can we do all three together?’ ‘Can we go back and add in the gold recovery?’

“The addition of gold recovery was always intended to be part of ReCYN technology, but that was to be a later stage of development. It was not a simple move to include the gold component while maintaining the ability to detox.”

However, the idea was pushed by mining companies upon realising the shortcomings of their carbon processes, according to Paterson. Also, the quality of activated carbon appears to be deteriorating and negatively impacting gold recovery.

The result has been an innovative solution called ReCYN III. ReCYN technology is now comprised of three options: ReCYN I for active (free) cyanide recovery, ReCYN II when detox is included to recover cyanide complexes such as copper, and ReCYN III when gold recovery is added.

All three aspects have been tested through laboratory, piloting and commercial application, but this is the first time the technology has been integrated into a single process plant.

For greenfields projects, the ReCYN III concept becomes very attractive AUSTRALIANMINING

as an alternative to a carbon circuit, which requires a more complex counter-current adsorption circuit with interstage screens and pumps, thermal regeneration and separate detox.

There are many other benefits of using ReCYN technology.

“The lower cost of recycled cyanide allows plants to economically operate at higher cyanide levels in the leach, thereby improving gold and silver recoveries,” Paterson says.

Combined with the ability to recover dissolved base metals and other cyanide complexes, the process simultaneously detoxifies the tailings stream.

Recovered base metals, especially at high concentrations, can provide a significant income stream.

The ReCYN process can solve the problem of nuisance levels of cyanide soluble copper, allowing for treatment of ores previously considered uneconomical.

“Tailings dams are no longer considered toxic due to cyanide and dissolved metals, and public perception of environmentally-damaging gold projects changes 180 degrees: it ceases to be an issue,” Paterson says.

ReCYN III is designed to not only provide a compliant standard of discharge, but also to beat those discharge levels.

In addition to two commercial

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OCTOBER 2019

operations in Indonesia, ReCYN III is being implemented in one brownfields project in the United States, and is designed into a greenfields project in Australia, both at commercial scale.

GreenGold is working at different stages on 30 different projects around the world that are considering applying its ReCYN technology, with the early adopters “very keen” to implement it.

The projects are spread over 10 countries, including Siberia, Alaska, Africa and South America, and several applications in Australia. GreenGold has assigned its metallurgical experts to conduct the test work on-site to execute a project-specific solution.

“We believe this development is exciting as the new technology will have a big impact on the gold industry and fundamentally change the way process plants are built and operated, including lower capital and operating costs,” Paterson says.

GreenGold employs over 60 people engaged in the development and implementation of the ReCYN technology. A full range of disciplines tackle all aspects of the technology, from research and development, studies, design and project implementation.

“There’s nobody else in the world that’s dedicating such a big workforce to focus on one aspect of gold recovery technology,” Paterson concludes. AM

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INTRODUCING FENNER DUNLOP’S IDLER MANUFACTURING FACILITY THE HIGHLY AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN QUEENSLAND IS PAVING THE WAY FOR IDLER PRODUCTION. AUSTRALIAN MINING GETS THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM FENNER DUNLOP CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER STEVE ABBOTT.

F

enner Dunlop, Australia’s only company to manufacture and supply a complete conveyor system, has taken residence in a 6000-square-metre facility in Brisbane that incorporates the latest in robotics technology.

Fenner Dunlop has been manufacturing idlers since doors opened in July 2019. Now, the new plant could produce 50 to 100 per cent more idlers a day than conventional manufacturing thanks to automation.

“The fabrication time depends upon the size of the unit that we’re making, but that rate is the rule of thumb,” Fenner Dunlop chief operating officer Steve Abbott tells Australian Mining.

When asked about the start of idler manufacturing, Abbott attributes Fenner Dunlop’s success to the company’s familiarity with manufacturing and good relationships with equipment suppliers.

“Being a mining OEM is in Fenner Dunlop’s DNA. This

THE PRODUCTION FACILITY HAS STARTED RECEIVING ORDERS.

facility completes the loop to make us Australia’s only full conveyor OEM,” Abbott says.

Being the newest idler manufacturer in Australia, Fenner Dunlop had the opportunity to adopt the latest technology at its idler plant.

It’s a “big step up” from the traditional methods of idler manufacturing in Australia, as the entire plant can be run with only two people, according to Abbott.

The use of robotics also helps to ensure Fenner Dunlop is capable of generating repeatable product quality and removes human error from the equation.

The robot-run manufacturing reduces manual handling and automates the welding process, ensuring consistency of end products every time.

While Fenner Dunlop has always designed its idlers, they were previously imported. Long lead times became an issue for some customers, resulting in an increase in working capital for their operations.

AUSTRALIANMINING

“Customers can forget to restock idlers or require them quickly due to changes in mine plans. So often they are needed in a hurry. We need to be able to cater to that need and quickly turn that supply around,” Abbott says.

Fenner Dunlop believes that local fabrication of products is key to that fast turnaround, and automation supports the need for speed, consistency and competitiveness.

The Brisbane-based idler plant is a good logistical point to cater to mine sites in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, New South Wales’ coal regions and across these states more broadly.

Aside from idler manufacturing, the Brisbane facility performs rubber lining work for steel equipment, supplies a range of specialised conveyor equipment from its warehouse and sends out service teams for on-site maintenance in the local city area.

Fenner Dunlop is also exploring alternate materials and looking at reducing idler weight. Not only will this help minimise the manual

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handling risks associated with the idler, it also has potential to lower noise levels.

“The new facility was designed with consideration for broadening the idler product range,” Abbott says.

Elsewhere in Australia, Fenner Dunlop has opened a service operation in the Hunter Valley, which Abbott believes “will become quite a big business” for the company.

This service offering complements Fenner Dunlop’s existing ACE engineering business in the NSW region.

The company has also secured a belt contract with one of Australia’s largest iron ore operations this year, a significant milestone that builds on its conveyor contract win at BHP’s South Flank project in Western Australia during April.

“We are currently seeing the benefits of investment decisions and hard work from our teams over the last five to 10 years. It’s great to see our employees get reward for effort.” Abbott says. AM

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INNOVATION

JOHN SAMPLE GETS THE GREASE THE HISTORY OF JOHN SAMPLE GROUP PAINTS THE LAW OF ATTRACTION, SHOWING THAT QUALITY ATTRACTS QUALITY. AUSTRALIAN MINING WRITES.

J

ohn Sample Group (JSG) has demonstrated its eye for quality brands in the market since it was formed in 1921.

The privately-owned company first emerged as a major player in the automotive market, owning exclusive distribution rights to brands such as Blackhawk, Federal Mogul, Mann’s Pistons and Fitzgerald Gaskets.

Nearly half a century later, the company holds the distribution rights to Lincoln Industrial lubrication systems across the Asia Pacific. It became affiliated with one of the world’s largest bearing manufacturers, SKF, and has innovation strapped at the back of its original product designs.

Such is JSG’s repertoire, it has paved the way to growing the lubrication systems business in the mining and industrial sectors.

JSG has attracted the biggest players in the sector, with one of Western Australia’s largest iron ore producers making the company’s original fire suppression system standard in all its mining vehicles over the past four years.

The practice still continues today.

JSG was founded by George Sample with only distribution rights to reputable brands.

Now it is also breaking into Australia’s fire suppression industry through subsidiary JSG Industrial Systems.

“There hasn’t been a lot of significant developments in the fire suppression industry from a technical point of view,” JSG Industrial Systems national sales manager Italo Marcantonio tells Australian Mining.

“We’ve been able to change that by developing a cutting-edge technology to keep people and assets protected in mine sites. Now we are specified as the preferred supplier for one of Western Australia’s largest iron ore operations.”

JSG has taken technologies that have proven effective in other systems to strengthen its fire suppression offering with features that are unique to the sector.

Its Muster II fire suppression system is, for example, capable of monitoring mobile mining equipment 24/7. This means monitoring the systems overall integrity every two seconds, covering all aspects of system functionality including fire detection.

This is managed by a compact,

self-contained alarm panel that not only provides monitoring ability, but also serves as a manual activation point to streamline installation in the equipment cabin.

The Muster system is supported by a cloud-based risk assessment and design tool, and a comprehensive diagnostics application used by technicians in the field.

The technology, the intellectual property of JSG, is developed inhouse with a company partner in South Africa.

“But we don’t only have a handson relationship with our clients through our distribution partners,” Marcantonio says.

“That relationship also extends to our end users in mine sites.

“We train site personnel, including engineers, so they understand how the fire suppression system works, how to troubleshoot should there be a problem and provide a whole range of technical support.”

JSG’s fire suppression systems are

available in Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and the Pacific Islands.

But JSG’s “biggest story” is yet to unfold. JSG, along with its major supplier SKF, is engaged in another multi-billion-dollar Western Australian iron ore project.

The companies are trusted with the delivery of extended reliability performance, which is an 18-week maintenance window on critical plant and equipment.

SKF has the engineering competence to design state-of-theart bearing assemblies, incorporating customised lubrication systems that greatly extend maintenance shut periods.

“We are taking the company to the next step of performance reliability,” Marcantonio says.

“Our lubrication systems help the bearings perform at their optimum level, thereby avoiding premature failures caused by ingress and contamination.”

This will help the new mine operate

its critical units with uninterrupted run time between maintenance shutdowns, and to extend the life of critical assets.

After all, this technology has been proven to extend equipment life and performance around the world, according to Marcantonio.

It has also established JSG’s position as a one-stop shop in the lubrication, fluid management and fire suppression system markets.

The company carries products from “only the best suppliers”, including FloMAX International, All-Flo, GPI and Flowmec, to be able to confidently assist users with the installation and ongoing support of these systems.

JSG also has an “enviable” reputation in the export market, now operating in more than 32 countries throughout the world.

Importantly, the quality of JSG’s lubrication and fire suppression systems demonstrates its relentless pursuit of people and assets protection within the mining and industrial sectors. AM

JOHN SAMPLE INTRODUCES ITS OWN PRODUCTS FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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OCTOBER 2019

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MINING SERVICES

CONTRACTOR KEEPS FOCUS ON GROWTH AFTER TRANSFORMATIVE YEAR NOW TRADING UNDER THE NAME PERENTI GLOBAL, THE GROWTH OF MINING SERVICES COMPANY AUSDRILL HAS TAKEN SOME MAJOR STEPS FORWARD OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS. BEN CREAGH WRITES.

T

o call the past year a period of change at Ausdrill would be an understatement.

The mining services company’s transformation reached a pinnacle in August when the group rebranded to become Perenti Global on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Its name change represents the culmination of a series of developments that the company believes has set it up for future growth opportunities, both in Australia, Africa and potentially in new jurisdictions.

Rewind to the 2018 Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum in KalgoorlieBoulder and the seeds of the mining services company’s future had already been planted with the retirement of founder and managing director Ron Sayers.

Ausdrill was also just a week away from announcing plans to acquire underground contractor Barminco for $271.5 million.

As a number of ensuing opportunities surfaced, particularly in Africa, Ausdrill turned the changes into a transformation, something backed up by the company numbers revealed at the 2019 Diggers and Dealers.

Between the past two events,

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Ausdrill doubled its revenues, increased its workforce by a third, added three countries to its project portfolio, and boosted its order book by 191 per cent and pipeline by 78 per cent.

Ausdrill’s acquisition of Barminco, with its track record in Africa and Australia, has been a decisive part of the growth.

Barminco, for example, secured an $800 million contract at the Khoemacau copper project in Botswana in June, giving Ausdrill a presence in the southern African country for the first time.

The two contractors also experienced success in Africa prior to the acquisition through their African Underground Mining Services (AUMS) joint venture.

Perenti managing director and chief executive Mark Norwell, who started in the role in September 2018, concedes that the company’s rapid development has been an “out of the ordinary growth projection.”

However, Norwell says the company still has growth opportunities that can further strengthen this platform. “(We have) just the one contract in Botswana at the moment. With our pipeline we do have other

BUSINESS IN AFRICA HAS DRIVEN THE COMPANY’S GROWTH. AUSTRALIANMINING

36

OCTOBER 2019

opportunities beyond Khoemacau in Botswana,” Norwell tells Australian Mining.

“So, we are keen on those in time.

Certainly, the current countries we operate in we will also keep the presence there.

“We are going to be quite selective, there will be countries we won’t go to for various reasons.

“We need to make sure we can operate safely for our people from a security perspective.”

Norwell hints that the group will pursue opportunities in additional African countries like Namibia and Zambia through its two contractors focussed on the continent, as long as the timing is right.

North America, which has been linked to the company’s growth plans in the past, also remains on Perenti’s radar.

The company is also open to adding new services to its already broad capabilities in exploration, mine development, surface mining and underground mining.

But again, Norwell expresses caution in the approach the company will take before making any significant moves.

“We will look at complementary services only if our core capabilities

MINING SERVICES

PERENTI MANAGING DIRECTOR MARK NORWELL.

bring value to bear. We are not going to race out and do something left field if we don’t have capabilities, it is going to be within our mining capability,” Norwell says.

The services will possibly feed off the development of the company’s technology capabilities, another focus for the company Norwell believes reflects the direction the market is moving.

Norwell says the company plans to initially develop from a technology perspective to improve the current operating businesses it has.

“An approach through technology would be to make them safer, more productive and to drive the cost bases down. But beyond that we are not going to go and become a new R&D company per se – it is about the application of the technology,” Norwell says.

In terms of the change to Perenti, the company’s board believes the name and brand better reflect the group’s status as a diversified global mining services group.

It expects the Perenti brand to

provide a platform that will support the group’s strategic direction and growth ambitions.

Norwell says the group of businesses is resilient and agile, and has the ability to change, a key aspect that is directly embedded in the company’s principles.

“This name change is more than cosmetic, it’s an important step in culturally binding our businesses together under a common identity and it supports our new aspiration, purpose and strategy we rolled out earlier in the year,” Norwell says.

The first step of the rebranding and name change process saw Ausdrill start trading under the Perenti Global name.

The second step involves Ausdrill officially changing its registered name from Ausdrill Limited to Perenti Global Limited to align with the new brand and trading name.

Its new name sits above the company’s industry sector groups: surface mining, underground mining and investments.

“We have used this transformational year to build on our proud heritage by establishing a new operating model and implementing the 2025 group strategy, with our aspiration to become the indispensable mining services company,” Norwell says in the company’s 2019 financial year report.

“Our recent group rebrand to Perenti gives us a strong and identifiable brand in the market and a platform to grow our business in the future, while the evolution of our tagline to ‘Expect More’ supports our aspiration and purpose, underlying our commitment to deliver for all our stakeholders.

“With a strong balance sheet and an order book that has grown to $7 billion after securing $3.4 billion in new and extended contracts since 1 July 2018, Perenti is well positioned for growth in financial year 2020.” AM

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MINING SERVICES

UPSKILLING MINING WORKFORCES TO MEET TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE MINING MACHINERY IS CHANGING SIGNIFICANTLY WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY. EQUIPMENT COMPANY WESTRAC IS DEMONSTRATING HOW ITS WORKFORCE CAN DEVELOP ALONGSIDE THIS TECHNOLOGY. BEN CREAGH EXPLAINS. WESTRAC DISPLAYS THE R2900 LOADER AT DIGGERS AND DEALERS.

T

echnology is shaping the future of mining, leaving companies like WesTrac with a responsibility to upskill its workforce to support how the industry is evolving.

WesTrac has emerged as a leading example of a mining services company that is transitioning its workers alongside the changes technology is causing.

The Western Australian-based Caterpillar dealer is making the most of the opportunities that technology presents, while at the same time ensuring its existing workforce also benefits.

For WesTrac, the impact of technology has not so much been about targeting new workers with these skills, but instead adding the capabilities to its existing workforce.

WesTrac responds to the new technologies that are released on CAT equipment by working with mining companies that use the OEM’s machines to introduce

and manage the systems across their fleets.

This is rapidly changing what is required from WesTrac’s workforce, according to chief executive officer Jarvas Croome.

“We’re developing a lot of new skills in our workforce to be able to manage tech-enabled equipment,” Croome tells Australian Mining at the Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum.

“Autonomous equipment is obviously the pinnacle that everyone focusses on, and for every autonomous piece of equipment, there’s six or seven other pieces of gear that also needs to be technology enabled to work in an autonomous mining environment.”

Automation has often been perceived as a technology that removes jobs from the industry, but WesTrac is proving that it can instead broaden the skill base of existing workers.

It is, however, an element of the technological change that mining companies and workforces continue AUSTRALIANMINING

to grapple with.

BHP, for example, has outlined plans to ramp up its introduction of driverless trucks in Australia across its iron ore and coal operations.

The company will potentially introduce up to 500 autonomous trucks at its Australian open cut operations, a move that it has already started to prepare its workforce for, according to BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) asset president James Palmer.

“Over time as we progress – yes, let’s be transparent – this will likely mean our business has fewer operators physically on the equipment,” Palmer, in a speech to the Bowen Basin Mining Club, says.

“But it will mean more controllers, more builders and more technicians.

It will mean less physical and less routine jobs. But it will mean more dynamic, fulfilling careers.”

But automation isn’t the only technology that is changing mining equipment and the workforce that operates the machinery.

38

OCTOBER 2019

Croome points out that further along the Caterpillar equipment range, technology is also having a significant impact.

“Our new excavator range has a lot of on-board technology out of the factory. We need our technicians to be able to maintain that and help our customers use it easily,” Croome explains.

“We are recruiting people with new skills in some places for that and we are upskilling our existing employees to be able to better maintain and support this gear.”

An increased focus on mining’s impact on the environment is also driving the development of technology for equipment.

WesTrac, which sponsored Diggers and Dealers for the 20th consecutive year in 2019, used the event to showcase the latest version of the R2900 underground loader, which features technology that improves its environmental credentials compared with the previous model.

The 17.2-tonne loader is powered by a fuel-efficient Cat C15 engine and allows operators to choose between emission configurations.

The EU Stage V engine option considerably reduces diesel particulate matter (DPM) and meets current European emissions standards.

Well suited to the hard rock miners in the Goldfields region, Caterpillar markets the loader as a reliable machine that combines productivity, performance and low cost of ownership.

“Diggers was a chance to showcase the Cat R2900 underground loader and talk about the new emissions technology we are getting on the machines,” Croome says.

“It’s exciting that the underground machines are moving in that direction.”

WesTrac has anticipated Caterpillar’s move into battery electric machinery for the underground environment, according to Croome, who expects this technology to become more attractive to Australian miners in the coming years.

The OEM last year revealed

MINING SERVICES

details of a proof-of-concept battery electric trial carried out at an underground site on the CAT R1300G LHD. This year, Caterpillar announced that its first battery-electric LHD would be the CAT R1700 underground loader, a machine the company showcased at the Bauma trade fair in Munich, Germany.

Croome believes the OEM will continue to focus development in this direction as underground mining companies seek ways to remove ventilation requirements and improve safety.

“Caterpillar have recognised that in underground mining, we are going to see battery technology emerge. They have trial units with battery technology on them already,” Croome says.

“I think it is a ‘chicken egg’ scenario, waiting for the battery technology to catch up with the application, but we have started to see that journey progress already.

It’s an exciting time for the whole underground market.”

Croome, however, recognises the current challenges that are in the way of widespread adoption of battery technology in the Australian underground environment.

He points to the initial capital costs and the weight of batteries as

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challenges, but he believes these hurdles will rapidly move in the favour of mining companies.

“The tech of batteries is changing so fast, so what you see today in its infancy is machines that work really well in particular applications of certain size,” Croome says.

“I think in the next two or three

years we will see the batteries start to fit into bigger machines and you will also see them last a lot longer but still be able to recharge very quickly.”

But as Diggers and Dealers proved in 2019, with underground gold mining companies riding high on record Aussie dollar prices, an

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s the mining industry enters into a new phase of innovation, Schenck Process is planning to remain at the forefront of the latest applied measuring technology.

Schenck Process is known in mining for developing and manufacturing innovative solutions for an abundance of mining processes, including weighing, feeding, conveying, screening and thermal processing.

The company appointed Keith Cochrane as chief executive officer in March and with that, introduced a fresh vision of where the global technology market is heading and how it will keep up with the dynamic nature of the mining sector.

For Cochrane, it centres around the concept of continuous improvement and a communication system based on working alongside its customers.

“It’s about continuing to develop and transform the business to enable it to provide broader and more innovative solutions across the products and markets we operate in,” Cochrane says.

“That means asking how we can move our product portfolio forward, working closely with customers to understand them and help them become more efficient through our product solutions.”

Cochrane’s knowledge of the technology and manufacturing market stems from his experience as a non-

executive chairman of the Schenck Process advisory board from December 2017, which was preceded by seven years as CEO of Weir Group.

Cochrane was appointed chairman of the advisory board when Schenck Process was acquired by private equity funds managed by financial services firm, Blackstone.

The new CEO has firsthand experience of where the industry is heading and what needs to be done in order to keep pace through his previous involvement with the company.

“Prior to becoming CEO, I had exposure to the business and the markets which we operate in,” Cochrane says.

“It became clear to me that the company’s strength is the relationships with customers and key end markets provide a platform to support the future growth of the business.”

Cochrane admits that while Schenck Process has already developed a strong range of products, there is still plenty of work to be done in order to capitalise on the technology that exists.

“Our focus going forward it is understanding how to harness digital solutions to embrace the latest technology and continuing to be agile in response to our customer’s needs,” he says. “Like any business, it is about continuous improvement, my belief is that we already have a good product portfolio, so it’s about how do we move it forward and how to expand it.”

AUSTRALIANMINING

While Schenck Process has made its mark globally, the booming Australian mining market stands as a particular area of focus as it looks to leverage off increased demand from mining companies for more efficient and economical methods to implement at operating sites.

“We have a strong position in Australia as we’ve had a particular focus on core markets such as iron ore,” Cochrane says. “We’ve made progress in extending beyond iron ore and moving into other commodities to develop innovative solutions around freeloading technology.”

To reinforce the company’s outlook, Cochrane will present on the topic of ‘driving process efficiency through technology’ at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Melbourne during October.

His speech will look at how mining companies can harness potential technology offers that aim to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

“It’s about understanding products we focus on in Australia and how we can help customers enhance safe operations and be more efficient through more uptime and controlling and monitoring the operation of products,” Cochrane says.

This theme extends to collecting data and analytics that have the potential to measure, track and monitor products, and interpreting data to improve operational efficiency. By

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SCHENCK PROCESS CEO KEITH COCHRANE.

doing this, Schenck Process creates customer benefits while combining technology in an innovative way.

As part of this, the development of algorithms for prescriptive maintenance and moving towards capitalising on artificial intelligence and building machine learning is also on the agenda.

Schenck Process plans to help its customers respond to the increasing market pressure to drop costs, optimise productivity and ultimately, maximise efficiency through these innovations.

Cochrane’s IMARC speech will be a highlight for the industry, in addition to the opportunity to be a special guest on October 30 at Schenck Process’ executive tables at the gala dinner to give insight into the company’s latest innovations and technologies. AM

MATERIALS HANDLING

BRINGING CONVEYORS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY A CHANGING OF THE GUARD HAS LED THE FATHER-SON DUO OF THOMAS AND GRAEME GREAVES TO TURN A NEW CORNER IN CONVEYOR INNOVATION. AUSTRALIAN MINING WRITES.

G

raeme Greaves is a veteran of the conveyor industry, having bought leading Western Australian conveyor specialist DYNA Engineering 14 years ago.

Along with his wealth of experience in the engineering industry, including in the food manufacturing and automotive sectors, DYNA itself has been in the conveyor market for 30 years.

The highly-specialised skills he has brought to the company allowed it to thrive, while the niche group of ‘traditional’ mining engineers eagerly learned about the technical intricacies involved in conveyor engineering.

Fast-forward to the dynamic pace of the internet-fuelled 21st century and the landscape has changed, with the mining industry craving the next innovation, something DYNA has responded to.

Enter Thomas Greaves, Graeme’s tech-savvy son and for the last 18 months, the general manager of DYNA Engineering.

His influence on the company has been profound, as the focus has shifted towards leading the charge in the conveyor industry with regards to innovation and a closer relationship to customers.

“We want to start bringing in engineering to suit the 21st century.

The perception is that it’s old school and there currently isn’t that much accessible information on it out there,” Thomas says.

“A lot of the general public just think someone digs up the ore and sends it somewhere, and there’s a lot of junior engineers leaving university who don’t have the practical knowledge that comes with experience, so we aim to educate people.”

The result has been a ‘changing of the guard’ of sorts as Thomas has joined the family business, updating DYNA Engineering’s image and the way it communicates with its customers, while keeping the technical DNA that his father provides.

DYNA ENGINEERING MANAGING DIRECTOR GRAEME GREAVES WITH SON AND GENERAL MANAGER, THOMAS GREAVES.

The pair now combine to mix the father’s sophisticated knowledge of the conveyor industry with his son’s ability to communicate the technicalities to a vast customer base – and it has delivered proven results.

“We’ve seen a substantial increase in enquiries, a lot of people knew about our business beforehand but now we’ve really started to engage our customers and introduce them to the broad range of conveyor products we have,” Thomas says.

DYNA Engineering’s most recent innovation is what Thomas describes as a “game changer” – a plastic conveyor guard that uses highdensity polyethylene (HDPE), which is light-weight, low maintenance and corrosion free in comparison to its counterpart.

Conveyor guards in general are used to protect personnel from harm associated with conveyors, AUSTRALIANMINING

either by preventing them from entering the danger zones or to contain rogue material within the conveyor.

The real drawcard to the product is the ‘X design’ that is exclusive to DYNA Engineering – the design’s discovery is truly emblematic of the father-son partnership.

After finding himself “doodling” on a piece of paper sketching ideas, Thomas drew out the ‘X design’ which was noticed as Graeme walked past.

A “lightbulb moment” from the conveyor expert led to a casual afternoon sketching session that turned into what could be the next major innovation in the conveyor industry.

The design itself, increases a conveyor guard’s strength substantially when compared with the standard plastic mesh guards that were previously used.

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THE PLASTIC CONVEYOR GUARD.

MATERIALS HANDLING

WE WANT TO START BRINGING IN ENGINEERING TO SUIT THE 21ST CENTURY. THE PERCEPTION IS THAT IT’S OLD SCHOOL AND THERE CURRENTLY ISN’T THAT MUCH ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION ON IT OUT THERE.” This results in reduced deflection and is above the minimum Australian standard that is implemented to ensure personnel on mine sites are kept safe.

DYNA Engineering is anticipating a surge in interest for its new product, and under the watchful eye of Graeme, it seems to be the perfect moment to pounce on the desire mining companies are having for safer and more economical equipment.

“I noticed a gap in the market; I’ve been making guards for a long time and we’re always looking for better ways to build them,” Graeme says.

“This product isn’t something that was built overnight, it’s something we’ve been putting together for a number of years.”

The benefits the plastic conveyor guard offers are particularly appealing to mining companies given their light weight, ensuring

the engagement with them are a one-person job.

There is also a significant costsaving benefit due to the minimal need for maintenance, given the plastic guard is resistant to rust or corrosion.

Reduced costs also stem from the ease of installation, given the increased demand for simplified processes by customers.

There is now no need to cut, bend and weld steel guards when they don’t fit on site, which can be costly due to on site labour.

The improvements highlight the state of the conveyor market, which is begging for an upgrade in safety and economic features, according to Graeme.

“A lot of conveyor guards haven’t changed over the years, they’ve just used metal mesh because its cheap,” he says.

“They rust, they’re heavy and the health and safety to personnel

THE FULLY CLOSED GUARD MODEL.

suffered. The plastic we plan to use is a common material but it hasn’t been used in conveyor guards successfully. We think our design will solve a lot of issues.”

The improvements have been made off the back of Graeme and Thomas consulting with customers, which they emphasise is the most productive way of

designing products.

This new communication process has allowed DYNA Engineering to tailor the range of products to meet specific demands from operators working on site.

It has set the scene for the company to enter an exciting period as the changing of the guard literally comes into fruition. AM

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MATERIALS HANDLING

ENGINEERED FLOW AIDS RESOLVE BULK MATERIAL HANDLING ISSUES MARTIN ENGINEERING GLOBAL FLOW AIDS MANAGER BRAD PRONSCHINSKE GIVES AUSTRALIAN MINING INSIGHTS INTO HOW ENGINEERED FLOW CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS AT MATERIALS HANDLING OPERATIONS.

I

n order to achieve confined and consistent flow on conveyors handling large volumes of bulk material such as coal, aggregate or biomass, transfer chutes and vessels must be designed to accommodate and facilitate the flow of the cargo they will be handling.

But even if the operating conditions are expected to be ideal, many engineers include flow aid devices in new designs to ensure delivery of the specified results and deal with changes in bulk material properties.

Designing a conveyor and chutework that would handle every material situation is virtually impossible. Materials with high moisture content can adhere to chute or vessel walls or even freeze during winter temperatures.

Continuous operation can serve to compress the material, and physical properties often change due to natural variations in the source deposits, changes in suppliers or specifications or if the material remains stagnant in storage for a long period of time.

At times, the system can become completely blocked by just a small change in any of these parameters.

To overcome these issues, a variety AIR CANNONS CAN BE INSTALLED AND SERVICED WITHOUT A SHUTDOWN.

AIR CANNONS DELIVER A PRECISELY CONTROLLED BURST OF COMPRESSED AIR TO DISLODGE MATERIAL.

of devices collectively known as flow aids can be employed.

Where are flow aids?

As the term implies, flow aids are components or systems installed to promote the transport of materials through a chute or vessel. Because they will affect a conveyor’s loading, flow aid devices can also impact spillage and dust.

By designing active flow aids into a conveying system, the operation gains a level of control over the material that cannot be obtained with static approaches (such as lowfriction liners) alone.

When employing flow aids, it’s critical that the chute and support components are sound and the flow aid be properly sized and mounted, because the operation of these devices can create potentially damaging stress on the structure.

A properly designed and AUSTRALIANMINING

maintained chute will not be damaged by the addition of correctly sized and mounted flow aids.

It’s also important that any flow aid device be used only when the discharge is open and material can flow as intended.

If used when the discharge is closed, the energy of the flow aid may pack the material more tightly, making flow more problematic when the discharge is opened and potentially causing damage to the chute or bin.

The best practice is to use the flow aid as a preventative solution to be controlled by timers or sensors to prevent material build-up, rather than waiting until material builds up and restricts the flow.

Using a flow aid device in a preventive mode saves energy, reduces noise and improves safety, since the flow aid runs only when needed while still reducing buildup and plugging.

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Air cannons

One solution for managing material accumulation in chutes and vessels is the low-pressure air cannon, originally developed and patented by Martin Engineering in 1974.

Also known as an “air blaster,” it uses plant compressed air to deliver an abrupt discharge to dislodge the build-up.

Cannons can be mounted on metallic, concrete, wood or rubber surfaces. The basic components include an air reservoir, fast-acting valve with trigger mechanism and a nozzle to distribute the air in the desired pattern to most effectively clear the accumulation.

The device performs work when compressed air (or some other inert gas) in the tank is suddenly released by the valve and directed through an engineered nozzle, which is strategically positioned in the chute, tower, duct, cyclone or other location.

MATERIALS HANDLING

Often installed in a series and precisely sequenced for maximum effect, the network can be timed to best suit individual process conditions or material characteristics.

In many applications, an engineered firing sequence will relieve the build-up problems. The air blasts help break down material accumulations and clear blocked pathways, allowing solids and/or gases to resume normal flow.

In order to customise the air cannon installation to the service environment, specific air blast characteristics can be achieved by manipulating the operating pressure, tank volume, valve design and nozzle shape.

In the past, when material accumulation problems became an issue, processors would have to either limp along until the next scheduled shutdown or endure expensive downtime to install an air cannon network.

That could cost a business hundreds of thousands of dollars per day in lost production. Many designers proactively include the mountings in new designs so that future retrofit can be done without hot work permits or extended downtime.

A new process has been developed

for installing air cannons in hightemperature applications without a processing shutdown, allowing specially-trained technicians to mount the units on furnaces, preheaters, clinker coolers and in other high-temperature locations while production continues uninterrupted.

The patent-pending technology is designed to dramatically reduce expensive downtime associated with traditional installation methods, which require that highheat processes be halted to allow core drilling and mounting of the cannons.

This new approach allows technicians to add air cannons and nozzles to an operation while it’s in full swing, without disrupting the process.

It’s been proven in dozens of installations to date, helping hightemperature processes maintain effective material flow and minimise shutdowns, improving efficiency while reducing lost production time.

Engineered vibration

The age-old solution for breaking loose blockages and removing accumulations from chutes and storage vessels was to pound the outside of the walls with a hammer

A PISTON VIBRATOR SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON A STEEL CHANNEL.

or other heavy object.

However, the more the walls are pounded, the worse the situation becomes, as the bumps and ridges left in the wall from the hammer strikes will form ledges that provide a place for additional material accumulations to start.

A better solution is the application of engineered vibration, which supplies energy precisely where needed to reduce friction and break

up the material to keep it moving to the discharge opening, without damaging the chute or vessel.

The technology is often found on conveyor loading and discharge chutes, but can also be applied to other process and storage vessels, including silos, bins, hoppers, bunkers, screens, feeders, cyclones and heat exchangers.

Vibrators perform the same function as thumping on the outside

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MATERIALS HANDLING

A SERIES OF AIR CANNONS CAN BE PROGRAMMED TO DELIVER PRECISELY-TIMED OPERATION.

of a bottle of ketchup: they reduce the cohesion between the material particles and the adhesion between the particles and the container wall to increase the material flow.

The relationship between the bulk material and the optimum vibration frequency to stimulate that material is proportional to particle size.

As a general rule, the smaller the particle, the better it responds to higher vibration frequencies.

Vibrators activate the material inside a chute or bin by energising the outside of the structure’s steel walls and transmitting vibratory waves into the bulk solid.

The earliest form of vibration was a hammer, as the act of pounding on the chute or bin wall overcomes the adhesive force between the material and the wall surface.

However, this hammering on the bin or chute wall often leads to damage of the surface. Eventually, the small indentations that result – sometimes called “hammer rash” – will exacerbate the problem that the hammer blows were intended to overcome.

In addition, the swinging of a heavy hammer poses the risk of potential injury to plant personnel.

Linear vibration is the best solution for sticky, coarse, highmoisture materials. A convenient

test is to take a handful of material and squeeze it into a ball.

If the material readily remains in the ball after the fist is opened, linear vibration is probably the best choice.

In contrast to linear designs, rotary vibrators create a vibratory force through the rotation of an eccentric weight, which creates a powerful vibration much as a household washing machine does when its load is off-centre. They supply an energy best suited to moving fine, dry materials.

Rotary vibrators can be powered pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically, with the choice for a given application typically determined by the energy supply most readily available at the point of installation.

Rotary vibrators are available in a wide range of rotational speeds and force outputs to match the specifics of each application. In addition, many rotary vibrators can be adjusted by altering the overlap of the eccentric weights to increase or decrease the amount of unbalance and deliver the desired amount of force or by varying the RPMs. Vibration can induce stress into metal structures, and the walls may need to be reinforced at the point(s) of application.

AUSTRALIANMINING

They are typically installed on a mounting plate or channel that spreads the vibratory energy (and the weight of the device) over a larger surface area. They can be controlled automatically or manually, allowing use only when needed.

Once installed, a vibrator should be “tuned” by adjusting its force and/or speed to give the optimum effect for each application.

Because flow-aid devices often use compressed air or other energy sources that can create a stored energy hazard, it is critical to follow ROTARY VIBRATORS SUPPLY ENERGY BEST SUITED TO MOVING FINE, DRY MATERIALS.

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OCTOBER 2019

lockout / tagout / blockout / testout procedures.

Even though build-up in a chute may still be in place, its hold on the chute wall might be weakened to the point that a slight disturbance during maintenance can cause it to fall.

There is also an electrical shock hazard when working on the control systems. To prevent the possibility of remotely energising devices during maintenance and testing, appropriate safety procedures must be in place to prevent unintended actuation. AM

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THYSSENKRUPP GUIDES MINING TOWARDS EFFECTIVE INNOVATION THE OVERLAND CONVEYOR COMPANY, A SUBSIDIARY OF THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS, EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING WITHIN INNOVATION IN CONVEYOR SYSTEMS ENGINEERING.

I

nnovation is the cornerstone of great many companies within the mining industry.

Without innovation and investment into research and development a company is more likely to fail or become irrelevant in influence towards the future.

Everyone is searching for the next great idea that will disrupt the statusquo and open the floodgates of fame and fortune. That seems to be the high-level goal, at least.

However, in practice, it can be hard to evaluate if an innovative idea is worth implementing on a project.

Suppliers may try to pack innovations into their products, but the complexity of systems makes it hard to measure the impact of the promised innovation.

Operators deal with the inherent level of risk within innovation, and a failed implementation can result in very real dollars lost. The complexity of the problem feels paralysing, the risk of failure feels limiting.

The resulting attitude towards new products or innovations within mining can be that of caution or even indifference.

And yet… innovation still occurs within mining. What drives an innovative idea towards industry adoption?

Within the small world of conveyor design, many innovative ideas are lost within the complexity inherent to the interdependence of the performance and evaluation of each conveyor component.

Each component is reliant upon the system of other components

to work properly.

As an example of this component system dependence, the successful performance of a belting splice (assuming quality design and manufacturing) is dependent upon the load given it by the belt.

The load or tension in the belt is dependent upon the material load on the conveyor, the drag of the idler sets resisting motion, the takeup system, the rubber compound viscoelastic properties, the alignment of the conveyor, the number of conveyor accessories on the conveyor, and even more contributors.

The number of contributing variables towards the success of the splice becomes very high. And someone who innovates by creating a higher quality belt splice will have a hard time proving their splice is

better or worse.

Without a clear and proven positive effect, the adoption of any innovation will be slowed even if it is truly innovative.

In other words, it is hard to say you have the secret ingredient that made the cake delicious if five other chefs collaborated to make the cake.

Successful innovation within a conveyor system is reliant upon solving a relevant problem and proving the innovation’s effect through a concrete and practical understanding of the system interdependence of components.

An emphasis should be placed upon the value of practical and understandable methods to describe the system relationships.

Within North America, the Conveyor Equipment

A THYSSENKRUPP CONVEYOR AT A SHOUGANG MINE IN PERU. AUSTRALIANMINING

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MATERIALS HANDLING

Manufacturer’s Association (CEMA), an organisation representing the interests of the North American conveyor industry in general, has regularly published a conveyor design handbook to provide insight into how the many components of a conveyor may be integrated to create a successful conveyor system.

In 2005 and again in 2014, Overland Conveyor Company partnered with CEMA to create a state-of-the-art design methodology based upon the published work of researchers and innovators throughout the world.

The methodology focussed on taking the complex nature of the hard science within scientific publications and distilling them into a series of equations (usable with a basic understanding of math and use of a computer) describing the system effects of each component through the language of resulting belt tension and power demand.

The design guidance and methodologies within the CEMA book can therefore foster a common language of understanding for innovators to use to describe how and why their innovations can work within a conveyor system.

This effect is seen on a regular basis within the yearly CEMA

A LONG DISTANCE OVERLAND CONVEYOR DESIGNED BY OVERLAND CONVEYOR COMPANY AND THYSSENKRUPP.

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OCC has the mission to develop and utilise the best numerical analysis and simulations tools possible in order to design reliable and cost effective equipment.

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complexity with sound engineering and clear understanding should be a priority for any organisation wishing to influence the future.

Industry engagement through partnerships and technical memberships should be used to develop common ways to communicate and to drive improvement of understanding.

It is the true innovators who benefit from the greater collective understanding.

Overland Conveyor Company

meetings and throughout each year whenever the CEMA method is used for conveyor design purposes.

Competitors and partners alike can use it to communicate why and how their products are right for each application.

The hard work of bringing practical understanding of any innovation to any industry has an accelerating effect upon its adoption (should the innovation solve a problem or improve the system).

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

THE MINING INDUSTRY IS GOING THROUGH A RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE.

MINING LEARNS LESSON FROM OTHER INDUSTRIES THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL FUTURE MINING CONFERENCE 2019 CHAIRMAN SERKAN SAYDAM BELIEVES OTHER INDUSTRIES OFFER LESSONS THAT CAN PROP UP THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MINING OPERATIONS. AUSTRALIAN MINING WRITES.

T

he mining sector is going through impending changes that are competing for the attention of industry leaders.

Lower ore grades, a lack of human resources and social performance issues are just some of the topics being discussed in the sector.

The greatest challenges are to improve social acceptance, the use of resources such as water and energy, and the removal of people from harm’s way, according to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) professor Serkan Saydam.

“The industry worldwide is suffering from rising costs and extreme mining conditions as deposits are getting deeper or steeper,” Saydam tells Australian Mining.

“This poses geotechnical challenges, when operations are constrained by increasing social, environmental and health and safety standards.”

But the industry plays a key role in the future of community engagement and social performance.

Mastering these challenges will help mining companies achieve sustainable mining practices, with the integration of modern technology presenting a significant opportunity.

The automotive industry is a good example of where operating costs have been slashed by a whopping 30 to 45 per cent, thanks to its adoption

of new processes and systems, according to Saydam.

“Why doesn’t the mining industry achieve this?” the professor, who will chair the 4th International Future Mining conference 2019, asks.

“Mining technologies have changed incrementally. They are linked to new technologies, different and changing orebody characteristics, market forces, issues of social licence and self-imposed improvements in safety performance.

“As many internal and external factors remain to pressure mining companies, there is a growing need for more than just incremental change.”

Saydam urges the minerals industry to embrace new approaches to mining systems and technologies that will deliver “quantum stepchanges” in how minerals are extracted and processed.

In addition, environmental management planning to reduce emissions will help integrate economic, ecological and social systems in future mining, according to Saydam.

Future Mining 2019, which will be co-hosted by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and the University of New South Wales, will invite delegates to explore green mining, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and robotics, and space mining in dedicated sessions. These sessions will be also AUSTRALIANMINING

followed by panel discussions.

Top researchers and industry leaders will then present ideas on how to use emerging technologies to overcome the sector’s impending challenges.

“The conference has a quite unique structure. Presenters will provide pitch speeches and each session will end with panel discussion. Our world will be different in the future, so the way of efficiently extracting mineral resources will also be different,” Saydam says.

“The normal economic environment for mining has been either a boom or a bust.

“The minerals industry must learn to improve and/or adopt scientific and technological knowledge, and emerging technologies from other disciplines; enhance business capability and growth; and build effective and engaging strategic global partnerships.”

Saydam also emphasises the industry’s need to foster a research and development (R&D) culture, including more research to achieve safe and clean water for society.

He says the industry should create new job opportunities, including higher-degree qualified jobs, to implement mining’s new technologies and ensure the industry is sustainable in a rapidly transforming technology landscape.

While the industry continues to grapple with these challenges,

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OCTOBER 2019

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES PROFESSOR SERKAN SAYDAM.

Future Mining 2019 plans to offer solutions to address them from other disciplines to mining.

The conference will feature multidisciplinary researchers and academics, not just from the mining industry, but also manufacturing, telecommunication, space and services.

This year’s keynotes and panellists include eminent academics from Australia, the United States and China; research organisations’ representatives from CSIRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory or NASA; and leaders from BHP, Rio Tinto and OZ Minerals.

“The speakers line-up is exciting.

I am looking forward to creating an impact with this new format of the conference, and excited to see the multidisciplinary audience interact and discuss the problems facing the future of mining,” Saydam says.

Future Mining 2019 will be the fourth edition of the conference since its inception in Sydney in 2008. AM Future Mining 2019 will return to Sydney on November 19–20. For more information, visit futuremining. ausimm.com

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TECHNOLOGY

ONE TO WATCH: MINING’S TOUGHEST RUGGED COMPUTER PANASONIC HAS DEVELOPED A TOUGHBOOK THAT WITHSTANDS EVEN THE HARSHEST OF MINING ENVIRONMENTS, WHILE ALLOWING COMPANIES TO KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGICAL DEMANDS. VANESSA ZHOU WRITES.

F

or a company that boasts pre-eminent research and development capability in one of the world’s most technologically-advanced countries, Panasonic isn’t interested in creating the next shiny “it” device.

Instead, Panasonic has been perfecting its mobile solutions technology, which have outclassed industry standards for the past 23 years, sharpening the performance of the company’s rugged computing devices from its factory floors in Japan.

The range of Toughbook rugged PCs and tablets have evolved from “bulkier” military style laptop computers to slimline tablet solutions, which incorporate both Android and Windows operating systems, according to Panasonic Australia general manager, mobile solutions Marc Amelung.

Toughbooks will soon feature the latest Intel vPro CPU and optimised BIOS to reduce the risk of attacks to firmware and devices, while its competitors are still playing catch up to provide security of this ilk for their products.

Toughbooks are more durable and rugged compared with competitors, specifically when it comes to drop testing and resistance to water and liquid.

It is perhaps unsurprising that mining equipment, technology and services (METS) provider IMDEX has

declared the Android and Windows Toughbook devices as the company’s preferred tablet hardware.

“We initially approached Panasonic based on the company’s strong reputation for robust and reliable products,” IMDEX products development engineer Guru Jabbal says.

“Now, after working with Panasonic for almost a decade and deploying more than 1000 seven-inch FZ-B2 Toughbook tablets, we can confidently say that its products have delivered on this front.”

Panasonic’s vision for the Toughbooks is evidently not about building devices that will only last or be trending for a short while.

Its Toughbooks are proven to have very low failure rates and are built for longevity, leading to a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), according to Panasonic Australia senior product marketing manager, mobile solutions, Ranjit Sohoni.

This achievement proves the integrity of Panasonic’s in-house testing procedure, which is designed to replicate the real environment the Toughbooks will be used in over multiple years of use.

Toughbooks are subjected to extensive drop and shock tests from heights of up to three metres, and pass other rigorous rugged tests which comply with the stringent MILSTD810G certification.

“Apart from having an in-house R&D, design and production capability, our in-house testing is able to replicate the outside world, including extreme temperatures such as those in mine sites,” Sohoni tells Australian Mining.

“Whether that be through moisture, multiple drops or extremely hot or cold temperature, this testing replicates how the device will be potentially used in the real world.”

The Toughbook is now proven to withstand temperatures that range from below zero up to 60 degrees Celsius.

It has been engineered to an extreme level, and in some cases is intrinsically safe for use in harsh environments, ensuring that devices are not the cause of any unwanted electrical faults, explosions or fires.

In some cases, the device’s optional rubberised keyboard also prevents fine dust settling between the keys, one of the major benefits often being sought after in mining.

“These are driven by pure customer needs to maintain on-site safety. Our outcome-based approach ensures that we’re introducing technology that will last for a long period of time according to user expectations,” Sohoni says.

“Some rugged handheld tablet models even feature dual SIM, where users can retrieve data from their company’s private network, and then jump on the public network for

external access.”

Panasonic has also trumped the challenge of operating in large, iron ore laden mine sites, while still having access to wireless networks.

The Toughbook is purpose built with the latest wireless antennas, tuned specifically for Australian wireless networks, ensuring connectivity in remote locations and future proofing with the development of 5G capability in the future.

Panasonic recognises the importance of a product isn’t just about the product itself, but about how it is supported and integrated within a customer’s existing IT infrastructure, according to Sohoni.

“Our customers could have the best on-site infrastructure in the world worth multi-millions of dollars, but it has to be able to be used in the way they want and work well with the devices they use,” Sohoni adds.

“Even though we have R&D capability overseas, what we have here in Australia is a local specialised engineering team that can help tailor solutions for businesses.”

This is supported by pre-sales engineers who go to customer sites to build a specific solution, and aftersales service engineers who could take care of the initiatives after being deployed.

Though one could wonder what issues they will face, seeing the Toughbook ticks many boxes. AM

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TECHNOLOGY

CAPTURING TECHNOLOGICAL POTENTIAL AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES AT A RAPID PACE, INEIGHT IS APPLYING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN MACHINE LEARNING TO ITS DIGITALISED SOLUTIONS, CREATING WIDESPREAD BENEFITS FOR MINING COMPANIES.

I

t wasn’t long ago that data at mine sites was captured through arduous paper-based reporting and transported back to head office, where the information was filed.

While in hindsight this process seems archaic, if you look back less than a decade ago, mining companies just didn’t have exposure to the sophisticated technology available today.

Through its innovative software, InEight has succeeded in creating digital project management solutions that address the mining industry’s most pressing challenges.

The result has been improved performance, reduced operating costs and an ability to maximise safety at mine sites to a degree that is light years ahead of the old paperbased systems, according to InEight Asia Pacific executive vice president Rob Bryant.

“If you go back a bit more than a decade, it all used to be centred on paper-based reporting, which involved more work to manually collect data and report back,” Bryant says.

“We’ve come a long way with what technology has enabled, especially using devices in mobile environments. Things like tablets and smartphones are now commonplace – it’s come a long way

in a short period of time.”

InEight offers field execution management solutions that help mine sites continuously improve jobsite productivity through more efficient project scheduling.

This range of solutions includes features that streamline the development of work packages and daily execution plans to help workers organise, communicate and report on work.

An increased focus on mine site safety has also seen growing demand for the tool’s features that capture data for safety, quality and compliance programs.

With forms being available on mobile devices, it is now possible for them to be completed in the field and routed for review and approval through an automated workflow. It represents what Bryant describes as a “definitive trend towards the mobilisation of data.”

“People are keen to access data whenever and wherever they want.

Technology has enabled us to access a wide range of information at our fingertips,” he says.

As such, InEight has noticed a trend in mining companies wanting digitalised solutions for their performance, a demand that has been driven by two factors, according to Bryant.

“The first driver is that technology is enabling more mobile and digital capture of information on a range of devices that are available today,” he explains.

AUSTRALIANMINING

“Secondly, there is now a desire for that information, and then, for an understanding of the value of the data that exists. Being able to capture data and bring it in for analysis is where the value is.”

While the ability to capture data is integral in order to analyse and implement information on mine sites, it must also be accessible in a variety of conditions.

Previously, the process of gaining information from isolated areas, such as underground mines, was difficult given the extensive paper trail that ran from operations to head office.

This was a significant consideration for InEight as it developed its software programs, which are capable of being accessed in an offline environment.

“They enable mining companies to access project information, such as drawings, documents and checklists offline, which gives you the ability to conduct inspections and synchronise data, bringing it into the the repository of project-related information that already exists,” Bryant says.

“Our document management solution offers the ability to download files via our apps, take them into a mine tunnel and access them where there is no coverage.”

In a bid to further capitalise on the latest technological advancements available, Bryant tells Australian Mining that artificial intelligence (AI) is already being utilised in InEight’s planning, scheduling and risk tool.

The ability for AI to assist and support the human decision-making process through “machine learning”

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is a central feature of InEight’s solution. Machine learning allows AIbased systems to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed to do so.

“We’ve introduced AI initially in the planning phase, which is already helping people make better decisions,” Bryant says.

“There are many variables in planning and scheduling that take data from previous plans. Through a knowledge library developed by AI, software can draw on the database and recommend trends or patterns that it picks up on from the past.”

This is a concept that is becoming increasingly appealing to mining companies – the ability to optimise efficiency through continuous, machine-based learning – and Bryant is confident that InEight is at the forefront of innovation here.

“There’s a lot of interest in AI. The real trick is applying it to a specific environment and using it in particular scenarios where it adds true value,” he says.

“InEight has a point of difference, as our tools are guided by market experience and our own personal experience, given a lot of our team come from the relevant industries.”

It all adds up to exciting prospects for InEight, as the company looks at continuing to capture the vast benefits technology offers in the mining space. AM

TECHNOLOGY

THE BENEFITS OF ELECTRIFICATION AN ERNST AND YOUNG SURVEY HAS REVEALED THE KEY BENEFITS THAT THE ELECTRIFICATION OF MINES COULD DELIVER FOR THE INDUSTRY IN THE FUTURE. AUSTRALIAN MINING WRITES.

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he potential to electrify mines has been highlighted as a driver of cost reduction, energy efficiency and licenceto-operate stewardship in mining, according to a survey of companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

An electricity-powered mining future will require reskilling, reaching out across sectors and rethinking the fundamentals of mine design, the Ernst and Young (EY)commissioned survey reveals.

An OEM like Epiroc has demonstrated the move towards electrification of mine sites through the development of its equipment and services.

In 2017, the Swedish company started development of a battery platform involving scalable, modular architecture that could be used across its product range, from the smallest to largest machines.

The OEM last year unveiled its second generation battery electric equipment, which includes a number of larger machines that will appeal to a broader market, particularly in Australia.

The OEM plans to launch a business model that will provide an end-to-end service for this emerging part of the company’s equipment range.

Batteries-as-a-service, revealed during the Austmine 2019: Mining Innovation Conference, will

complement Epiroc’s transition from diesel equipment to battery-electric machinery.

EY global mining and metals leader Paul Mitchell says the world is already ushering in a new energy system where cleanly-generated electricity will power almost every aspect of our lives.

“The mining sector is on the verge of an electrification revolution, driven by significant cost reduction potential, lowered carbon emissions and improved worker health benefits,” Mitchell says.

“This is critically important given the World Health Organisation has declared that diesel particulates now belong in the same deadly category as asbestos, arsenic and mustard gas.”

The EY survey revealed four themes: (1) electrified mines improve economics and strengthen licence to operate; (2) collaboration will unlock better electrification solutions; (3) mine design needs a rethink to build in optionality for future innovation; and (4) electrification needs different skills and advances technology deployment.

Improved economics and licence to operate

Demand for carbon reduction in mining is inevitable and electrification is one way to achieve it.

The survey finds that electrification reduces not only operational costs, but also upfront capital costs because it reduces the infrastructure needs of underground ventilation shafts.

A reduction in diesel particulates also

results in an improvement to worker health and safety.

Collaborate to unlock better solutions

Co-creation of solutions between OEMs, mining companies and governments are needed to integrate electrification in mines. The survey finds that miners understand they can’t go it alone in the case of electrification.

“This is leading to a more open perspective around the role of suppliers as strategic partners, which expends the possibilities for miners to benefit through innovation, cost reduction and competitive advantage,” EY states.

Mine design needs a rethink

Decoupling mines from diesel is not easy due to the diverse range of technical and financial challenges in mining various deposits.

“Getting full value out of electrification requires a thorough consideration and understanding of the technology road map, in parallel with the strategic plan for the mine,” EY continues.

The survey highlights the need for a phased implementation with a flexible design that provides for technology improvements of the future.

Different skills and advances in technology deployment Mine electrification requires different worker skills as it enable other advanced technologies, requiring less

EPIROC’S BATTERY BOOMER HAS MADE INROADS INTO THE MINING INDUSTRY.

maintenance and human intervention.

The survey reveals there will be increasing demand for data and digital literacy skills across all passes of the mining value chain, as the human-to-machine interface evolves and become prevalent.

In summary, Mitchell urges mining companies to start building agility into the mine design to leverage the potential benefits in asset flexibility, lower ventilation requirements and the human footprint.

“The future of electrification in mines requires a paradigm shift in thinking – from existing known and proven technologies to new emerging technologies. We must realise that the challenges of the sector can be solved faster by collaboration – and a robust strategy, underpinned by gaining the right capabilities and an agile approach, is critical,” Mitchell concludes. AM

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COMMENT

LEVEL UP WITH A SENSOR UPGRADE VEGA AUSTRALIA MANAGING DIRECTOR JOHN LEADBETTER DESCRIBES HOW AN AUSTRALIAN IRON ORE MINE REDUCED BOTTLENECKS IN ITS SUPPLY THROUGHPUT BY EMPLOYING THE COMPANY’S LATEST RADAR TECHNOLOGY TO ACCURATELY DETECT THE LEVEL OF ORE IN THE MINE’S CRUSHERS.

I

n an Australian iron ore mine, supply bottlenecks occurred again and again.

In order to eliminate these bottlenecks and increase efficiency, the processes were better coordinated with Vegapuls 69 playing an important role in this.

Thanks to its exceptional focus, the material flows are now performing more reliably.

Australia is often referred to as ‘the red continent’. This is partly due to the spectacular colours of Ayers Rock and the composition of the soil. The red colour of the earth is created by the mineral’s bauxite and laterite. Both have a high iron content, which oxidises in the air to create the very red rust that gave the continent its name.

Strictly speaking, it only shimmers

reddish in the deserts of the Northern Territory, but the colour is a symbol of Australia’s raw materials industry, which is important for the country.

After all, most of it, in terms of export tonnage, is iron ore.

The north-western region of Australia, commonly known as the Pilbara region, is home to some of the largest iron ore deposits in the world. Some of the most important

VEGAPULS 69’S PRECISE FOCUSSING LED TO HUGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PILBARA MINE.

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customers for this raw material are the Chinese steel mills.

Not long ago, one of the mining companies failed to meet its export tonnage targets, resulting in a supply shortage for its customers. The mine launched an investigation at one of the main sites to identify and eliminate any bottlenecks.

Every process was examined in detail, from the first blasting, the feed into the main plant, the set-up of the crushers, the operational parameters that were implemented in the area, to loading the iron ore onto the trains that transport the raw material to the export ports.

One problem area the team discovered was an unreliable level check of the ore in the crushers.

VEGA Australia has been working at the plant for a long time and has always provided the impetus to introduce a new technology.

In 2004, the company, a world leader in the area of level, switching and pressure measurement, introduced the world’s first radar level sensor for bulk solids, the Vegapuls 68.

These instruments were installed in the entire site at that time.

VEGA was also approached with the current requirements for process optimisation.

To find a solution to the current problem, VEGA investigated the secondary and tertiary crushing processes. The company found that the sensor could not follow the current level during fast filling and emptying processes.

In addition, the wide opening angle of the existing sensors resulted in considerable interfering reflections, which repeatedly led to incorrect measurements. Upon further investigation, the team discovered that relocating the installed units to improve performance would only lead to other issues.

The customer was then shown the latest development in radar technology, the 80 gigahertz radar sensor, which launched in 2016 with significant potential for improvement in these applications.

In radar technology, the width of the beam is determined by two factors: the operating frequency and the diameter of the horn antenna.

COMMENT

The devices installed so far worked with 26 gigahertz and had a horn diameter of 95 millimetres, which resulted in a beam angle of eight degrees. This repeatedly led to the situation where the crusher was being detected instead of the ore.

With the Vegapuls 69, the transmission frequency is 80 gigahertz. This allows a beam angle of 3.5 degrees, an improvement of more than 50 per cent.

There are also improvements in the speed of response from the new Vegapuls 69, allowing the transmitter to keep with the fastchanging level of the ore inside the chamber. VEGA Australia initially supplied some test instruments and supported the customer during setup after installation.

More reliable level control

The result was immediately apparent. Thanks to the new measuring device, a much more reliable level control was achieved.

The more precise focus led to a huge improvement, and the false return echoes from the main chambers of the crusher were eliminated, only leaving a measurement from the medium inside.

The devices were tested and the power recorded over a period of three months. The results were compared with the originally installed devices, and the Vegapuls 69 performed superbly.

Even though the units were replaced with the latest radar technology, the basics of radar technology has always remained the same, thus allowing an easy transition in installation and programming.

Benefits

The benefits of the installed radar level sensor are wide ranging as it boasts a higher performance over small measuring ranges.

They are ideal for very high tanks or silos and boast a robust, closed antenna system that does not protrude into the container.

It also has reliable measurement independent of media properties and container geometry, and is costeffective and user-friendly.

This, coinciding with the fact it is a maintenance-free operation makes the installed radar level sensor an attractive option.

Outlook

Upgrading the level sensor was not the only measure taken at the site to increase efficiency. Many other parts of the site equipment were also improved or replaced and various system components were fine-tuned and newly matched to each other.

The result was impressive. What initially began with a temporary drop in performance of up to 40 per cent was improved to a worst-case scenario of only three per cent. This resulted in an increase in production of over 700 tonnes per hour.

Since then, the Australian mining company has implemented these improvements in all of its operations in the region. Not only has the Vegapuls 69 been instrumental in solving the problem, it has also improved its operations as a whole.

Reliable measurement, even with build-up and deposits Vegapuls 69 is specifically designed for the level measurement of bulk solids.

Due to its precise signal focussing and high dynamic range, it always provides precise readings, even in

VEGAPULS 69’S ROBUST, CLOSED ANTENNA SYSTEM DOES NOT PROTRUDE INTO THE CONTAINER.

dusty conditions and at a distance of 120 metres. Build-up or condensation on the antenna have no effect.

The 80 gigahertz radar level sensor can measure even the tiniest of reflected signals, thanks to its large dynamic range.

This ensures better measurement certainty and reliability for media with good reflective properties, such as coal, ore or rocks. The measuring range is an indication of the performance capability of

the entire system.

For VEGA, these examples of customer requirements are at the core of its continuing commitment to research and development of its sensors to meet not only current application challenges, but also implement features that will handle others as they become evident.

As industrial industries develop, manufacturers such as VEGA need to respond with solutions to meet an ever-growing and changing market. AM

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

FLEET MANAGEMENT: 30 YEARS OF METS SECTOR TRANSFORMATION

MANAGEMENT OF MINING FLEETS HAS BEEN HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY TECHNOLOGY.

AUSTMINE TALKS TO SEVERAL OF ITS MEMBER COMPANIES ABOUT HOW FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES HAVE EVOLVED IN THE THREE DECADES SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE INDUSTRY BODY.

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raditionally, mining is viewed as an industry averse to change.

However, the mining fleet provides a prime example of where METS technology has been world leading.

Not only has the development of mining’s mobile equipment led to significant innovation in design and construction, we are one of the only industries that can boast the successful implementation of autonomous vehicles.

To find out how far the METS sector has pushed mining fleet technology forward, Austmine recently gathered the thoughts of industry leaders Maptek, RCT, Resolution Systems and Hexagon.

Fleet management: 30 years ago

Manual entry and incomplete information were the norm for fleet management 30 years ago.

This proved to be an obstacle to productivity.

Dave Holman, head of product and optimisation at RCT, provides his view of this situation.

“Mining’s fleet management practices relied upon manually entering all forms of data such as productivity, destinations and assigned tasks,” Holman says.

“This information would be written on a plod sheet and manually entered into fairly basic programs.

This was very time consuming and information often did not make it to managers in a timely manner, which generally resulted in inefficiencies.”

Reflecting on the initial view of fleet management systems, Marcelo Romero, business development director, operations at Hexagon’s mining division discusses the difficulty in changing mindsets to new technologies.

“Thirty years ago, few miners were familiar with computer systems and fleet management systems (FMS) weren’t thought to be a gamechanger,” Romero says.

“The big challenge was to convince mine managers that AUSTRALIANMINING

FMS could increase productivity and reduce operational costs significantly. Miners tended to resist innovation. The joke used to be that a customer could park a truck and get the same productivity.”

communications technology and equipment integration, allowing automated collection of data such as machine health, load state, material type and quantity, location, task and more.”

What has changed in fleet management?

What challenges are we still facing?

It is now clear that powerful, computer-driven systems are no joke.

According to Peter Johnson, managing director and chief executive officer of Maptek, developments in technology and its application to the mining industry have generated significant value for operators.

“The application of GPS and improvements in communication technologies have made FMS considerably more spatially aware and accurate during the early part of the 2000s,” Johnson says.

“As a result, FMS were able to become more specific about material types, locations and vehicle interactions.

“Early FMS have been largely superseded by far more advanced

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Despite substantial technological progress, mobile equipment inefficiencies are still widespread.

The mining industry has far more work to do.

Tom Cawley, CEO of Resolution Systems, points towards data availability and quality as a major reason for this.

“Since their inception, FMS have made heavy use of human input data. However, the limitations of this data are becoming clear as miners attempt to drive greater operational performance through their technology systems,” Cawley says.

“The future of optimisation and automation needs technologies that avoid the fundamental problem of garbage in, garbage out. Machine

INDUSTRY COMMENT

learning algorithms have been shown time and again to exacerbate the issues of poor data quality, not fix them.”

Interoperability and data integration are the other focus area causing headaches for mining companies. To extract maximum value from digital transformation, assets and systems must align across the mine site.

Johnson of Maptek describes the need for a broader approach to optimising operations.

“A holistic, contextualised and validated production data set across a number of stages of the executional value chain needs to be available, and algorithms able to provide meaningful value optimisation need to be deployed at the right points in the process,” Johnson says.

“There remains a pervasive attitude from many equipment manufacturers that enabling access to data and control systems on board their equipment for the purposes of integration with production management information systems is not something that is important.

“This attitude is hampering progress and degrading the quality of systems that miners are able to implement.”

What does the future of fleet management look like?

Mining is on the verge of a revolution.

Cawley of Resolution Systems explains why.

“Our industry is in the midst of a convergence. The evolution of communications and cloud processing technologies is enabling a revolution,” Cawley says.

“A revolution driven by a rapidly increasing expectation within the sector that technology should be

FLEET MANAGEMENT HAS EMERGED AS A PRIORITY OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS.

able to deliver the next wave of productivity improvement.

“We’re already seeing the results.

MaxMine (Resolution System’s core product) delivered an uplift of 21 per cent as at March 2019, in a Tier 1, best practice, Australian mine.

This has been achieved by using recently available technologies to help operators perform at their best.”

A centrepiece of this revolution is data integration and automation, as described by Holman of RCT. “Going forward we will make machine data more available to customers which they can then integrate into their own reporting tools to better manage their fleet,” Holman says.

“We are making the data more automated and more commonised across a mixed fleet, with very little manual input. This will reduce inconsistencies and errors.”

Romero of Hexagon’s mining division follows up on this point, linking it to a rise in Internet of

Things (IoT) sensors.

“IoT sensors are more popular and affordable now and they will help to provide more advanced automation systems, which can identify machines and people without human interaction,” Romero says.

“Basically, we are moving to the idea of every vehicle, heavy or light, to be part of an autonomous ecosystem capable of making decisions while sharing current and projected decisions with other vehicles.”

Linking fleet management to the value chain

The greatest value from a FMS comes from viewing it as part of an overall optimised mining system, rather than in isolation. Johnson of Maptek describes how they are developing this concept.

“Maptek and Minlog are now able to deliver a technology set of enabling integrated systems covering the entire workflow of tasks from geological

modelling, mine planning and design, scheduling and short interval control, fleet management and production data information systems and reporting,” Johnson says.

“This means that near realtime performance information that compares the current state of the mine, and all current activity can be queried and connected back into planning and scheduling systems.

“This means mine schedulers can react to deviations from planned progress with detailed understanding about what has happened and can plan based upon the exact situation in real time. This is a fast feedback loop for delivering mining outcomes to plan.” AM Austmine is proud to be celebrating 30 years of support and advocacy for the Australian METS sector. As we lead up to our anniversary date in November 2019, we will be examining the significant transformations and key innovations driven by Australian METS and their effect on the global mining industry.

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IMARC

FUTURE MINING PROFESSIONALS WANTED THE INTERNATIONAL MINING AND RESOURCES CONFERENCE HAS JOINED IN THE FIGHT TO RETURN MINING TO ITS PLACE AS A CAREER OF CHOICE IN AUSTRALIA BY INTRODUCING A PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS.

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hen only eight students signed up to study firstyear mining engineering at Western Australia’s Curtin University last year, alarm bells went off.

Enrolments at Curtin’s WA School of Mines (WASM) had plunged more than 70 per cent over five years, with a total of less than 100 students on deck in 2018.

This in a state where mining is the biggest industry and an economic powerhouse, and at a time when demand for graduates was surging.

It has been a similar story nationwide. The Minerals Council of Australia has forecast a more than 80 per cent fall in mining engineering graduates by 2020.

“There’s 100 per cent employment of students that come out of the School of Mines,” says Darren Stralow, chief development officer at ASX200 gold miner Northern Star Resources and a WASM alumni.

“And they’re earning $100,000 a year the moment they come out of uni. It shows the industry wants them; we just need to get more in there.”

Mining companies and educators have rallied to address the disconnect between demand from industry and disinterest among the student body.

The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Melbourne from October 29–31 is also addressing these challenges with the introduction of a programme for students, graduates and future leaders that has been developed in conjunction with the Victorian Government.

The Next Gen Programme will open the doors of IMARC to 70 successful applicants, providing an opportunity for the future workforce to meet and be inspired by a range of diverse professionals, so they can recognise where they can make their mark.

In addition, three university student groups will be selected to AUSTRALIANMINING

WE HAVE TO SELL OURSELVES BETTER. WE HAVE TO CHANGE TO GET WITH THE TIMES TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO THE INDUSTRY.” showcase their STEM activities in front of more than 7000 people on the exhibition floor.

The successful applicants will have access to the Next Gen Student Passport, enabling them to identify exhibitors open to discussions with students and recent graduates around internships, advice and career opportunities in their business.

Monash University, the University of Adelaide, University of Queensland and University of Melbourne are among those also exhibiting at this year’s IMARC, giving prospective students a chance to examine the various study options available.

Stralow says once students appreciate how technologically advanced mining is and the variety of opportunities that are available,

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enrolments should improve.

He points out that many go into a mechatronic engineering course mistakenly thinking that robotics will be relevant to future employment.

“There is not a huge job market for robotics based in Australia.

There’s a big job market for mining, but we’re not getting the mining people,” Stralow says.

Given there are lucrative careers on offer in mining, the industry accepts that not enough has been done to promote itself to students.

It’s also partly responsible for a perception that the cyclical nature of resources causes volatility in employment.

Stralow says while the end of the construction boom saw job numbers fall, operational head

IMARC

counts had remained steady.

“There’s going to be a real need for people and good people to come into mining. We have to sell ourselves better. We have to change to get with the times to attract the right people to the industry,” Stralow says.

Curtin University has been in the process of revamping its curriculum, adding digital, data analytics and technology components to the more traditional subjects. It’s seen as a draw for the kind of high-achieving students that mining wants.

“It’ll attract these people to come and study mining because they’ll see it as an innovative discipline,” Stralow says.

“What we need are people that are going to bridge the gap between identifying technology and creating new technology and then being able to practically apply that technology to improve business practices.”

He says companies also need a good mix in recruitment which takes in a broader spectrum of the community.

“They need down-to-earth, practical people to get their hands dirty and want to be out there. You want to mix them with some people that are more technology focussed,” Stralow says.

“The big thing that the industry needs is the diversification across gender and culture, but also different ways of thinking.”

Stralow will speak about mining engineering degrees of the future at the upcoming IMARC. The conference will also discuss key themes including workforce of the future, attraction and retention of skills, as well as engaging and empowering the next generation.

WA Mining Club president Kirsty

SANDVIK'S DISPLAY AT THE 2018 IMARC.

Danby says it is time for industry to recognise that there is a major opportunity for mining to position itself as “career of choice” for young Australians.

“Talented future mining professionals are becoming increasingly hard to come by and it’s the leaders of today that can make a difference,” Danby says.

IMARC keeps growing

More than 300 mining and resources industry experts will appear at the 2019 IMARC, the sixth staging

of the event.

IMARC will this year cover the entire mining supply chain, from exploration to investment, production and optimisation to new technologies and global opportunities.

The event will include new focus areas on energy, the environment, workforce engagement, as well as mine and plant optimisation.

Around 7000 mining and resource professionals will attend and participate in more than 130 hours of content with five concurrent

conferences and four workshops and masterclasses.

With Victoria as a global leader in the delivery of product and service solutions for the Australian and overseas resources sectors, Melbourne is an ideal location for this global event that attracts attendance from over 100 nations.

The mining equipment, technology and services (METS) industry is one of Australia’s largest export sectors, with Victoria taking a strong share of the sector’s exports with revenue at about $17 billion. AM

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ENVIRONMENT

ALCOA TRANSFORMS VICTORIAN COAL SITE INTO EDEN ON EARTH A FORMER MINE SITE WILL TURN INTO A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES UNDER ALCOA OF AUSTRALIA’S PLAN AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE EDEN PROJECT INTERNATIONAL. AUSTRALIAN MINING TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.

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ho would’ve thought that a former mine site could become Australia’s own Eden?

Highly unlikely as it may be, Alcoa’s former mine site in Anglesea, Victoria is about to turn into one.

A site that had nearly 50 million tonnes of coal extracted over a 46year life will be redeveloped into a world-class eco-tourism attraction in partnership with an educational and environment social enterprise, the Eden Project.

The United Kingdom-based charity, which has redeveloped a china clay quarry in Cornwall into a major ecotourism project, has an ambition of creating a number of Edens around the world amid global environmental decline and social disruption.

“Eden’s mission is to explore our dependence on the natural world, to use that understanding to excite people into delivering transformation where they live and to ask really serious questions about what a great future might look like for all of us,” Eden Project co-founder Tim Smit has previously said.

The Eden Project Anglesea will

THE ANGLESEA PROJECT WILL SHOW VISITORS THEY ARE PART OF, AND NOT APART FROM THE ENVIRONMENT.

immerse visitors in the extremes of the elements – earth, air, water and fire – and show that people are part of, and not apart from the environment, according to Alcoa of Australia Anglesea site asset manager Warren Sharp.

Eden Project has a great track record globally, working on multiple sites prior to developing the Anglesea concept.

So what was merely Alcoa’s desired legacy for the mine turned into a viable concept when the

company met the Eden Project Cornwall team members in late 2017 through the introduction of mutual acquaintances.

Sharp tells Australian Mining that the Eden Project has been eyeing the Anglesea site for some time, having been referred to the site by politicians, community groups and a variety of local stakeholders over recent years.

“The area is really unique and there are some wonderful stories to tell,” Sharp says.

THE PROPOSED WATER BODY IS DIFFERENT TO ANY PROJECT BACKDROP OF THE EDEN SITES.

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“They spent a good amount of time getting to know us, and they genuinely believe that we want to meet, if not exceed our obligations in the way we rehabilitate and manage the site.”

Although the Eden Project publicly says it does not rehabilitate mine sites, it has been blown away by Alcoa’s work on its mine rehabilitation closure plan, Sharp adds.

Alcoa has been developing its site rehabilitation plan since operations

ENVIRONMENT

at the mine the ceased in 2015.

It also didn’t leave its rehabilitation until the last minute.

By the time Alcoa announced its closure in 2015, the company had rehabilitated around 130 hectares of the site.

Alcoa’s vision is to rehabilitate the mine to the extent that it is long term, safe and sustainable. It also aims to return as much of the natural ecosystem as possible and revegetate the area with native species.

“We would also like to establish a waterbody and provide a long-term, sustainable water solution to an area that otherwise wouldn’t have one,” Sharp says.

“We’d also like to set up the land for productive and alternative use in a way that complements the future of the Anglesea region.

This is where Eden really comes to the fore.”

The Anglesea project will celebrate “everything that’s great about this part of the world,” with landholdings framed by the Great Otway National Park, the Great Ocean Road, and Anglesea river and township.

Many people expressed excitement about the benefits the project could have on the local economy and jobs, particularly through tourism, according to the Eden Anglesea community report.

It is modelled on 750,000 visitors annually and more than 300 direct jobs all year round.

Others were pleased about the positive impact of sustainability and environmental education, and the opportunities the concept could offer to young people and school groups.

The project attracted more than 800 people to community consultation events in Anglesea,

THE EDEN PROJECT ANGLESEA MASTERPLAN FROM AN AERIAL POINT OF VIEW.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND THINK WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IS UNBELIEVABLE SO THAT THEY WOULD COME BACK AND BRING THEIR FRIENDS.” on top of the 3000 people who engaged online.

“Eden has specifically said that if the community doesn’t want it, we’re not going to fight that and we’re not going to come,” Sharp says.

“It turns out we’ve had a record number of people who have shown their engagement with the project, and the feedback we’ve received is overwhelmingly positive. They see

it as an opportunity to highlight the environmental values of the region.

“We want people to come and think what they are seeing is unbelievable so that they would come back and bring their friends.

We want it to be inspiring for people moving forward.”

Alcoa expects it will be at least four to five years until construction begins, with the project to cost

around $150 million. The project will take residence over 40 hectares of land, with the actual physical built form occupying less than 10 per cent of the site.

The company has tried to extract coal from the region in a responsible way in its nearly five decades of operations in Anglesea, to the point it started mine rehabilitation back in the 1970s following early mining activities.

Over the course of this journey, Sharp says Alcoa has maintained an “excellent relationship” with the community, and is certainly grateful for having a privilege to operate next to a small town. AM

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8/8/19 2:20 pm

DIGITAL MINING

THE MOST DANGEROUS SOFTWARE FOR MINING BUSINESSES

WHAT ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS PIECES OF SOFTWARE A MINING COMPANY CAN USE? IF YOU ANSWERED SPREADSHEETS YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. AUSTRALIAN MINING EXPLAINS.

M

any companies not only rely on spreadsheets as a reporting tool, but also use them to store valuable data and for businesscritical calculations.

The information contained in company spreadsheets is often outdated and prone to human error,

according to Australian software company Intov8.

Such inaccuracies threaten companies by presenting a false picture of production volume, productivity, inventory and personnel records. Bad information can send management in the wrong direction when making vital decisions.

And one wrong entry or miss-

used set of calculations can cost a company millions of dollars in lost revenue.

Most mining companies have horror stories relating to unreliable data caused by erroneous entries.

For example, a major coal mining site recently miscalculated its monthly production by more than 200,000 tonnes, causing them to sign off on a report with a greater than

$20 million inaccuracy.

The problem was caused when the person responsible for a myriad of company spreadsheets was on leave.

This led to mass confusion by fill-in staff – and worst of all – inaccurate reporting to the market.

There is a better way, according to Intov8, which has developed software to streamline the entire data process.

INTOV8 MAKES DATA INSTANTLY AVAILABLE TO MULTIPLE USERS WITH ITS SYSTEMS.

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DIGITAL MINING

INTOV8 GIVES MINING COMPANIES REAL-TIME DATA ON PRODUCT BEING HAULED.

Intov8 partner development manager Matthew Whyatt says mining companies can get all of their latest mining data from multiple sources on a single screen on and off site, in real time.

“Data collection and analysis can be viewed as soon as it’s available, typically within minutes comparing plan vs actual numbers, whether you are measuring people, process or production from any site location,” Whyatt says.

IT CONNECTS DIRECTLY WITH YOUR EXISTING FLEET AND PLANT MONITORING SYSTEMS, BRINGING MULTIPLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION TOGETHER FOR POWERFUL RESULTS.”

“Being able to view production volumes against planned volumes and identify issues early by having that data on your mobile device empowers supervisors to respond quickly.”

Intov8’s software aims to help mining companies keep their ‘finger on the pulse’ of what’s happening at mine sites in real time.

With the technology, supervisors can monitor and control data in the field, and oversee and fix problems as they occur.

The software reduces the risk of human error delivering more accurate data at the end of each month. It means senior management are in a better position to make strategic decisions based on more accurate numbers.

Intov8 software is easily integrated with current systems and can be partnered with any data source for practical, cost-effective solutions.

The company recently launched its POLR software suite – a revolutionary data management software solution that automates and analyses mining production systems.

“POLR has been developed by miners for miners,” Whyatt continues. “It connects directly with your existing fleet and plant monitoring systems, bringing multiple sources of information together for powerful results.

“You’ll get visibility over the data being reported and the ability to export to other business systems and software using purpose-built,

Intov8-certified data access tools.”

Intov8’s software suite is made up of several distinct modules, including Axiom, Live Monitor, Wall, Dashboards, Organiser and Warehouse.

These modules can be used together or in isolation to meet the needs of a particular site, running the gamut from coal handling, warehousing and end-of-month reporting duties, through to machine maintenance and time-saving implementations.

A software platform like POLR Organiser allows mining companies to track who’s available within crews or units in a matter of seconds to manage rosters and for the deployment of tasks and projects.

Supervisors can swap team members between crews, monitor leave rosters and manage training within a single, streamlined system.

Previously, mining companies used outdated, time-consuming spreadsheets to keep track of

personnel and crews. POLR Organiser has been designed to streamline the entire process, providing updated information on all staff and crews in real time.

Intov8’s POLR Goods Tracking (GT) application, meanwhile, is a goods tracking solution that ticks every box. It tracks and controls all ‘goods out’ data from one central point.

“With this application, mining companies can significantly improve efficiency and boost productivity,” Whyatt says.

“Multiple users at different security levels across the mining site still provide input, but now there is instant visibility on what has been sent off site, where it is, expected return dates and what is being requested as urgent freight.”

POLR GT also stores the tracking numbers and automatically links with the transport service provider, ensuring greater visibility and reduced lost and missing items.

That means supervisors and staff can now work more efficiently, with less stress.

POLR delivers immediate and measurable operational and financial benefits.

“Intov8 software is a smart way to improve operational efficiency and reduce administration costs. It’s easy to install and simple to use.

And best of all, it reduces paperwork and costly errors, resulting in increased productivity and profitability,” Whyatt concludes. AM

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INFRASTRUCTURE

PORTABLE SEWAGE TREATMENT MEETS EVERYDAY NEEDS OF EXPLORATION SITES HYDROFLUX EPCO PRESENTS A TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY THAT DELIVERS AN A-CLASS SOLUTION IN A PLUG AND PLAY PACKAGE, PROVING THAT A BOOK CAN’T BE JUDGED BY ITS COVER.

I

n the mining world, portability is key to the efficiency of many operations.

Companies often develop a temporary construction site, move from one exploration site to another, or remain in one location for a duration of only five to 10 years.

A Saudi Arabian company, for example, had this foresight when it constructed the Jazan refinery and terminal in the Kingdom’s south-west region in 2014.

The project development and construction required a wastewater treatment concept that could receive domestic sewage from the contractor’s camps and be relocated when the project was finished.

Hydroflux Epco’s associate MENAWater provided the design, supply, installation and commissioning with start-up for the complete package.

It included a tanker station, lifting pumps, screening, grit removal, aeration tanks and containerised membrane bio reactor (MBR) packages.

The MBR technology involves a very fine filter, or a membrane that screens out and stops as many particles as possible from getting held up in the sewage solution.

The follow-on effect is a reduction in suspended solids at the final effluent discharge point. The sewage first passes through screening then into the aeration tank.

“The product then goes into a membrane bioreactor, where the suspended solids and bacteria get filtered out and the final effluent being disinfected with chlorine and UV sterilisation,” Hydroflux Epco general manager, Epco products Paul Cobbin tells Australian Mining.

Though “high tech” is one word to describe the MBR system, it is not easily affected by human error so it provides a robust treatment process.

This is proven by the hundreds of installations over the past couple of decades, according to Cobbin.

The technology is similarly related to reverse osmosis (RO). Where RO is aimed at keeping salt water particles

HYDROFLUX EPCO’S MEMBRANE BIO REACTOR TECHNOLOGY IS SUITABLE FOR PORTABLE OPERATIONS.

out, the MBR is designed to keep the sludge particle out by holding them back.

“The main thing about MBR is that it’s a portable solution for mine sites, which isn’t as expensive as a permanent plant built for a 30 to 40year horizon,” Cobbin says. “It uses an entirely different technology, but it construction still upholds our quality build philosophy.”

Though the hi-tech solution would require operators who are technically skilled to check the running of the plant daily, remote monitoring is available. Operators can oversee the operations of the plant on their phone without being on-site.

In fact, all Hydroflux treatment plants for mining are designed with facilities to enable remote operation and monitoring using HyConnect, a platform that offers several levels of remote support.

“The installation is robust, and as we know it, the sewage treatment process AUSTRALIANMINING

is reasonably simple. It’s a shorter process than other biological methods,” Cobbin says.

The MBR solution also takes the form of a packaged plant that is simply bolted to a concrete slab as a pre-fabricated system. Hence, it has a reduced footprint and incurs lower installation costs.

Roadtrain, a 40-cubic-metre plant in a conventional Hydroflux 40-year life product, has a footprint around the 20- to 25-metre mark and can accommodate around 120 people.

An equivalent-size MBR plant would take up a 12-metre shipping container, into which all the equipment is built. This is the largest of the single package plants. Multiple units and configuration accommodate larger populations.

“You can just pick them up, put them on the back of the truck and move them to the next site.

The logistical aspects are far more portable than conventional plants,”

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according to Cobbin.

The MBR range is also significant.

The smallest container is comprised of a six-foot (183 centimetre) shipping container, which would look after a exploration camp of around 50 people.

The MBR technology, however, is not restricted in its capacity to accommodate a sizeable mining camp.

Hydroflux has accommodated up to 4000 people with the technology, and in Cobbin’s words, “There isn’t any limit other than the installation cost.”

The MBR, though smaller than the Roadtrain, produces an A-class effluent, which means the wastewater can be reused for a range of purposes such as plant irrigation and revegetation of old mine areas.

Hydroflux’s success is attributed to its team’s extensive knowledge and experience. The company is present in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom, catering to the majority of the industry names across the region. AM

INFRASTRUCTURE

KEEPING THE (DIAMOND) HEAD COOL MOUNTING HOSE REEL SOLUTIONS ON A TRUCK HAS EMERGED AS A VIABLE SOLUTION TO WATER SCARCITY WHEN ALTITUDE CHALLENGES HIT. AUSTRALIAN MINING REPORTS.

I

THE HAMMERSLEY 2.0 HYDRAULIC HOSE REEL WINDER UNIT BRINGS EFFICIENCY TO A MINE SITE.

n gold or diamond mining, there are essential elements of the environment that must be fulfilled to deliver success at an operation.

Water access is one challenge that can cause operational and safety issues, in addition to a dependence on mining equipment to perform at an optimal level.

For instance, a drill rig that is located a significant distance away from direct water sources in the mountain ranges of Western Australia highlights this challenge.

One of Australia’s largest mining giants experienced a water shortage at site, and thus sent multiple tanker trucks up and down a narrow track to transport it.

This necessity not only required full-time drivers to make the run every three to four hours, but also flagged a safety concern for those

who were involved.

Two trucks sometimes ran into each other from the opposite direction, prompting one to reverse half a kilometre along the treacherous track to let the other pass, according to Crusader Hose engineering manager Emeric Kovassy.

That mining company proceeded to approach National Pump and Energy (NPE) to get a quote for a poly pipeline solution. But with the drill rig being relocated to a new position half a kilometre away every week, NPE advised the mine that a permanent pipeline option would be cost-prohibitive.

NPE, being Crusader Hose’s strategic partner that has worked with truck mounted reeling systems, was then able to recommend a complete reeling solution to the mine.

AUSTRALIANMINING

Crusader Hose’s truck-mounted hose reeling system presented the mining company with the ability to have one person deploy a layflat water hose up the hills, without having to worry about water supply for at least another week.

The reel system allows a mining operator to operate in a hands-off fashion, while staying in touch with the driver.

“They needed something flexible and quick to deploy to pump up the water and cool the diamond head,” Kovassy tells Australian Mining. “But the water truck options would have needed one person to drive the truck up and down constantly.”

The reel system comes with a swing arm that splays out to keep the layflat hose off the driving lane, and a handheld remote that gives the operator full control of the hose deployment and reeling speed.

This removes the need for one person pushing the hose off to the side of the road behind the truck, thus eliminating all extra handling.

Once a drilling operation is complete and the drill rig is relocated to the next site, mining operators can simply reel up the hose.

The reel system can deploy up to five kilometres of hose within a day and operates at a brisk walking pace.

The first major truck-mounted system, which Crusader Hose developed for the Australian Defence Force in 2001, was designed to deploy a flexible layflat hose for fuel.

Now the company’s reel system can handle up to 12-inch (30.5 centimetres) diameter hose.

This minimises the cumbersome manual handling that accompanies

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hundred-metre-long hoses.

A 12-inch hose of 200 metres length, for example, weighs around 800 kilograms – “not what a couple of men can roll up.”

“We need a dedicated reel system, and that’s where my team and I come in. Even though the mining industry’s health and safety standards are very high, we’ve developed reel systems that meet company specifications,” Kovassy says.

“Often these mining companies need the water out immediately, and that’s why the reeling system works to deploy whatever length they may need with rapid deployment and retrieval.

“There’s no one else in the world that could manufacture systems like this, and if there is, it’s definitely not accessible to the mining companies.”

Crusader Hose general manager Daniel Seow credits the company’s competitive advantage to its 34-year history in layflat hose manufacturing.

“We manufacture layflat hoses and have the experience on how to handle them,” Seow says.

“Our strength is found in close teamwork, so we are able to amalgamate all technical competency, expertise, capability and custom-design approach to deliver customers’ wants. In fact, being focussed on customer and market needs is key.

“Crusader Hose is happy to develop a reeling system for any mining company that needs a layflat hose solution. It is quick to deploy and retrieve, and so is ideal for temporary pumping needs. We really live to serve our Australian customers.” AM

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ENGINEERING

EMERGING ENGINEERING COMPANY GAINS MOMENTUM AS AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANIES BECOME MORE RELIANT ON DURABLE EQUIPMENT, NSE GROUP’S ENGINEERS HAVE MADE STRIDES IN A DOMESTIC MARKET TRADITIONALLY DOMINATED BY OVERSEAS MANUFACTURERS. AUSTRALIAN MINING WRITES.

C

ompanies within the Australian mining sector often enjoy buying equipment and having services provided locally.

Generally speaking, it gives them access to quicker delivery, reliable materials and compliance with local regulations. The only issue is cost.

For emerging engineering company Nu Style Engineering (NSE Group), this has been a crucial opportunity to leverage off and provide its products and services at an acceptable price.

This gap in the market allows the company to compete with manufacturing giants in China on popular mining products such as belt and chain conveyors and lifting equipment.

NSE also specialises in structural steel, chute and plant design alongside improving process flow and plant optimisation.

The company’s push into the mining sector has started to thrive, given the humble beginnings NSE’s founder Evan Joyce evolved from.

Equipped with a design background and an extensive network, Joyce launched NSE’s journey through processing engineering and shop drawings, initially targeting the automotive industry.

“I began to work in different sectors and working with different customers and as each project grew, so did the opportunities,” Joyce says.

“Some of the smaller projects led to bigger opportunities; there’s often an opportunity with smaller clients as they can lead to something larger to

NSE CONVEYORS, CHUTES AND AIR KNIFE STRUCTURALLY SUPPORTED AND INSTALLED A MULTI DECK SCREEN.

spin off them.”

With this logic, Joyce expanded his services from working as a consultant in mechanical design and project management to adding manufacturing and complete plant design to the company’s repertoire.

Alongside this growth in skills was a need for more staff, taking NSE to where it is today, with 14 factory and office staff and a dynamic business that is shifting focus to the Australian mining industry.

Joyce feels as though the time is right for NSE to assist mining companies with equipment that is safe and reliable.

“We see a lot of structures, conveyors and guarding within the

TOP LEVEL PLANT DESIGN ENSURING COMPLETE INTEGRATION OF PARTS AND GUARDING TO AS STANDARDS.

AUSTRALIANMINING

industry now that are ageing and need updating – some that have been cheap versions that have come from overseas and do not meet the current AS standards,” he says.

“As the sector grows and ages it’s so important to make sure plants are kept compliant and also that they are running to their fullest potential.”

One of the most popular areas of business at the moment is conveyors that appeal to the Australian mining sector given their homegrown design, build quality and unique ability to retro fit additional sections.

Additionally, platforms, stairways and walkways are all designed and manufactured in Australia, meaning NSE is often able to leverage off price differentiation compared with cheaper and inferior overseas products.

The benefits of having the entire supply chain within Australia coincides with the ability Joyce has to design products in-house.

“We are competitive based on design through utilising our labour input to build machinery the way we want it built,” he says.

With regard to the conveyor market, NSE has capitalised on its design ability to supply conveyors that provide optimum safety while reducing costs.

The introduction of a conveyor body that also acts as a guard has been

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revolutionary in the mining sector.

“Where there’s a walkway on conveyors and it normally needs guarding on it, companies often have to put up a lot of mesh guarding up and around pinch points,” Joyce explains.

“We have been able to be competitive in the supply of conveyors because our conveyor body also acts as a guard.”

Innovations such as this have been at the forefront of NSE’s growth as the company looks to expand its mining customer base.

Joyce and his team now regularly get calls from operations to find solutions for ageing or existing structures that will make them compliant with local regulations or make the necessary changes in design and fabrication.

A key aspect of the business is working closely with clients to tailor designs individually with a high level of flexibility.

While modest at the moment, NSE’s future looks bright as it begins to pursue contracts from more of the major players in the industry.

“In the last few years we haven’t really been chasing the bigger clients, we’ve just been doing more local work. At the end of the day, people will always be happy to buy Australian made products as long as the price is right,” Joyce concludes. AM

, D E E N U .

O T Y E R R E ER N. V E F O T N A O H IS H W D IT RC A N I E F ES TH

RELY ON AUSTRALIA’S MANUFACTURING, MINING AND INDUSTRIAL HUB 70,000 monthly users can’t be wrong. Find what you’re looking for with over 12,000 business listings and 8,000 specific product listings. Access relevant information and resources, empowering you to make a qualified purchase decision. You can always rely on your industry hub.

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FERRET GROUP OF WEBSITES

MHD Supply Chain Solutions

INTERVIEW THE INSTRUMENT HAS ACHIEVED INTRINSICALLY SAFE CERTIFICATIONS FOR UNDERGROUND USE.

REAL-TIME DUST MONITORING ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA TSI INSTRUMENTS HAS WORKED WITH THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT AND KENELEC INSTRUMENTS, AN AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION PARTNER, TO GET AN INTRINSICALLY-SAFE DUST MONITORING INSTRUMENT OFF THE GROUND. AUSTRALIAN MINING REPORTS.

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espirable dust has been an issue that concerns not just the current workforce in the mining industry, but others who have dedicated their years to work at a mine site.

While some may perceive that change has been slow, TSI Instruments has released a real-time monitoring instrument that helps mining companies take better control of unseen respirable dust floating in the breathing zone.

Australian Mining speaks with TSI Instruments global product manager Kevin Chase about its journey in bringing the solution to the industry.

How did TSI Instruments arrive at a real-time dust monitoring device that ticks every box?

We developed the AM520 three years ago, but it wasn’t intrinsically safe or suitable for volatile and explosive environments. We have walked down that path, but not gotten to the point where we could pass the rigorous standards of intrinsically-safe certifications.

In 2017, the Queensland Government was looking at challenges that the mining industry was facing, among which were black lung, silica, respirable dust.

But they couldn’t find a dust monitoring device that could fill the market’s need. We were then invited to participate in the Small

Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative. Of course, we accepted the challenge and took a considerable amount of resources and insight to make it work out.

Over the course of a year and a half, we managed to receive CSA (the United States and Canada), IECEx, ATEX (both Europe) and Simtars (Australia) certifications. We not only meet the standards for intrinsic safety, but also the requirements for the Queensland SBIR initiative.

I have to say that Australia is on the cutting edge of what’s going on in the mining industry for underground mining. We’re very excited that we get to address the challenge facing its underground coal mines with this product.

How did TSI build its capacity to develop the monitoring device?

TSI was established in 1961. Over the decades we’ve become a leading global manufacturer that is well respected in dust monitoring, sound monitoring, air quality monitoring and respiratory fit testing, instrumentation, as well as specialty applications for monitoring of particles in a wide range of industries.

One of our key markets is in occupational health and safety (OH&S). That’s the area we’ve been focussing on for decades. We have been leading the market for a better part of about 15 to 20 years.

AUSTRALIANMINING

How is your company breaking industry norms?

Respirable dust monitoring has always been done with a pump and a filter.

This takes some time to generate results and understand the impact of workers’ exposure. With real-time monitoring, the AM520i provides companies with the value of obtaining exposure information immediately.

With real-time, personal exposure instruments, respirable dust data can be collected and analysed on the same day so adjustments can be made to engineering controls, such as water or ventilation, workers can be warned on their exposure to respirable dust and operators can help them mitigate their dust exposure.

There are personal exposure monitors that have been in the market for many years, but few have been approved for underground applications.

There’s not really been a solution that could fit the bill of being an affordable, lightweight, real-time monitoring instrument for the mining industry globally.

Tell me more about this product.

The TSI SidePak AM520i is designed to take a sample of the aerosol or dust that workers are inhaling in their breathing zone. It is capable of measuring respirable dust in total, or be calibrated to measure specific elements of the dust, such as coal or silica.

The instrument is worn on your belt and is designed to be as comfortable as

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THE PERSONAL DUST MONITORING INSTRUMENT IS BATTERY-OPERATED AND PORTABLE.

it can be. It is very light, unobtrusive and runs up to 20 hours or a full work shift on a single charge, depending on the environment.

The device also logs its monitoring data point by point, indicating where the exposure has been and therefore helps in the subsequent data analysis.

For example, it shows the management that dust exposure was at the highest level during a particular operation.

Work teams can then take immediate action to mitigate that exposure. They can make a change in the morning and see if it was effective in reducing respirable dust exposure by the afternoon.

We have achieved one of the highest levels of intrinsic safety certification for this type of instrument and that’s something that we’re very proud of. AM

PRODUCTIVITY

INNOVATION STANDS TEST OF TIME MINPROVISE BUILDS A CONNECTION BETWEEN PRODUCTIVITY AND SAFETY WITH THE DUGLESS 900 MACHINE. GENERAL MANAGER TONY SUTTON EXPLAINS THE LINK TO AUSTRALIAN MINING.

T

he mining industry doesn’t often encounter an innovation that was inspiring 10 years ago, yet is still relevant today.

Dugless 900, an automated digging and cleaning unit, generated industry hype as a machine 0.56 metres in height, allowing it to remove spillage and blockages from under low-lying conveyor sections in a way that larger machines previously could not.

Its remote-controlled system also removes the operator from the line of fire and allows plant conveyor systems to continue on with production while cleaning occurs, maximising site efficiencies.

Within a year of launching, the machine won the Best Practice in OH&S category at the Australian Bulk Handling Awards and was a finalist in the Innovative Mining Solutions category at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards.

Minprovise founder and general manager Graham Townsend developed the idea for Dugless 900

DUGLESS 900 IN COMPARISON TO A SKID-STEER LOADER.

after observing remote-controlled, stand-on mini diggers, excavators and skid steers.

Townsend decided that standon style machines were too high for clean-ups underneath conveyor belts.

He also viewed their short-wheel-base as a safety risk because workers were required to stand in a confined space, close to the machines tracks.

The experience led Townsend and his team at Minprovise to design a machine that is operated in a similar way, but is remotely controlled and capable of cleaning up spillages while a conveyor belt is still functioning.

This invention would importantly eliminate downtime. In fact, what five people could previously remove in one full day could now be achieved by the Dugless 900 in one hour.

There is still nothing quite like the Dugless 900 in the marketplace, according to Minprovise general manager Tony Sutton. Major mining companies have been, and are still the staunch adaptor of the technology, he says.

“One of the world’s biggest mining AUSTRALIANMINING

companies has ordered nearly 30 units. Considering the rigorous buying process a mining company has to go through, that success tells a story in itself,” Sutton tells Australian Mining.

In reality, it took over two years and more than $6 million in investment to arrive at a unit that the company was confident would produce the desired result.

“People underestimate the investment required to find an engine that can operate in such a low, compact area that is not watercooled,” Sutton says.

“The Dugless is pretty much like a Volkswagen car, where the engine is air-cooled in a compact space to withstand harsh conditions.

“The way you design everything else around it needs to be taken into consideration. That’s not something that’s easy to achieve.”

The Dugless 900 did not only achieve what it was created to do. It went beyond its innovator’s vision when it was tasked to operate in wet conditions within an iron ore mine a few years ago.

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Minprovise was asked to remove spillage underneath a series of belt filters with the Dugless. While water under the belts averaged 15 centimetres in depth, the Dugless never stopped, often operating with water over the axles.

Instead, it removed over 50 cubic metres of ore every day, an achievement that equates to approximately 7500 cubic metres of processed ore.

It would have been impossible to have people shovelling the spillage in the water all day, every day, for five months, according to Sutton.

The Dugless has, indeed, been designed to manoeuvre through different types of terrain, a capability that owes to its creator’s smart design thinking and choice of rubber tracks.

In an iron ore mine, two Dugless 900 machines have proven to remove 100 tonnes of ore from underneath a conveyor belt over a 200-metre stretch in 30 hours. The ore was then loaded onto a train and transported to port.

Elsewhere, two Dugless 900 units were operated over three 12-hour shifts to service a 400-metre section of a conveyor system. They successfully reclaimed an estimated 200 tonnes of iron ore.

The smart and safe machine has been enhanced by the development of technology over the past decade.

The advance of 3D printing allowed Minprovise to redesign the machine’s air intake system – from a standard filter arrangement, to a series of mini cyclones contained in one block.

“Technology continues to move forward, evident in the development of engines, computer systems and manufacturing techniques, such as the 3D printing,” Sutton says.

“The removal of dirt and dust with the mini cyclones removes over 85 per cent of dust particles, before it reaches the micro filters, which provides significantly better protection to the workings of the diesel engines.”

Minprovise has also applied smaller upgrades to Dugless. Its current operating system, remote control console, solenoid block configuration and the positioning of hydraulic hoses are the direct result of Minprovise’s work with its clients and commitment to improvements in quality control.

The Dugless 900 ultimately embodies its creator’s penchant for pushing boundaries, while keeping people and equipment in a safe zone. AM

PRODUCT FOCUS

WITHSTANDING HARSH ENVIRONMENTS AS MINING COMPANIES LOOK TO CUT COSTS AND REDUCE DOWNTIME ASSOCIATED WITH MACHINERY, GATES OFFERS THE MARKET ITS PREDATOR V BELTS. AUSTRALIAN MINING WRITES.

M

ining operations are often exposed to the harshest of climates and naturally, this has an effect on machinery and equipment that must withstand the rigours of the environments they operate in.

A problem for many mining companies, therefore, revolves around the ability to reduce costs associated with the maintenance of equipment, while sustaining a consistent level of throughput.

The importance of properly installing machinery such as crushers, conveyors, pumps and screens at the beginning of operations is the best way to lower maintenance costs later on, according to Inenco’s (CBC

Australia) product manager belts and rubber products, Mark O’Brien.

“Generally, I find that people don’t put much effort into maintenance, they’ll fix the job frequently to get it back working rather than setting it up correctly at the start,” O’Brien says.

Noticing the need for more durable belts on mine sites, CBC Australia suppliers Gates has developed the Predator V belt, which requires less maintenance and is designed to operate in a variety of mining conditions.

“The V belts are a very economical solution given their high quality and their ability to work particularly well in high-volume operations such as mine sites,” O’Brien says.

“That is why the mining industry is so popular for us, companies

PREDATOR BELTS IN CEMENT INDUSTRY APPLICATION.

AUSTRALIANMINING

PREDATOR POWERBAND BELTS.

are often operating in harsh environments and therefore need more durable equipment.”

As such, Predator belts offer solutions to a variety of situations that are often faced by mining companies, helping them reduce downtime, maintenance costs and losses in productivity.

Debris damage, for example, is a common issue faced by drive belts and pulleys when operating in harsh environments due to rocks, sand or small dust and dirt particles passing guards.

Having a bareback cover allows for the resistance to debris and for the belt to slip under extreme shock conditions, reducing heat build-up and prolonging belt life.

Predator belts also have a double layer of fabric that helps resist debris damage. Gates recommends identifying expanded metal guards that let debris pass through and making guards solid on the top and sides.

Another issue is that belt drives are susceptible to losing their tension regularly, an issue that is rectified through Predator belts using tensile cords, which significantly reduce stretch, meaning less frequent re-tensioning and increased productivity.

Gates offers the Predator belts as both a single belt and the powerband belt.

The single belt is designed for use on metric multi-groove sheaves, deep groove sheaves and drives with limited room for ‘take up.’ They are often used when powerbands aren’t available.

The Predator powerband belt on the other hand, replaces several belts with a single belt, which features a multiple layer tie band that provides

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lateral rigidity to prevent belts from turning over or coming off the drive.

Belts are often exposed to applications with extreme shock-loads that can result in a shorter belt life, sometimes less than one month.

As O’Brien points out, mining companies can leverage off a reduction in maintaining or even replacing belts through the predator powerband.

Its tie band helps resist vibration and lateral movement, keeping the belt from ‘dancing’ out of the grooves.

Additionally, the near-zero stretch tensile cords prevent slippage and allow the belt to withstand the shock that often compromises other belts.

While the functionality of the Predator belts is imperative to mining companies reaping its benefits, CBC Australia has also acted on the need for proper installation and training using the equipment.

“Part of the business is that we offer engineering support and training, we believe that when you’re buying a new product, setting it up correctly is crucial,” O’Brien says.

Pointing to the scintillating conditions that mining companies often face in remote regions, particularly when temperatures can reach 40 degrees belts have to work harder. Combine this with lack of maintenance and tension belts are exposed to excessive heat, emphasising the necessity of having durable belts.

As such, CBC Australia has experienced consistent demand for the Predator belt products given the market often “runs in circles.”

With maintenance programs often being pushed aside by mining companies, the need for durable belts is again reaching a peak given the vast benefits they offer. AM

PRODUCTS

MY SANDVIK EXTENDS TO OTHER BRANDS

HITACHI UNVEILS EX3600-7 EXCAVATOR

Originally designed for the Sandvik fleet, My Sandvik will now allow nonSandvik fleets to connect to the My Sandvik platform.

My Sandvik is a customer portal designed to provide fleet information, allowing clients to keep track of fleet performance, plan for preventive services, and base decisions on accurate data. The platform provides telemetry that aids fact-based decision-making by providing operational insights.

Sandvik vice president parts and services commercial Michaël Bruninx said interoperability was the next logical step for the My Sandvik platform.

“While we believe Sandvik has the best products within our scope of offering, mixed fleets at our customers’ mine sites are a reality,” Bruninx said.

The first non-Sandvik machines are expected to be connected to My Sandvik in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Hitachi’s EX3600-7 mining excavator, the fourth machine in the EX-7 series, delivers increased efficiency, reliability and durability, along with increased comfort and safety.

Brian Mace, Hitachi mining product marketing and applications manager, believes the machine sets a new standard in the mining industry.

“With a multitude of innovative features, it’s a reliable workhorse that is ready for its tough job. A variety of new features reduce its fuel consumption, increase its efficiency and make maintenance even simpler,” Mace said.

The machine is available in backhoe or shovel configuration. It features fuel consumption optimisation technologies to reduce consumption costs, while increasing productivity and sustainability.

The excavator has a new auto-lubrication system, strengthened mainframe and new weight-adjusting air suspension seats raise the machine’s reliability, durability and comfort.

Its safety is increased through the cab’s climate-controlled air conditioning, which overcomes dust and environmental extremes.

• rocktechnology.sandvik

• hitachicm.com.au

AVEVA DEPLOYS COMMAND-AND-CONTROL SYSTEM

MOBILARIS LAUNCHES MOBILE RADAR FOR MINE SAFETY

AVEVA launches Unified Operations Centre (UOC), a command-and-control solution for industries, including mining and oil and gas, for time savings of up to 60 per cent.

The solution allows companies to use industry-best practices as templated solutions that are repeatable, scalable and adaptable, enabling fast implementation and return on investment The UOC is a central hub that transforms the control room into a collaborative workspace. Functional silos are broken down by contextualising operational and business data to enable teams to make better decisions based on accurate, real-time information.

The technology offers faster time-to-value through industry-proven solution templates, reports, dashboards and operational KPIs that unify all available data from operations, process, engineering, maintenance and finance. This enables teams to improve their situational awareness of real-time operations and make better decisions.

UOC is based on a ‘system of systems’ approach, enabling seamless plug-in of apps, predictive analytics, CCTV video and more, all within the unified user interface.

Epiroc subsidiary, Mobilaris, has launched Mobilaris Onboard, a mobile application that allows high accuracy positioning in underground mines without any positioning infrastructure.

The technology acts as a mobile radar showing oncoming traffic, while also making miners aware of the whole real-time situation in the mine Mobilaris Hybrid Positioning allows users to know the position of a vehicle within five to 10 metres accuracy.

The technology increases transparency and safety while decreasing traffic congestion by helping users avoid other vehicles or giving miners a warning when meetings occur.

Epiroc global business manager Ulla Korsman-Kopra said Mobilaris had made large strides in terms of safety, productivity and smooth traffic flow by visualising the traffic situation from inside the cabin of vehicles and mobile mining machines.

The Boliden Kristineberg Mine was the first mine to adopt the Mobilaris Mining Intelligence system and it will be the first to upgrade to Mobilaris Onboard.

• epiroc.com

• sw.aveva.com

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PRODUCTS

SKF UNVEILS SPLIT BEARINGS HOUSING BLOCK

FLEXCO LAUNCHES ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT CLEANER POLE

SKF has developed the SDVD split plummer block housing assembly for mining conveyor pulley bearings.

Split bearing housings are modular systems designed to maximise the performance of bearings.

The housings are specifically designed and developed for conveyor pulleys in mining, minerals processing and bulk materials handling.

The mining industry requires high levels of contamination exclusion and greasing effectiveness.

The product is designed to deliver high performance and reliability of the bearings and ease of maintainance, while being cost-effective.

It is simple to install: alignment and accurate adjustment of the seals are easily achieved.

The large diameter of the seal carrier mounting opening minimises the pulley lift required to change bearings in-situ.

Its non-symmetrical design provides minimised assembly width, making it universally applicable and allowing it to be retrofitted to all existing pulleys which use the same basic bearing housing size series.

Flexco has released its new lightweight cleaning pole. With safety being the top priority for major Australian mine operations, Flexco Australia has made it a mission to engineer products that make it easier to reduce risk of serious lost-time injuries. With manual handling accounting for over 30 per cent of Australia’s workplace injuries (safeworkaustralia.gov.au), the obvious choice was to limit the amount of manual handling needed during cleaner installation by creating a lightweight pole.

Flexco’s lightweight pole presents a weight reduction of up to 60 per cent when compared with standard mild steel cleaner poles. An easier product to lift, carry and install allows operators to optimise safe lifting procedures on site.

Adding to the benefits of the lightweight pole is the universal plate, which allows a variety of Flexco primary and secondary cleaners to be fitted to the pole. The versatility of the plate makes it easy to stockpile in the case of unscheduled downtime.

• flexco.com.au

• skf.com/au

ESS SECURES MATERIALS HANDLING SITES

TENNANT RELEASES LARGE INDUSTRIAL RIDE-ON SWEEPER

ESS (Engineering Services and Supplies) is committed to reducing the abundance of safety risks around conveyor systems.

The patented ESS EZI-GUARD system comprises a range of versatile, easy to install brackets, lightweight panels and standard structural tubing, which forms an ‘off the shelf’ system that can be adapted to almost any application.

The ESS EZI-GUARD System has been developed to exceed the guard design requirements of AS4024.3610:2015.

EZI-GUARD’s design requires little to no welding to install, and uses standard hand tools and a drill, making assembly of the system straightforward.

Once the framework is assembled, the guard panels can be attached and detached in just a few seconds.

It is also flexible enough to extend beyond conveyor systems and can be used for other applications, such as heavy earthmoving equipment, workshop machinery, and anywhere there is a potential to fall from heights.

The Tennant 800 sweeper is the largest and most powerful in its class, designed to sweep heavy concentrations of industrial debris, pellets, rocks and glass found in the harshest of environments, Tennant’s machine can operate both indoors and includes four highefficiency filters that trap airborne dust particles down to four microns.

The sweeper has a wide cleaning path to maximise productivity and has a long continuous cleaning time with its large capacity, multi-level hopper. It is also able to empty debris into containers as high as 1.8 metres.

Dry sweeping with the optional high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system is an occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) – allowable method to limit silica exposure when wet sweeping or HEPA vacuums are not feasible.

The sweeper has a spacious cab that provides a controlled and comfortable environment for the operator.

• esseng.com.au

• au.tennantco.com

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EVENTS

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS EVENT SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU Australian Mining Prospect Awards 2019, Brisbane, October 10

WA Mining Conference and Exhibition, Perth, October 15-16

The Australian mining industry’s biggest awards celebration is heading to the Sunshine State for the first time this year. With coal becoming the nation’s biggest mining export in 2019, the timing couldn’t be better to celebrate the industry’s contribution in Queensland. The 2019 Australian Mining Prospect Awards will take place at Moda Events in Brisbane on October 10, honouring the best and brightest of an industry that prides itself as a cultural and economic cornerstone.

• prospectawards.com.au

Hosted at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the WA Mining Conference and Exhibition Centre will look at the life of mines. This includes everything from operational strategy through to execution and address both the strategic and technical approaches to improve productivity, lower costs and optimise the end to end process. It will also look at the expansion of remote and deeper mines which is expected to have a direct impact on costs.

• waminingexpo.com.au

Australian Nickel Conference, Perth, October 15 The Australian Nickel Conference (ANC) is the premier event for nickel producers and explorers as Australia’s only dedicated nickel event. In the context of a consistently rising nickel price, companies are once again discussing feasibility studies, mine construction and expansion plans.

The ANC brings the industry together to provide a spotlight on the established players and emerging stories in the industry. In addition to offering nickel companies the chance to present their stories to the market, the conference offers an opportunity to meet industry players and network with them between sessions.

• australiannickelconference.com

MiningTech Australia, Gold Coast, October 25-26 On the back of an improved regulatory climate and optimism in commodities, the latest MiningTech Australia Conference will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference will discuss new technological innovations in the mining industry and how they can improve processes and efficiency.

• miningtechaustralia.com International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo (IMARC), Melbourne, October 29-31 IMARC will host its sixth annual conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this year. The program will cover the entire

AUSTRALIANMINING

mining supply chain from exploration to investment, as well as production to optimisation. It will also explore the new technologies available and the revelation of new global opportunities.

Brand-new conferences on energy, the environment, workforce engagement will feature alongside mine and plant optimisation.

• imarcmelbourne.com Longwall 2019, New South Wales, October 30–31 The annual conference is putting safety and operator health under the microscope. Longwall 2019 will gather longwall mining operators alongside industry stalwarts, sector experts and technology specialists as it delves deeper on the human element behind the technology. The conference will also present ongoing commentary on automation development, success stories and lessons learned through innovation and optimised operational processes. Longwall 2019 will dedicate two days to glean operator insights, case studies and industry updates centred around safety, production, innovation and automation.

• informa.com.au Future Mining 2019, Sydney, November 19–20 The 4th International Future Mining Conference is headlined by the theme ‘Get future ready’. Top researchers

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and industry leaders will present the future mining industry’s needs in the digital age. Delegates will also have the opportunity to listen in on how to best achieve operational excellence, while keeping mining operations safe, cost competitive and environmentally responsible when faced with challenges, such as deeper orebodies and lower grades. With many internal and external factors impacting the future of the mining industry, the key is to prepare and get future-ready, according to AusIMM. The conference will provide delegates with the tools to do so, exploring topics such as automation, communication, smart data management and efficient extraction of mineral resources.

• futuremining.ausimm.com South Australian Exploration and Mining Conference 2019 (SAEMC), Adelaide, November 29 SAEMC is an annual collaborative event that brings together the exploration and mining industries in South Australia.

In its 16th year, the conference an opportunity for active minerals explorers and miners to present technical updates of their activities on their flagship South Australian mines and exploration projects. The conference is organised by a voluntary committee representing local branches of professional organisations and fees are kept low to encourage a broad attendance.

• saemc.com.au

Mobile computing power, purpose-built for the field.

Designed for rough-and-tumble mobile usage, Panasonic Toughbook laptops and tablets offer mining workers the most dependable way to get the job done, ensuring maximum efficiency and keeping workers connected, efficient and highly productive.

Visit us at business.panasonic.com.au/computer-product/

Bearing replacement.

How quick is quick?

Reduced MTTR with the SKF Cooper split spherical roller bearings Downtime for repairing and replacing conveyor components in an Australian mining company was taking up to 60 hours. Taking advantage of SKF Cooper split spherical roller bearings, the company reduced downtime to 31 hours – saving 14.5 million AUD along the way. The split design has been specifically developed for in situ replacement of bearings in the trapped position and requires fewer steps to do the replacement, which also results in improved safety for maintenance workers.

Don’t leave your efforts unturned revolutionise your productivity and invest in SKF today – skf.com