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TECHNOLOGY MAINTENANCE VOLUME 112/8 | SEPTEMBER 2020

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COMMENT

SETTING UP THE NEXT ERA OF UNDERGROUND MINING BEN CREAGH

Ben.Creagh@primecreative.com.au

AS CHANGE SWEEPS ACROSS MINING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES, THE UNDERGROUND SECTOR IS WELL PLACED TO ACCELERATE ITS TRANSFORMATION TO MEET SOCIAL DEMANDS.

U

nderground mining has become a haven for technology and innovation as companies strive to create a safer, cleaner and more productive sector.

While surface mining remains the more popular form of operation, underground mines are becoming more prevalent with each passing year.

It is often said that mining companies now need to look deeper underground to find the next wave of discoveries.

Technology development has supported this notion by giving explorers opportunities to search further below the surface to identify resources.

Once a project is developed into a producing mine, new technologies are also helping create sustainable underground operations by making them safer to operate in and more productive.

Mining companies are collaborating with services companies, original equipment manufacturers and university research departments to accelerate this process.

A key part of this focus has been to develop underground environments that are more autonomous, with these partnerships adopting initiatives that promote remote operation of sites.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the move in this direction, driving existing strategies that were already expected to transform underground mining in the future.

Remote operation has this year emerged as

a new aspect of the social licence to operate underground mines.

It sits alongside other key focus areas for underground mining, such as the increasing uptake of electric vehicles, which are making operations cleaner and more environmentally friendly.

METS (mining equipment, technology and services) companies have an opportunity to support these projects with initiatives of their own, either through innovative technologies or supporting equipment.

This issue’s special feature on underground mining highlights some of the innovations being developed to answer these needs.

It also demonstrates how METS companies are diversifying their businesses to adapt to an industry that is increasingly moving underground.

As society expects a more responsible approach from companies in the resources industry, the underground sector is well placed to help mining meet these demands as it evolves.

While mining companies may need to dig to depths not seen before, they will also be set up to achieve this more effectively and safer than ever.

In this edition, we include a special feature on underground mining, with focus on the latest initiatives and technologies being developed.

Australian Mining puts the spotlight on the uranium sector and discusses the potential for nuclear power.

We look at the role of rail infrastructure in Australian mining and how it’s being maintained to a high standard.

This edition also explores Australia’s zinc sector and how the global marketplace has created opportunities for local miners of the commodity.

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

Ben Creagh Managing Editor

Cover image: Northern Star Resources / Gold Industry Group.

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IN THIS ISSUE 42

32 12 MINING SERVICES

Rail’s place in the supply chain Rio Tinto, Loram keep materials moving

14 COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

Evaluating market rebounds Industry change for uranium and zinc

23 REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Opportunities in the outback NT prospects according to Thor Mining, Core Lithium

26 UNDERGROUND MINING

Discovering underground initiatives Equipment, tools and connectivity below the ground

36 MANUFACTURING

Innovations in manufacturing Introducing the safest couplers and drive technology

40 MAINTENANCE

Major upgrade accomplished Boggabri Coal and McLanahan collaboration

42 ENVIRONMENT

Using wastewater as a commodity Water management with Xylem

44 PROSPECT AWARDS

Supporters of the mining industry Prospect Awards sponsors speak up

56 52 MATERIALS HANDLING

Conveyor company expands capacity Upwards and onwards at Fenner Dunlop

54 TECHNOLOGY

Remote workflows made effective Digital Twinning, DroneDeploy present solutions

58 MINING SERVICES

Limiting harsh impacts ITM helps extend equipment life

60 DRILL & BLAST

Blasting innovations take off BME, AECI Mining offer safer solutions

65 CRUSHING & SCREENING

Maintenance made simpler Derrick, Haver & Boecker Niagara screening solutions

69 MINING EQUIPMENT

Customer-inspired designs Relationships guide Nivek Industries’ success

71 PROFILE

One year as MICROMINE boss Technology chief outlines plans for growth

73 INDUSTRY COMMENT

Conversation with Tricycle Developments From university project to award-winning design studio

75 EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Underground Operators Conference AusIMM to bring back event for 2021

REGULARS 5 COMMENT 8 NEWS 76 PRODUCTS

48 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Leading diverse workforces Winners of Women in Industry Awards

78 EVENTS

AUSTRALIANMINING

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SEPTEMBER 2020

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NEWS

THE LATEST MINING AND SAFETY NEWS AUSTRALIAN MINING PRESENTS THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE MINE AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. VISIT WWW.AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. RIO TINTO SETS UP WINU FOR LARGE-SCALE OPERATION Rio Tinto has made a promising discovery two kilometres east of the Winu copper-gold deposit in Western Australia that enhances the project’s potential.

The mining giant is targeting first production from Winu in 2023, subject to necessary approvals.

There is potential for more discoveries within the Winu project as Rio Tinto had only explored 2 per cent of its tenements in the region up to July.

“We’re taking a more agile and innovative approach at Winu,” Rio Tinto group executive of growth and innovation and health, safety and environment (HSE) Stephen McIntosh said.

per tonne of gold from 129 metres.

In addition to Ngapakarra, Rio Tinto conducted reverse circulation (RC) drilling immediately east of the Winu resource, which has also intersected “significant thicknesses” of vein and breccia hosted gold mineralisation.

Rio Tinto chief executive of copper and diamonds Arnaud Soirat said he was pleased to further secure the company’s future copper operations in Australia.

“We are very pleased with the progress at Winu as it adds a further option to our strong copper portfolio in a country that is home to many of Rio Tinto’s world class operations,” Soirat said.

“We are working on the studies for a small-scale start-up operation focussed on Winu’s higher-grade core as we take another step towards commercialising this deposit.

“We are also assessing options for future expansion in the Paterson region given the extent of mineralisation identified to date and our large land package.”

The new discovery is located within a prospect called Ngapakarra, which identified high-grade veinhosted gold, with some of the best intercepts to date within Winu, such as 23 metres at 4.53 grams per tonne of gold from 120 metres including 0.74 metres at 97.1 grams

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

TESLA SEEKS SUSTAINABLE NICKEL FOR EV PRODUCTION Tesla chief executive Elon Musk is urging miners to produce more nickel as an ingredient of lithiumion batteries used in its electronic vehicles (EVs) with the incentive of a contract.

Musk said a “giant contract for a long period of time” would be offered to a miner able to extract nickel in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way.

The high cost of EV batteries remains one of the main roadblocks in Tesla’s growth, according to Musk.

“The real limitation on Tesla growth is cell production at an affordable price. That’s the real limit,” he said.

Tesla is set to increase its business with the company’s battery partners, including Panasonic in Japan and Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) in China.

The car maker’s batteries are made from nickel, cobalt and aluminium, but the company has been distancing itself from using cobalt since January last year due to unethical mining practices in Africa,

manufacture batteries at its Berlin “Gigafactory” in June.

The use of nickel in battery cells allows them to be energy dense, creating lighter and more compact

on top of cost concerns.

However, Tesla signed a deal with Glencore to receive cobalt from its mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to

A CONTRACT WILL BE OFFERED FOR THE NICKEL USED IN TESLA BATTERIES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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SEPTEMBER 2020

batteries with higher capacity.

Musk said Tesla would make further announcements about the company’s batteries at its “Battery Day” event in September.

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NEWS

IRON ORE BECOMES AUSTRALIA’S $100BN EXPORT INDUSTRY Iron ore is the first Australian commodity to crack $100 billion in annual export value, according to the Australian Government’s latest Resources Energy Quarterly report.

Australian exports for the metal reached $101.7 billion in the 201920 financial year, smashing the previous annual export benchmark of $77.5 billion, which was also set by iron ore in the 2018-19 financial year.

The Resources Energy Quarterly specified that while iron ore was normally vulnerable during downturns like the current global downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, it had been resilient.

The demand for Australian iron

ore has been driven by China’s infrastructure boom and a weaker Australian dollar, providing the Australian market with a lifeline during tough times.

“The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have affected both sides of the iron ore market,” the Office of the Chief Economist stated.

“Demand disruptions have run up against supply problems localised in Brazil, where COVID-19-related lockdowns have derailed efforts to recover from shutdowns in the wake of the Brumadinho tailings dam collapse.

“Our earlier forecast for Australian iron ore export earnings to top $100 billion in 2019-20 appears to

have been achieved.”

The pandemic has affected other commodities too, with gold surging to eight-year high prices and set to earn a new record of almost $32 billion in exports in 2020-21.

The uncertain times have not been kind to all commodities though, with sharp price falls for oil and the average Brent crude price to potentially plunge by 40 per cent this year.

Base metals have also been “significantly impacted” due to the sharp fall in vehicle output and sales.

While the Office of the Chief Economist has downgraded its total export earnings forecast, it is “not by

an alarming amount”. It has lowered its previous forecast of $299 billion for 2019-20 to $293 billion.

Looking further ahead, the Office of the Chief Economist forecasts exports in 2020-21 to be about $263 billion and $255 billion in 2021-22.

This forecast comes with significant risks however, such as a second outbreak of COVID-19, surges in trade tensions or an unexpectedly slow global recovery.

“To give better context, $293 billion is still the largest resource and energy export figure in Australian history and $263 billion is the third highest,” the Office of the Chief Economist concluded.

PORT HEDLAND IS A WORLD-LEADING PORT FOR IRON ORE EXPORTS.

HITACHI TAKES LEAP WITH ULTRA-LARGE EXCAVATOR TRIAL Hitachi Construction Machinery plans to run verification tests to develop remote-controlled autonomous ultralarge hydraulic excavators.

This will commence at an Australian mine from July next year.

Some part of the excavation and loading operation will be automated to allow a single remote operator to operate multiple ultra-large hydraulic excavators.

This will eventually provide the ultra-large hydraulic excavators with autonomous operation features.

In 1992, Hitachi used an unmanned, remote-controlled

excavator in the reconstruction work at Mount Unzen Fugen-dake volcanic eruption in Japan.

In 2013, Hitachi advanced the development of technologies for long-distance remote control by remotely operating a hydraulic excavator in its Urahoro test site in Hokkaido from 800 kilometres away.

“Now, we have decided to begin verification tests at an actual mining site to advance the development of autonomous driving for ultra-large hydraulic excavators, reflecting the needs of customers,” Hitachi stated.

The excavators will be equipped AUSTRALIANMINING

with collision avoidance and vehicle stability monitoring systems, and integrated with dump truck autonomous haulage system (AHS).

The remote-control system is retrofittable onto the EX-7 series of ultra-large hydraulic excavators. This will allow mine operators to use their existing equipment while supporting autonomous operation in the future.

“Because the safety and productivity of ultra-large hydraulic excavator operation largely depends on the operator’s skill and experience, building a production system which does not depend on

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the operator’s skill and reducing the operator’s workload are important issues at mine sites,” Hitachi stated.

Autonomous operation for ultralarge hydraulic excavators can be deployed as a standalone system or as part of fleet management system (FMS), such as the Fleet Management System from Hitachi’s subsidiary, Wenco International Mining Systems.

Six of Hitachi’s rigid dump trucks are already deployed for 24-hour autonomous hauling at Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek mine in New South Wales.

MINING SERVICES

MINED COMMODITIES TAKE A RIDE THE ACTIVITIES OF A MINE OPERATION ARE NOT ONLY BUZZING AT THE SITE ITSELF – THEY’RE ALSO MOVING ALONG AUSTRALIA’S BUSY TRAIN TRACKS. VANESSA ZHOU SPEAKS WITH RIO TINTO, LORAM AND THE QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RAIL SECTOR.

I

nnovation is alive and well in the rail sector – one of the key pillars driving the Australian mining industry.

Responsible for the haulage and transport of massive loads to the rest of Australia and the world, the rail sector is the source of some of the biggest robots ever developed.

A key piece of infrastructure supporting the Australian coal industry is Aurizon’s Central Queensland Coal Network (CQCN).

Stretching across 2670 kilometres of railway track, it hauls around 230 million tonnes of valuable product a year.

Sixty-nine per cent of its haulage in the 2019 financial year was made up of metallurgical coal, with the remaining driven by thermal coal.

This significant coal export rail network connects more than 50 mines to five major ports and domestic consumers.

The renowned AutoHaul trains, a Rio Tinto landmark project, also emerged as a market disruptor when they were launched in the Pilbara region of Western Australia last year.

AutoHaul has gained a reputation for being the world’s first automated heavy-haul long distance rail network.

As of June, the driverless trains had travelled in excess of 12 million kilometres since they were deployed – equivalent to 15 trips to the moon and back.

Rio Tinto uses 200 locomotives to collect iron ore from its Pilbara mine sites. Two or three of these locomotives make up an autonomous train, together with around 240 ore cars.

Each train, stretching 2.4 kilometres long, travels to four port terminals in Dampier and Cape Lambert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

This complex operation is made seamless by Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore Operations Centre, which opened 10 years ago to integrate the company’s sprawling network of mines, rails and ports.

Over the past decade, the operations centre has progressed from a focus on big pieces of equipment that increase productivity, to understanding algorithms and machine learning produced by the company’s super computers.

The centre, which is run by hundreds of controllers, schedulers and production system team members, now includes artificial intelligence (AI) that provides safer, smarter and faster decision making within the business.

AutoHaul is already delivering improvements of around 6 per cent to the average round-trip travel time, as well as a generally more consistent and predictable train operation.

Rio Tinto expects to gain further production, safety and cost benefits, including reduced reliance on diesel and maintenance costs, as AutoHaul is optimised.

“Big data analytics will harvest the vast amount of real-time

information provided by AutoHaul about the performance of each train, to further optimise all aspects of railway operation,” a Rio Tinto spokesperson tells Australian Mining.

“We expect to unlock latent capacity in the system as it delivers improvements to reliability and flexibility – aligned with our value over volume strategy.”

Keeping up with tonnages

With mining tonnages continually increasing every year, there is growing demand for rail maintenance.

These works must be completed within shrinking timeframes to keep the trains moving.

The demand has pushed railway

RIO TINTO’S AUTOHAUL TRAINS HAVE MADE THE EQUIVALENT OF MORE THAN 15 TRIPS TO THE MOON AND BACK SINCE LAST YEAR.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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maintenance specialist Loram to develop higher production equipment designs, including its rail grinders for open track, switches, level crossings and other specialty track-works, to where they are today.

“When Loram started grinding over 50 years ago, we were operating machines at about three to five kilometres per hour doing multiple grind passes to complete the work.

Over the years, technology has advanced our equipment capabilities.

Loram grinders now have more high horsepower motors driving specially developed grind stones that can maximise the production, allowing our equipment to work faster and more efficiently than ever

MINING SERVICES

LORAM’S LRV SPECIALTY EXCAVATOR IS DESIGNED TO REMOVE BALLAST, MUD, WATER, SAND AND SOIL FROM HARD-TO-REACH LOCATIONS.

IMAGE: RIO TINTO

before – all while achieving better quality,” Loram director of business development Thomas Smith, who joined the company 41 years ago as a machine operator, says.

“There have just been evolutions of grinding machines over the years that have now brought us to very

large, efficient machines. One of our largest in Australia is 120 grindstones, the most productive grinder in the southern hemisphere.

“Depending on track conditions, we are now working this machine at up to 20 kilometres an hour, primarily accomplishing the required work in a single pass. An equivalent model grinder working in North America averaged over 20 kilometres per hour and ground over 15,000 kilometres in 2019.”

Heavy haul grinding is typically performed on a tonnage cycle basis to achieve a preventive maintenance regimen and optimise the life of the open track rail, specialty sections and turnouts.

The cycles will vary by railway but on one particular railway, for example, the switches and level crossings will be scheduled for a grind every 40-45 million tonnes of haulage.

A single Loram specialty grinder on this network has proven to provide much higher efficiency than the previous three competitor machines in maintaining these cycles.

“There are many tangible benefits for the mining company to go with a single high production machine versus having several machines out there requiring additional manpower – from the reduced traffic interventions, production, quality to safety. A single more powerful machine is much more effective in achieving the desired results,” Smith says.

Loram, an Australian subsidiary of its United States parent company, is now fulfilling the rail grinding requirements on networks servicing many of Australia’s mining giants.

Loram has manufactured over 130 rail grinders globally and is building a solid portfolio within the Australian mining sector with companies such as BHP, Fortescue Metals Group and the railways servicing the coal mines in Queensland and New South Wales.

AUSTRALIANMINING

It has developed a gamechanging measuring and reporting system called Rail Pro to support comprehensive grinding operations and rail management.

“When you’re grinding at high speeds in a single pass, you want to know the rail condition before you get there,” Smith says.

“We measure the rail in advance, plan the program and identify the correct grind plan, including the optimum grind pattern and speed to remove the precise amount of metal per location.

“This process has become more automated over the years to ensure we’re delivering the optimal outcome. After we grind, we capture the rail data to verify that the proper rail profile is achieved.”

Ballast maintenance is also a key focus for Loram, which has developed the LRV Specialty Excavator to remove ballast, mud, water, sand and soil from hard-toreach locations.

The LRV uses an extremely powerful articulated arm controlling the vacuum nozzle to break up compacted material and reach all areas under the sleeper and rail. This is ideal for spot undercutting and specialty excavating in maintenanceneglected locations such as turnouts, level crossings, bridges and signalling areas where cables may be present under the ballast – the LRV can remove the ballast material without disturbing the cables.

The LRV also works swiftly with thorough clean-up operations at loaders, dumpers and in yards.

The system is already widely in use across North America, Brazil and Europe, and will soon reach the Australian market.

Targeting an all-round healthy track, Loram is introducing its friction management solutions, both gauge face in curves and top of rail

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SEPTEMBER 2020

systems, to Australia.

The aim of friction management is fuel savings, reducing noise, and significantly increasing the wheel and rail life.

For top of rail applications, Loram uses a specialty friction modifier that assists the power requirements in pulling the trains to port and back to the mine. This generates significant fuel savings.

“Loram brings a partnership approach with its customers; we want them to be successful with our services and equipment,” Smith says.

“Each of Loram’s product lines are fully integrated into our customers maintenance practices in the markets we serve, and we intend to earn the same here in Australia.”

Certainty over rail infrastructure

The Central Queensland rail network is considered the second most valuable supply chain in the Australian resources industry behind the network that services the Western Australian iron ore sector.

The latest trade data from the Australian Bureau Statistics shows that Queensland’s resources sector contributes 80 per cent of the overall trade for the state, amounting to $64 billion. “(Aurizon’s) CQCN would account for the bulk of this trade,” Macfarlane tells Australian Mining.

“Rail is also very important to the state’s $11.7 billion metals industry, with the majority of the production sourced from Mount Isa and exported from Townsville via rail.

To achieve this, explosives, cement and acid are railed west to Mount Isa from Townsville.”

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has provided regulatory certainty for rail and port infrastructure, with the CQCN declared a regulated monopoly until 2040.

Macfarlane says the decision means the critical piece of infrastructure will be under the independent regulatory oversight by the Queensland Competition Authority, which still sets conditions on the access and pricing of this regulated monopoly business.

“This is not a small technical point,” Macfarlane says. “With that greater regulatory certainty, industry can invest and employ more with confidence.”

The certainty provided at the government level highlights the “symbiotic” relationship between Queensland’s rail network and the state’s resources sector. The success of each sector relies on the prosperity of the other. AM

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

BOSS’ HONEYMOON PROJECT LIES 80 KILOMETRES NORTH-WEST OF BROKEN HILL IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

AWAITING THE URANIUM MARKET RESURGENCE FACED WITH FALLING URANIUM SUPPLY AND INCREASING DEMAND, NATIONS ARE STARTING TO RECONSIDER MODERN NUCLEAR AS A CLEAN, LOW-COST SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY. VANESSA ZHOU DISCUSSES THE PROSPECT OF A RESURGENCE IN URANIUM MINING AND EXPLORATION.

I

f there is a commodity that has experiences like no other, it is uranium.

As a reliable, cost-effective and clean energy, uranium is the key ingredient for 11 per cent of all electricity produced in the world.

But with supply decreasing and demand increasing this year, many pundits have flagged the imminence of an industry recovery.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) is running a campaign that aims to educate people to reconsider modern nuclear.

The move isn’t a surprise considering the world’s largest resources of uranium are found in Australia.

Uranium as a mining sector faces many shortcomings that are of no fault of its own, but more a consequence of it being a victim of history, according

to John Borshoff, managing director and chief executive of Namibiafocussed uranium exploration company Deep Yellow.

Uranium has experienced three major cycles across its history, Borshoff says. The first was dominated by military-inspired growth, followed by a second cycle of intense activity spurred by the oil shock of the 1970s.

Finally, the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Soviet Union in 1986 seriously impeded progress towards nuclear electricity generation.

This has hurt the uranium sector by limiting exploration activity, leading to a loss of expertise.

But Borshoff believes that uranium, being a young industry of just 75 years, has achieved a great deal, with 8.1 billion pounds of uranium produced during that time.

What’s definitely next, in Borshoff’s opinion, is a uranium boom sometime AUSTRALIANMINING

BOSS RESOURCES MANAGING DIRECTOR DUNCAN CRAIB.

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COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

in the future, possibly post-2023.

“Some argue it’s around the corner.

Whatever the timing, we all nearly agree our industry is showing early signs of recovery,” Borshoff says during the AusIMM International Uranium Digital Conference.

“When it arrives, it will be like all (its) other (early cycles). There will be a stampede back into the sector, and depending on the size of the boom, 60 companies today will be 200 companies tomorrow as many start to flow in.”

Not all 200 companies will become uranium producers, but they will be an important part of restoring investor confidence, Borshoff adds.

Ninety per cent of growing supply needs will be fulfilled by uranium majors such as Canada-headquartered Cameco, Kazakhstan-based Kazatomprom, French nuclear fuel cycle company Orano, Russia, and to a lesser degree, China, creating a supply shortfall that will potentially be fulfilled by junior companies.

“It will be a large gap to fill. The problem, in my opinion, is that under present conditions there are a few companies, as history demonstrates, that will be able to achieve and manage large-scale production operation,” Borshoff says.

Boss Resources’ Honeymoon uranium operation, a restart project Projekt1 04.05.20 07:26inSeite 1 with low capital intensity South

Australia, is one of a few globallyadvanced prospects ready to take advantage of an improved market environment.

The project can be fast-tracked to restart production over 12 months to seize an anticipated rally in the uranium market.

RECOGNISED AS AUSTRALIA’S NEXT URANIUM PRODUCER, TIMING OF HONEYMOON’S RESTART IS NOW PRIMARILY CONTINGENT UPON ACHIEVING THE DESIRED SALES PRICE OF PRODUCED URANIUM.”

Boss managing director Duncan Craib says the company has progressively de-risked the project, both technically and commercially, since acquiring the site in 2015.

The company has executed programs of work required to restart production, culminating with the

AUSTRALIANMINING

completion of Honeymoon’s feasibility study in January this year.

“Recognised as Australia’s next uranium producer, timing of Honeymoon’s restart is now primarily contingent upon achieving the desired sales price of produced uranium,” Craib tells Australian Mining.

“The marketing strategy for Honeymoon is to build a robust sales portfolio, which would cover costs and protect the mine from any future market downturn, while retaining sufficient uncommitted supply to take advantage of rising market conditions.

“Boss is monitoring the term price and staying very close to the market and in regular discussion with fuel buyers.”

For Craib, who’s been involved in the uranium industry for more than a decade, there is optimism for “perfect market conditions” for both uranium suppliers and investors.

The spot uranium price rose from $US23.95 ($33.05) per pound in March to a peak of $US34.25 per pound, before settling at around $US33 per pound at the time of writing.

“The price trend is upwards and is currently event and perception driven,” Craib says.

“Inventory is decreasing, capital is not easily available for exploration and development of new mines and utilities have significant unfilled requirements in the mid/long term.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

“There is a clear mismatch between the spot price and the price to bring back idled production or encourage new production.”

While supply is decreasing, this can be further impacted by the predicted global economic recession, making it difficult to invest in uranium exploration, Craib adds.

“In September 2019, the World Nuclear Association forecast a need for the restart of idled mines and new production from 2024,” he says.

“Industry consensus is that new supply is needed within a three-year time horizon and it will not be available unless we see almost immediate price signals … the macro outlook is very bullish.”

For these reasons, Boss has continued its care and maintenance program at the Honeymoon project.

The company will focus on ensuring Honeymoon’s operational readiness and quick recommissioning of the plant.

Boss also plans to continue its low-cost, non-invasive geophysical exploration techniques that will open up the pathway to drilling programs.

The company will use results from this exploration to decide its preferred source(s) of material for the stage three project, in view of ramping up production capacity from two million pounds a year to beyond three million pounds of

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

triuranium octoxide (U3O8) equivalent.

“The short lead time between the decision to mine and first production at Honeymoon gives Boss the ability to offer into uranium offtake agreements and respond quickly to changing market conditions,” Craib says.

“As the lead time to bring a new mine to production is significant (seven to 10 years from discovery to commissioning on average), prices would have to rise significantly in 2020 if new mines are to be brought on as needed.

“The longer the price remains low, the more probable a perceived shortfall becomes in the early 2020s and a potential overshoot in prices before they settle at a sustainable level.”

Although Craib is confident this is an ideal environment for Honeymoon, which requires low upfront capital outlay to recommence production, other new operators may struggle to achieve sustainable production.

The prospects of idled and new mines to fulfil a supply gap look uncertain due to a lack of investment, high capital expenditure and policy issues.

Borshoff believes juniors have to go on a risky path as they develop. Unique to the uranium industry, he says junior

companies will have to convince utility companies of their ability to produce and deliver uranium on time, from a mine that is yet to be built, in the absence of a previous track record.

THE SHORT LEAD TIME BETWEEN THE DECISION TO MINE AND FIRST PRODUCTION AT HONEYMOON GIVES BOSS THE ABILITY TO OFFER INTO URANIUM OFFTAKE AGREEMENTS AND RESPOND QUICKLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS.”

For the past 30 years, nuclear energy has also been the largest low carbon source of electricity for developed countries. It produces electricity with zero carbon dioxide emissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In 2018, nuclear power saved

about 2.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Australian uranium fuelled about 10 per cent of that result, Craib says.

“This global saving is almost four times Australia’s total greenhouse emissions. Without nuclear, global emissions would be 6 per cent higher,” Craib continues.

“If Australia is serious about addressing climate change while supporting jobs and industry, then nuclear energy should be considered in the energy mix.

“Australia has one-third of the world’s uranium resource, which will be increasingly critical for a powerhungry world seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

MCA principal adviser – energy, Patrick Gibbons, another presenter at the AusIMM conferece, says there have been three parliamentary inquiries into nuclear prohibition in the past 12 months.

He believes this is a sign of growing talk around the future of Australia’s nuclear ban.

“There is an increasing critical discussion around the efficacy of a nuclear ban,” Gibbons says.

He believes nuclear energy has a key

THE HONEYMOON URANIUM PROJECT WILL BE GEARED TOWARDS OPERATIONAL READINESS FOR RECOMMISSIONING.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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SEPTEMBER 2020

role to play in helping Australia meet the Paris Agreement temperature goal.

The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency strengthens this case with findings that nuclear technologies can be safely managed.

MCA chief executive Tania Constable also contends that the country’s ban on nuclear energy and technologies prohibits the development of significant, new, advanced nuclear industries.

Craib continues: “With the next generation of nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) expected to be commercially available by late 2020s, Australia should consider SMRs as an option to replace some of our ageing baseload coal fired generators.

“Australia is arguably better placed than many countries to also safely manage nuclear waste, both as one of the world’s most geographically stable nations and the beneficiary of world-class health and safety and environmental protections.”

There is definitely hope for Australia’s uranium resurgence. The growing number of Australians who support the role of nuclear in the nation’s energy mix over the last decade is a tell-tale sign. AM

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COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

IS A ZINC COMEBACK LOOMING?

ZINC MARKET TURBULENCE IS STARTING TO FADE AS MINERS BECOME MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE COMMODITY’S FUTURE. NICKOLAS ZAKHARIA WRITES.

A

ustralia’s zinc industry rarely receives the same attention as its iron ore or coal sectors.

Despite the spotlight being directed elsewhere, Australia is the third largest zinc producer worldwide.

And while zinc prices suffered sobering blows in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with mines in South Africa and Peru temporarily shutting down, the lights stayed on at Australia’s mines, giving the country a key advantage from a

global perspective.

To look at the zinc price alone would do a disservice to the commodity’s future prospects.

China, which consumes about half of the world’s zinc supply according to a report by Fitch Solutions, recovered from COVID-19’s lockdown measures earlier than other countries, helping bolster commodity demand across the board.

“Zinc prices will likely edge higher in the coming months as the negative shock to global demand from the COVID-19 outbreak lessens,”

Fitch explains in a zinc report released in June.

“As of June 22, three-month LME zinc had already recovered by 14.7 per cent from a March low of $US17,844/tonne ($24,585) and we expect a further rebound in the coming months.”

That rebound is coming in the form of a huge ramp up in metals-intensive infrastructure spending from China.

The general view accepted by zinc analysts is that the commodity will be in a surplus this year. Fitch Solutions forecasts a total surplus of 71,000

NEW CENTURY USES A HYDRAULIC MINING PROCESS FOR REPROCESSING TAILINGS.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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SEPTEMBER 2020

tonnes of zinc in 2020, compared with a deficit of 189,000 tonnes in 2019.

But Wood Mackenzie has kept moderate expectations for the commodity.

“The Chinese economy (is) enjoying a good recovery from the (COVID-19) lockdown – it is the only bright spot for global zinc demand. Our base case assumption is for a modest (2-3 per cent) drop in Chinese demand this year, but there is a growing risk that growth will end the year flat or marginally up on 2019,” Wood Mackenzie lead and zinc research director Andrew Thomas tells Australian Mining.

“A total surplus of 71,000 tonnes of zinc is expected for 2020, compared to a deficit of 189,000 tonnes in 2019.

“We expect the zinc market to be in surplus for several more years, projects that are already financed and under construction will continue to come on stream, but the development of earlier stage projects is likely to stall or even stop.

“Our base case assumption is that prices will fall later in the year as supply disruptions are overwhelmed by demand losses and rising metal stocks.”

Zinc is commonly used to galvanise mild steel, which is required for building, roads, infrastructure and transport projects. The commodity is also used to galvanise the steel of vehicles and has increasing use as

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

GLENCORE QUEENSLAND METALS MINES ZINC AND COPPER IN THE MT ISA REGION.

relatively modest currently, but should become progressively more significant over the next 10 years,” he says.

IMAGE: GLENCORE.

Australia’s zinc heavyweight

a plant fertiliser.

According to Thomas, the latter is where new demand will be the seen in the coming years.

“The most important emerging use for zinc is as a micronutrient in agricultural fertilisers, this use is

For almost 100 years, Mt Isa has been an integral part of Queensland’s mining industry.

Mount Isa Mines (now Glencore Queensland Metals) is part of Glencore’s group of companies, focussing on zinc and copper mining in the Mt Isa region.

“We have recently combined our Queensland copper and zinc operations under a single management structure, named Glencore Queensland Metals,” a Glencore spokesperson tells Australian Mining.

Glencore’s zinc assets in and around Mt Isa involve the 4.5 million tonne per annum George Fisher underground mine and the Lady Loretta underground mine, which is operated

by RedPath Australia.

The Mt Isa mine is one of the largest zinc operations in the world with an expected 650 million tonnes of resources.

Its zinc operations alone provide 1200 jobs to employees and contractors, which helps stimulate the local and broader economy.

“We are proud of the very significant socio-economic contribution that these operations

AUSTRALIANMINING

THE CENTURY MINE MINERALS PROCESSING PLANT.

make to the local, regional and Australian economies,” the Glencore spokesperson says.

“In 2019, our metals operations employed more than 4200 people in north-west Queensland and contributed $2.5 billion to the Australian economy in the form of wages and salaries, spend on goods and services, payment of taxes and royalties and through partnerships with community organisations.”

Glencore hopes its zinc production will pave the way for a low carbon economy.

“As one of the world’s largest diversified resource companies

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Glencore has a key role to play in enabling the transition to a low carbon economy,” the spokesperson adds.

“The zinc, copper, cobalt and nickel we produce play an important role in this, given they underpin the energy and mobility transformation.”

Glencore expects its zinc supply to continue growing, with production forecast to increase despite the turbulent prices the commodity has faced for several years, according to its 2019 annual report.

“We believe that metal production increases are necessary for the market to restock from the current multi-year lows,” Glencore states.

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

ZINC PRICES HAVE RISEN SINCE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 EASED.

“We’ve still got a whole heap of ramp up to go,” Walta says. “But the reality is we’re a major part of the global zinc story now.”

Walta says New Century has actually reaped the rewards of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the market.

“Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia in terms of its zinc production and mining in general has been largely unaffected,” he says.

“That’s why our output keeps increasing and our costs keep

dropping because we’re increasing that mining rate, working on improving the performance in the processing plant.”

As a new kid on the block, New Century is still ramping up production.

This means its treatment charges come in the form of spot treatment deals – which involve a one-off payment with prices varying between each individual contract – rather than benchmark contracts that have an annual set price.

IMAGE: GLENCORE.

The Century zinc mine in the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland was historically one of the world’s largest zinc mines between 1999 to 2015.

However, the mine’s major zinc deposit was depleted by 2016, causing the operation to shut down.

Just a year later, New Century Resources acquired the mine and set upon re-opening the site as a hydraulic mining operation that would reprocess its existing tailings.

Since launching production in 2018, New Century has catapulted into the top 10 zinc producers in the world, with a site that has more than two million tonnes of zinc metal resources.

“The goal for our business was to re-establish Century as a top 10 zinc producer and you can see that’s what we’ve been able to achieve again,” New Century Resources managing director Patrick Walta tells Australian Mining.

“Within three years, we’ve been able to look at it under a different lens with a different opportunity. We’re expanding that operation and building up into a 12 million tonne per annum run rate.”

In the June 2020 quarter, New Century achieved record production at the mine for the company with 34,000 tonnes of zinc metal.

IMAGE: GLENCORE.

New Century’s new hope

GLENCORE’S MT ISA MINE IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ZINC MINES IN THE WORLD.

AUSTRALIANMINING

20

SEPTEMBER 2020

“You typically start with spot contracts, but then you move to your benchmark long-term contracts over time,” Walta says.

“Most miners that are already established and already ramped up might be 80 per cent benchmark, 20 per cent spot, but New Century is the other way at 20 per cent benchmark and 80 per cent spot.”

For Walta, this unique position gives New Century a key advantage in current market conditions, which are seeing spot treatment charges drop from $US300 to $US150 per tonne of zinc in June due to COVID19’s industry shutdowns.

“COVID-19 forced industry shutdowns, which really caught everyone by surprise, so the smelters were thinking they had supply and that they had procurement schedules ahead of them,” Walta says.

“When COVID-19 hit, the heart just got ripped out of that supply chain and that’s why the treatment charges fell off a cliff.”

“So, for miners who have a good portion, or the majority of their contracts linked to spot deals, it’s much better conditions.

“Even though the zinc price is low, the treatment charges for New Century represent about 40 per cent of our costs.”

As for zinc’s future demand, Walta forecasts an increased use of zinc with the production of electric vehicles (EVs) from developing countries with emerging middle classes.

He says as the world progressively shifts towards EVs, the demand will be for better quality vehicles that don’t rust out.

“In the US and Australia for example, around 80 to 85 per cent of the cars have rust proofing because people demand their cars to last,” Walta says.

“Developing nations in areas of India and China, the rustproofing rates on vehicles have been down to 15 to 20 per cent.

“You’re seeing an opportunity here for a huge amount of consumption to increase as the Indian and Chinese growing middle class demand higher quality necessities, such as a car that doesn’t rust out in a year.

“So, we might see a very rapid increase of zinc usage in the auto industry as a result of rustproofing rates increasing.”

With market dynamics creating opportunity for the zinc market, in both the short- and long-term, Walta has reason to be optimistic. But there is also no room for complacency at New Century.

“As it stands for now you’ve got to be as efficient and as lean and mean as you can,” he concludes. AM

UNDERGROUND MINING

CR GOES UNDERGROUND WITH KEECH ACQUISITION CR (FORMERLY CQMS RAZER) HAS BEEN A KEY GLOBAL SUPPLIER INTO THE SURFACE MINING MARKET FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. WITH AN ACQUISITION OF KEECH UNDERGROUND GROUND ENGAGEMENT TOOLS (UGET), CR IS DIVERSIFYING INTO UNDERGROUND MINING.

C

R designs, engineers, manufactures and supplies a full range of innovative ground engaging tools (GET) and digital software to major mining houses in all key mining regions globally.

Building on its experience in creating innovative mining and engineering software, CR takes on Keech UGET’s underground business, contracts and products, including the UGET WearPact, ArmourBlade and SNRG lines, with the acquisition.

The WearPact GET can be used in both underground and surface mining, while the SNRG and ArmourBlade ranges are designed specifically for underground loadhaul, dump and bucket applications.

WearPact features dedicated wear indicators which make it easier for mine operators to see when teeth on machinery have worn to their limit, minimising the risk of

PRODUCT INNOVATION AND BEING AGILE IS A CORE PART OF CR AND NEARLY ALL OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE EXISTING PRODUCTS OR BUILD NEW PRODUCTS COMES FROM FEEDBACK IN THE FIELD.”

injury by removing workers from underneath the bucket.

SNRG is a replacement part that can be implemented on some of the world’s most popular loaders and buckets, made from superior steel that provides maximum strength and wear resistance.

ArmourBlade is a bucket edge system, designed in a variety of CR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOHN BARBAGALLO.

AUSTRALIANMINING

shapes and sizes to be configured into many lip configurations on the market. The system dramatically enhances productivity and reduces downtime with its superior penetration performance.

WearPact, SNRG and ArmourBlade are three of the Keech products CR will offer by entering the underground market.

By combining the surface and underground mining businesses, CR chief executive officer John Barbagallo says the company will build on its existing product technologies and expand its reach worldwide.

“Keech are a very respected company and we are delighted to partner with them and acquire their underground products and supply chain,” Barbagallo tells Australian Mining.

“Going forward, CR wants to build on what Keech has delivered in the underground mining wear products tool space.

“At the moment, retaining the existing CR and Keech customers and continuing to provide them with a high level of service is a key priority.”

With many of CR’s existing surface mining clients also having underground operations, the company is well positioned to service both markets.

CR prides itself on building deep and trusted relationships so it can design and alter its products to directly benefit the market it services.

“Product innovation and being agile is a core part of CR and nearly all of our opportunities to improve existing products or build new products comes from feedback in the field,” Barbagallo says.

“Having close relationships is absolutely critical to the future of the business, we are looking forward to taking Keech’s underground product range and designs, using our open cut experience to see where there’s opportunity to make product improvements.”

CR has identified wear performance of materials and

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SEPTEMBER 2020

CR MINING HAS ACQUIRED KEECH UNDERGROUND ENGAGEMENT TOOLS, ALLOWING IT TO MOVE INTO THE UNDERGROUND MINING SECTOR.

productivity as two key areas it plans to focus on with both its customers and engineering team to improve on future designs.

Doug Wallis, CR head of engineering and innovation, has worked in and around engineering for 10 years. He is heavily involved with this process, creating advanced technological solutions to the resources sector and now, for the first time, the underground mining space.

“Although we always made tools and other related products that can translate into underground mining for the surface mining industry, we haven’t really delved into underground mining before now,” Wallis explains.

“The Keech acquisition has provided CR with this opportunity through its well-established products and history and excellent solutions, along with a customer base that suits the product.

“Our business has always been built on a DNA of being customer centric and we want to partner with our customers and work collaboratively with them on the solutions we bring to the underground market to ensure we are developing solutions that make sense to our customers and bring them value.”

Part of Wallis and the broader engineering team’s role is to understand the environment in which CR machinery will be used and be required to withstand for long life and minimal downtime due to unplanned maintenance.

UNDERGROUND MINING

This includes identifying the most appropriate designs and type of steel to use for product applications to ensure the best value cost of ownership in the long term.

“We’re a world leader in

INNOVATIVE MINING SOLUTIONS

manufacturing cast wear products,” Wallis says. “While the products we sell in the surface mining space are slightly different to some of the underground mining machinery, the fundamentals of what steel to use and

how to manufacture it are the same.

“We already operate in mining, so we have an excellent understanding of the challenges in the industry, it’s a super tough environment and the machinery is often heavy and bulky.

We know how to make products that last and provide value for our customers.”

Despite the difference in underground and surface mining equipment, the key priorities of improved safety and productivity remain the same.

Both companies have aspired to design products with impressive safety features, such as secure mechanisms to attach products and multiple bolt-on and attachment points to keep workers out of harm’s way.

CR’s open cut solutions are already known and trusted by mining companies for providing complete coverage of different machinery and bucket widths and thicknesses, eliminating or reducing unplanned downtime.

As CR delves into the underground market, Wallis says recognising both the similarities and differences between the equipment and solutions required for this environment, versus surface mining, is essential to the company’s success in this space.

“We recognise that the needs

WHILE THE PRODUCTS WE SELL IN THE SURFACE MINING SPACE ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TO SOME OF THE UNDERGROUND MINING MACHINERY, THE FUNDAMENTALS OF WHAT STEEL TO USE AND HOW TO MANUFACTURE IT ARE THE SAME.”

of underground mining and surface mining are different, but underground and surface mines usually occur in the same places,” Wallis says.

“While the way you operate is different, they are in the same locations and often face the same challenges when it comes to product wear. This allows CR to leverage our existing global footprint, relationships and supply chains to expand to this new market, and we are confident we can deliver the same value we do in surface mining.” AM

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UNDERGROUND MINING

ASTEC’S NEW MOBILE ROCKBREAKING SYSTEM, BREAKERBOSS HAS A REDESIGNED CABIN AND ENHANCED OPERATOR FEATURES.

BOSS OF THE UNDERGROUND ENVIRONMENT ASTEC INDUSTRIES’ NEW LINE-UP OF UNDERGROUND EQUIPMENT INCORPORATES GAME-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MINING SECTOR: THE HYDRAULIC WHEEL DRIVE. AUSTRALIAN MINING WRITES.

A

stec Industries has long been recognised as an innovative developer of equipment and technologies for the global underground mining sector.

Technologies incorporated into Astec’s range of mobile rockbreaking systems, utility vehicles and scaling machines have enabled operators to work smarter and safer in what is one of the industry’s most hazardous environments.

“Astec is one of very few truly innovative suppliers, and we have a pipeline of innovations,” Astec national product manager – mining, John Williams tells Australian Mining.

“We’re constantly searching for better ways to help miners do their job, developing technologies that deliver enhanced performance, greater longevity and improved maintenance outcomes.”

Astec’s hydrostatic drive system is the company’s most recent innovation.

The technology removes all traditional mechanical linkages and braking systems so the equipment runs hydrostatically with fluid.

According to Williams, hydraulic

drive systems are popular in the agricultural sector, but few mining equipment suppliers have taken advantage of the technology.

“In discussions with customers, we identified equipment longevity as one of their biggest concerns. Their vehicles just weren’t lasting long enough, so we developed one that does,” Williams says.

“The hydrostatic drive requires significantly less maintenance and makes our vehicles more fit for purpose for the mining environment.”

Astec has incorporated the hydraulic drive technology into its latest mobile rockbreaking system, BreakerBoss. An updated version of the company’s articulated carrier, BreakerBoss, will be launched this month.

According to Williams, the design of the new carrier was influenced by the company’s experience in the development of the Mine Runner, ScaleBoss and previous versions of mobile rockbreakers.

Operated via central articulation, BreakerBoss is capable of carrying an 8810-joule rockbreaker, equipment that typically would be used on a AUSTRALIANMINING

40-tonne excavator.

“BreakerBoss is easily one of the biggest excavators on a site, yet it can travel at 15–20 kilometres an hour on wheels, so oversized rocks that would otherwise slow down production can be dealt with quickly and without the use of explosives,” Williams says.

“And the greater speed and efficiency of BreakerBoss in regular rock breaking operations delivers a better overall performance for the site.”

Astec has improved the ergonomics of BreakerBoss, too, with a redesigned cabin providing extra room and enhanced operator features, including air ride seating, automotive-style controls, climate control and enhanced visibility.

BreakerBoss is also teleremote ready so operators can remotely position the machine in a compromised area and continue rockbreaking risk-free.

Astec’s hydraulic drive system has been incorporated into the latest model of its underground workhorse, the Mine Runner.

According to Williams, successful innovation can deliver better maintenance outcomes, as well

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SEPTEMBER 2020

as enhanced performance at an operational level.

“On-highway vehicles are regularly used underground, but they fall short of the Mine Runner in terms of maintenance and operational life,” he says.

“The Mine Runner’s maintenance schedule is a minor servicing every 250 hours with a major service every 1000 hours.

“The Minerunner can be relied upon for an eight-year-plus service life, whereas a new on-highway truck is probably going to last only two years underground before it needs to be replaced.”

And the new Mine Runner is a more versatile performer. The vehicle’s extended 3.6-metre deck space means it can comfortably transport 12 passengers.

Astec’s hydrostatic drive system is the latest in the company’s long line of innovative technologies.

With expertise developed over decades and a detailed understanding of the requirements of underground operations, Astec global customers know the company’s next generation innovations are already in the pipeline. AM

UNDERGROUND MINING

NU SCIENTIFIC SAFE PROOFS UNDERGROUND MINES REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS MINED, MOST UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS PRODUCE RADON OR SOME KIND OF RADON DAUGHTER PRODUCTS, WHICH CAN MAKE THE BREATHING ENVIRONMENT HARMFUL FOR WORKERS. AUSTRALIAN MINING FINDS OUT HOW NU SCIENTIFIC’S RANGE OF RADON SCOUT PRODUCTS PROTECT WORKERS.

R

adon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, which comes from the radioactive decay of uranium, the source of radon and is an extremely abundant element found in over 2700 rock types in Australia alone. It is present in small amounts in rocks, water and soil. It can easily escape from the ground and into the air where it can be inhaled.

Although radon has no smell, is colourless and tasteless, exposure to radioactive gases like radon and boron and radon daughter products can cause serious long-term health issues for workers.

Humans can be at risk of inhaling radon in some homes, caves or poorly ventilated underground mines, in particular uranium or coal mines.

NU SCIENTIFIC’S SMART RADON SENSOR.

Some of the potential health risks of exposure to radon and radon progeny, which can attach to dust and other particles and be breathed into the lungs, include breathing difficulties, lung illnesses and even lung cancer.

To keep mine workers safe from the risk of inhaling harmful radioactive gases, Nu Scientific’s SARAD range has developed the Radon Scouts range of monitors, allowing mine operators and employees to monitor levels to ensure a safe workplace.

SARAD’s Radon Scout models measure the regulated activity levels set by the Australian Radiation

Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), they are small devices at 82x96x44 millimetres, but they are extremely sensitive.

They track not only radiation levels but also humidity, carbon dioxide and barometric pressure.

As Nu Scientific owner Graeme McDonnell explains, despite Australia’s relatively low radon levels on a global scale, having a safe monitoring system is hugely important for the safety of underground mine workers.

“Most mines will produce radon, it’s a gas that is common where air is not moving and there are certain materials in the earth,” McDonnell tells Australian Mining.

“The radon itself often isn’t too harmful but the daughter products are very harmful for people to breathe in and the alpha particles can do a lot of damage.”

According to the Radon in the Environment report by Howard M Pritchard and Thomas F Gesell, the alpha particles of radon daughter decay products, like bismuth, cause most cancers attributed to radon exposure.

McDonnell says with correct ventilation, radon disperses quite quickly, but for many mining operations there can be pockets of the element in the underground areas where people are working, exposing them to the risks and monitoring is recommended.

“What Nu Scientific’s products do is monitor the radon with sensors that can monitor personnel or areas for radon and or daughter products, which are the dangerous ones,” McDonnell explains.

“Our Radon Scouts Professional range is designed to be positioned in areas like this or worn by workers to detect dangerous levels of the gas.”

Nu Scientific’s Radon Scout range monitors not only radon levels but has additional sensors for temperature and humidity, as well as the option to add barometric pressure and carbon dioxide (CO2) monitors.

Radon Scout products provide a fast and accurate measurement,

AUSTRALIANMINING

NU SCIENTIFIC’S RADON AND THORON MONITOR FOR UNDERGROUND MINING.

which allows the direct control of ventilation systems to maintain the required radon threshold.

“Due to the detector technology, the instrument will not be affected by any variations of temperature and humidity, external radiation, mechanical shocks and vibrations,” McDonnell says.

“These features make the Radon Scout Professional the very first choice for short- and long-term radon sampling, as well as for personal dosimetry for a fast and statistically accurate measurement.”

Not much larger than a mobile phone, Nu Scientific’s Radon Scout models are user friendly and innovative, sending data information through to a central point for mine operators and managers to monitor.

The liquid crystal display (LCD) screen shows the radon levels to the user and it can also be shared via a new software called Rooms, which displays up to eight devices’ radon levels and results, allowing several areas of the mine to be monitored by the same operator.

All that is needed to power the Radon Scout is two AAA batteries, which will last for several months of

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SEPTEMBER 2020

THE DOSEMAN RADON DOSIMETER

BY NU SCIENTIFIC.

autonomous operation.

Unlike many other radon monitors, Nu Scientific’s Radon Scout does not require a drying cell to test accurate radon level results.

“The Smart Radon sensor will have Wi-Fi incorporated within the next one to two months, making it an excellent choice for area monitoring,” McDonnell explains.

“The Radon Scout detector technology defines a new level. It features outstanding sensitivity at dosimeter size.”

Nu Scientific has a large range of Radon and daughter monitoring instruments for all levels of detection. AM

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RINGSPANN® high speed backstops integrated into the intermediate shaft of gearboxes have long since become a benchmark of drive trains in the Australian mining industry.

RINGSPANN® is also a quality supplier of Low Speed Backstops, for nominal torques up to 900,000 lb-ft and bores up to 21 inches.

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MANUFACTURING

POWERING AUSTRALIAN MADE INNOVATION AUSPROOF HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED IN DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC COUPLERS FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS, WITH MANY MORE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS ON THE HORIZON.

W

THE EX FLAMEPROOF RANGE EXHIBITS SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY BENEFITS.

hen you think of mining innovation, gigantic bucket wheels and drill rigs often

come to mind.

But often, it’s the products on a much smaller scale that gel everything together.

AusProof’s electrical cable couplers offer safe and reliable power to be transmitted throughout underground and open cut coal mining environments.

Based in Gladstone, in the heart of Australia’s coal industry, AusProof has an astute understanding of what customers demand in a bespoke coupler.

“We claim that we’ve got the safest coupler in the world,” AusProof managing director Aston Marks tells Australian Mining.

“We have almost a perfect run on the board with our safety. Our couplers have never failed due the integrity and design of the plug.”

The company’s latest addition to the Ex Flameproof range, offers an enhanced level of safety, reliability and pedigree.

This feature is a newly designed live line indicator, which has been reengineered to use an LED. With the design using an LED instead of a bulb, it now provides

50,000 hours of life. The LED light is bright enough to be seen in broad daylight, showing if there is power in the coupler.

The existing, but advanced range of the Ex Flameproof coupler range also recognises the need for safety and efficiency within the industry.

According to Marks, a coupler can be potentially hazardous if its surface is scratched or fouled. The repair job for a scratched coupler is quite burdensome.

The Ex Flameproof range prevents complicated maintenance and repairs using nothing but an Allen key.

“The biggest feature is the removable flange. This means that if a mine scratches the surface of the coupler, it makes it easier to repair,” Marks says.

“The traditional way of repairing a coupler meant you’d have to roll a 200-metre electrical cable up from underground and transport it up to 200-300 kilometres away to a certified workshop. Nine out of 10 times they’d have to cut the whole thing off and buy a new one and replace it.

“Our removable flange solution in the Flameproof range has four screws in the front flange area. You can unscrew those and replace only the flange.

THE BIGGEST FEATURE IS THE REMOVABLE FLANGE. THIS MEANS THAT IF A MINE SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF THE COUPLER, IT MAKES IT EASIER TO REPAIR.”

AUSPROOF’S EX FLAMEPROOF COUPLERS OFFER A UNIQUE INTUITIVE DESIGN.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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SEPTEMBER 2020

“You don’t need a qualified person on the mine site to do that operation, it’s just an Allen key to undo four screws.”

To continue with coupler designs at such a high standard, AusProof’s research and development (R&D) team is looking at ways to enhance its range even further.

“We heavily invest in our R&D. We’ve got a team of four or five people in our R&D team that’s constantly doing research and development for AusProof,” Marks says.

“We are the first ones in Australia to have that product, which is bright enough to be seen in daylight, where before it struggled in daytime.”

The live line technology in AusProof’s flameproof couplers was developed over two years, with three more exciting developments in the pipeline within the next six months.

Looking further ahead, Marks says AusProof is working on ideas and concepts that will be launched in two or three years.

“That’s how long it takes because we are perfectionists. We’re not going to release products into the market until we’ve done a lot of testing and a lot of proving that it’s right,” he says.

With an Australian company making huge leaps forward in coupler technology, Marks believes there’s a lot of pride to be taken in that.

“There’s a sense of pride in Australia to have the best plug in the world and to be exporting it overseas,” Marks says.

AusProof products are recognised globally by customers in Africa, the United States, South America and parts of Asia.

“Hopefully the industry would feel honoured that this little company is just in their back yard. We’re proud of it and hopefully they can be proud of it too that they’re buying Australian,” Marks concludes. AM

MANUFACTURING

EXPANDING THE RINGSPANN NARRATIVE IN AUSTRALIA RINGSPANN’S MASTERY OF POWER TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM ITS GERMAN ROOTS OVER 70 YEARS AGO, WITH THE COMPANY CONTINUING TO BUILD ITS PRESENCE IN THE AUSTRALIAN MINING MARKET.

T

o keep mining operations up and running, it’s important for equipment to have high quality and wellperforming components under the hood.

RINGSPANN, a globally renowned manufacturer of premium power transmission components, is an expert in supplying products to the mining industry for gear driver and gearbox suppliers, pulley manufacturers and the materials handling sector.

Founded in 1944, RINGSPANN has grown from its headquarters in Bad Homburg, Germany to employ 480 people worldwide across 17 international companies.

RINGSPANN provides drivetrain components to more than 6000 global customers in industries such as mining and food.

The company first operated as a distributor but has shifted its sights to also pursue a globalised business model over the past 15 years, which led to the establishment of RINGSPANN Australia in 2018.

RINGSPANN Australia general manager Seshan Ramaswamy says the expansion of the company in countries like Australia means customers are within local reach of its vast range of products.

“The strategy of internationalisation meant that we established our own company in important mechanical engineering regions of the world as a one-stop destination for highquality drive technology,” he tells Australian Mining.

“We are on the doorstep of major producers of iron, coal, nickel, copper, gold and various other minerals in this natural resources-rich region.

“Under this business model, we can be more proactive and reach out to customers very quickly unlike the previous model of distributorship … thus bringing the German one-stop supplier of high-quality mechanical power transmission products Down Under.”

Through its Australian headquarters in Melbourne, one of RINGSPANN primary focusses in the country is the mining industry.

“Mining is the bread and butter of the business,” Ramaswamy says. “The

entire RINGSPANN product range is available to the Australian mining industry. There are no exceptions.”

RINGSPANN offers freewheels, industrial brakes, shaft-hub connections, overload clutches and coupling and precision clamping fixtures to the mining industry.

The company aims to go above and beyond the expectations of customers, often providing unique solutions that are typically not available in its official catalogue of products.

“We push the boundaries and look for customer-specific solutions for applications that go well beyond the standard versions shown in our catalogues,” Ramaswamy says.

“A standard solution is always there but we also think, is there a better, efficient and more economical solution for the customers? And that’s why I believe we are a few steps ahead of our competition by offering solutions that are unique and economical.”

One example is RINGSPANN’s torque limiting backstops on multiple drive conveyor applications, which feature carbon friction linings that increase surface pressure and slipping torques up to 140kNm. RINGSPANN often speaks to its international colleagues in other parts of the world to collaborate and share ideas for new products and solutions.

“We take our customers feedback and queries very seriously and we try and find the most optimum solution for the application,” Ramaswamy says.

RINGSPANN has also continued to operate under the impact of COVID-19, implementing a range of necessary precautionary methods to slow the spread and continuing to support customers in financial hardship.

“We listen to the concerns of our business partners about the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses and to support them where possible,” Ramaswamy says.

The company also offers the RINGSPANN Academy, which holds regular training programs for its engineers and frontline staff on products, applications and processes.

Ramaswamy says the academy provides staff with up-to-date AUSTRALIANMINING

RINGSPANN OFFER A RANGE OF COMPONENTS FOR BELT CONVEYORS IN MINING OPERATIONS.

information on products and applications, as well as knowledge gathered from different parts of the world.

“We talk to our colleagues in South Africa, North and South America, India and China for new ideas and share the success with our local customers,” Ramaswamy says.

With its eyes on the future,

RINGSPANN has a range of focus areas it is dedicated towards developing.

“We are always trying to offer a very high consulting competency, which means that we offer optimal customised solutions that are also economically viable. There is a synergy in this process,” Ramaswamy concludes. AM

RINGSPANN HAS ALMOST 6000 CUSTOMERS WORLDWIDE PURCHASING ITS PREMIUM POWER TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS.

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MAINTENANCE

MCLANAHAN SUPPORTS MAJOR UPGRADE AT BOGGABRI A PARTNERSHIP FORGED OVER MORE THAN A DECADE HAS DELIVERED A NEW WAY OF MAINTAINING AND REFURBISHING CRUSHING EQUIPMENT AT THE BOGGABRI MINE IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

M

cLanahan and Boggabri Coal Operations have formed a long-standing partnership since 2006 that would be the envy of many in the Australian mining industry.

The relationship started when the Idemitsu Australia Resources subsidiary asked McLanahan to supply a feeder breaker for the Boggabri coal project in New South Wales.

It was a compact two-stage crushing solution for a 400-tonne-an-hour direct ship operation that used front-end loaders to feed the run-of-mine (ROM) coal crushing station.

Three years later, the machine was upgraded and had its capacity doubled to 800 tonnes an hour.

With its next project expansion, Boggabri Coal introduced a 1500-tonne-an-hour bypass ROM in 2014.

The partnership strengthened again, with McLanahan supplying a three-stage ROM crushing

system that included a new feederbreaker, secondary DDC-sizer and tertiary DDC-sizer.

McLanahan’s engineering department custom-designed the crushing system at its Newcastle workshop, approximately 300 kilometres away from the open cut operation.

It guarantees the performance of the equipment and offers service and support for the life of the equipment.

In late 2019, 13 years and more than 20 million tonnes later, the two companies re-converged on a project to refurbish the feeder-breaker.

The scope of works included the removal, replacement and later the refurbishment of the head, tail and shaft assemblies; chain and flight bars; chain hold-downs; floor and wall wear plates; and the gearbox on the drive assembly.

The machine had served its purpose during its life up until that point, thanks to the importance that the Boggabri maintenance team placed on regular maintenance and servicing.

“Much like the regular servicing completed on your car, the Boggabri maintenance team sat down and planned for regular machine audits and the corresponding service opportunities in conjunction with the McLanahan field service technicians,” McLanahan customer service account manager Daniel Keena tells Australian Mining.

“This level of planning and regular preventative maintenance allowed the machine to operate for an extended period of time before requiring a major service.”

An example where Boggabri delivered efficiency and reduced risk is when the maintenance planning team prioritised replacement assemblies.

The team decided to preorder a full breaker head assembly, full head shaft assemblies and tail shaft assemblies.

This removed people from inside the feeder-breaker, cutting off breaker blocks and replacing them, while other staff were working on the head shaft sprockets and wear liners.

The number of personnel working

SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY ARE SOME OF THE CORE VALUES THAT MCLANAHAN SHARES WITH BOGGABRI.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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simultaneously in different areas, the actual replacement time and the total number of people required for the overall project were reduced.

Old worn components were taken back to the McLanahan workshop in Newcastle to be refurbished in a controlled environment, and later returned to site as strategic spares.

“The primary focus of Boggabri is safety and it is one of the values that we have in common,” Keena says.

“In co-ordinating site teams made up of around 600 staff and local service contractors, the Boggabri maintenance planning team conducted a number of risk assessment workshops working through each task in sequence. They looked at efficiency in terms of reducing the number of movements for people, cranes, lifts, vehicles, etc.”

McLanahan, too, instilled a safety focus in its maintenance-friendly machine design. Examples of this include the feeder-breaker head shaft being able to be removed horizontally from the front of the unit; the capacity to remove the entire drive assembly from the breaker shaft; and the breaker head being able to be removed vertically from the machine frame for efficient replacement.

“Also, having it designed and assembled in Australia enables us to provide a higher level of service and support to our customers,” Keena says.

“With key customers like Boggabri Coal, we have the opportunity to work side by side with experienced operators and maintenance teams, learning more about their operational needs.

“This gives us insight which we can take back to our local design team and in turn build new equipment or modify existing equipment to be more effective.”

Keena says McLanahan has worked side by side with Boggabri Coal to share its challenges and be part of its success and growth for more than a decade.

The operation has capacity to produce seven million tonnes a year of saleable coal with a mine life to 2033.

“Given the professionalism and efficiency of the team on this site, we believe we can only see continued growth for this customer,” Keena concludes. AM

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ENVIRONMENT

XYLEM TURNS WASTEWATER INTO PART OF THE MINING CYCLE XYLEM’S VISION AS A COMPANY IS TO HELP CREATE A WORLD WHERE WATER ISSUES ARE NO LONGER A BARRIER TO HUMAN HEALTH, PROSPERITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. IN THE MINING INDUSTRY, THIS MEANS CREATING SOLUTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MINE, ITS VILLAGE AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY IT SERVES.

A

s one of the world’s most water intensive industries, mining operations around the world are contending with not only risks around water scarcity, but also risks associated with excess rainfall, which can result in flooding.

According to Deloitte’s 2019 Tracking the Trends report, part of the challenge is that many mining companies do not have a business case around reducing water intensity equivalent to business models for reducing energy intensity.

As a result, many companies do not have effective water management strategies that integrate with health, safety and environmental departments, preventing opportunities to manage water and energy simultaneously.

Companies like Xylem are there to bridge this gap, helping its mining clients to lower water usage, implement effective water strategies and how to use and recycle waste water sustainably.

Xylem services its mining clients with the view of them forming their own villages, requiring water for both their work and home environment for drinking, bathing and sewage, then the water used for the mining operation itself for raw water, process, utility, tailings dams and dewatering applications.

The company also helps mining operations to use their water more sustainably, by taking the flood water from open pits that would normally be a waste product to treat it and use it within their community as part of their water cycle.

Alternatively, this water can then be sold on and provided to farmers for further use, to return the water to the local environment and community.

Xylem Oceania managing director Jim Athanas says the company helps the industry to achieve sustainable water usage for both financial and environmental benefits.

“The water that comes from mining operations is often quite high in salt and has the safety issue

of flooding as well,” Athanas tells Australian Mining.

“To stop this from impacting operations, we give mining companies the ability to remove this water safely and deal with it in a sustainable way and return it back to the environment.”

Depending on where the water is sourced from and the minerals it contains, Xylem is able to condition, pump, filter and disinfect the water using ultra-violent or ozone to make the water safe for everyday use.

Athanas says every process Xylem undertakes is with sustainability in mind, being conscious of the footprint the company is leaving behind it.

“We have technologies that minimise our environmental footprint and are also very efficient as we as a company are very conscious of our environmental footprint,” he says.

“Some areas in Western Australia, for example have hyper saline water and once we move and treat that water it can be

A XYLEM TEAM MEMBER AT THE COMPANY’S KALGOORLIE SITE.

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processed and reused.

“Xylem supports mining operations throughout the whole water cycle and because we are water domain experts we have the talent, people, resources and infrastructure to deliver a full service for both the operations and mine camp side.”

With mining communities often being in arid, country locations, water sustainability is regularly a core priority for these regions, so mines often operate under strict environmental criteria.

As well as being able to sell or donate this water to farmers or others within the community mines operate, they can actually use it for the processing plant of the mine site, allowing the water to have a full life cycle at the mine.

“The water we remove and treat can be recycled to be used within that mine’s water circuits in its processing plant or smelter, as part of their processing operations,” Athanas explains.

This helps mining operations to reduce their water usage by up to a third if it is implemented with water recycling initiatives.

Xylem pumps are also made from extremely durable materials that can be placed underground for long periods of time, which lowers maintenance costs and downtime, and extends the life of equipment on the mine site.

In addition to saving water costs and usage, Athanas says Xylem helps mining companies to slash their energy costs by 10 to 20 per cent with the company’s efficient pumping solutions.

“Xylem pumps have very efficient motors and combined with our technology, which ensures our pumping has minimal electricity, fuel usage and pollution,” he says.

Xylem’s water sustainability philosophy isn’t just present in its services to mining and other industries though.

Through its social responsibility program, called Watermark, Xylem works with its customers and suppliers to complete community

projects related to providing and saving water, as well as providing education and access to water around the world.

“Under Watermark, Xylem was able to work with an Aboriginal community near Uluru to provide a water tank and a herb garden to the community,” Athanas says.

“We also work with organisations such as aged care homes, hospitals and schools to provide water recycling facilities and donate them to those in need under the Watermark banner.

“Xylem encourages our people to work alongside customers, suppliers and within their branch network to do positive things in the communities we serve.”

With 13 branches across the Oceania region, in locations strategic to mining communities such as Kalgoorlie (Western Australia), Mt Isa (Queensland) and Orange (New South Wales), the benefits

of Watermark can reach regions in need all over Australia, as well as international projects.

These branches bring Xylem’s full workshop as close as possible to the mining operations and also offer turnkey capital product sales, and rental services incorporating pumping, filtering, disinfection and analytical monitoring solutions to customers.

Xylem’s aim is to create a world where water is accessible for all and businesses are able to create a more sustainable model for their own water usage to help achieve this goal.

“Xylem’s vision is to help create a world where water issues are no longer a barrier for anyone. With Xylem monitoring the water in mining camps and operations, this leaves the mining companies free to focus on the core product while we find the best water solution for them,” Athanas concludes. AM

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THROUGH ITS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM, XYLEM WORKS WITH CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY WATER SAVING PROJECTS.

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PROSPECT AWARDS

PROSPECT AWARDS 2020: A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE INDUSTRY

LAST YEAR’S AWARDS RECOGNISED SOME WELL-KNOWN MINING PERSONALITIES.

WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2020 PROSPECT AWARDS LOOMING, AUSTRALIAN MINING REACHED OUT TO ITS SPONSORS TO STAY ON THE PULSE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE INDUSTRY.

Y

ear 2020 has not been an easy one for the mining industry.

The impact from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath effects, including disruptions in the global supply chain and limitations imposed on local, interstate and international travel, has forced many companies to revisit and make adjustments to their workflows to maintain maximum operational efficiency.

Despite the challenging times, the mining industry has shown great resilience in the face of the crisis. The early introduction of the National Resources Industry COVID-19 Protocols by the Minerals Council of Australia in April, in partnership with Australian

governments, enabled the resources sector to continue operating as an essential industry.

Many mining companies also accelerated their adoption of new technologies and enhanced their safety protocols to put the industry on the path to recovery.

The 2020 Australian Mining Prospect Awards provide an opportunity to reflect on the industry’s performance and the key takeaways from this year’s experiences.

Australian Mining talked to some of the sponsors of this year’s awards to gather their views on the main challenges facing mining and how they think the industry can manage this period.

Dealing with COVID-19 related disruptions was the most recurring AUSTRALIANMINING

and also the most immediate priority brought up by the respondents.

“Without a doubt, the key challenge for the mining industry has been COVID-19,” says Christine Gibbs Stewart, chief executive of Austmine. “The global COVID-19 pandemic has been the greatest challenge that the global economy has faced in a very long time.

“In particular, mining equipment, technology and services (METS) organisations have been deeply impacted by the closure of international and domestic borders.

These closures make it difficult to carry out work on site and to liaise with customers for the development of further businesses. Despite these difficulties, the METS sector has adapted to this scenario and become accustomed to a new digital method of service delivery and connection.”

Austmine has been a long-term supporter of the Australian Mining Prospects Awards and is sponsoring the Innovative Mining Solution Award category in 2020.

“The Australian Mining Prospect Awards and similar events are critical in raising the profile of Australian innovation and technology. They also provide a connection point to partners and customers and hosting key industry conversations,” says Gibbs Stewart.

Putting safety first

More than ever before, 2020 has shone a spotlight on the importance of safety in mining practices.

“If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is more important than safety,” says Ellaina Mackay, national marketing executive at Flexco Australia – the sponsor of this

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year’s Safety Advocate Award.

“This year we’ve had to fundamentally change the way we do business. We pride ourselves on our hands-on approach to support and training, so that we can provide extra value to our customers. During the nation-wide lockdown, we were forced to be innovative in the ways we communicate and provide the same level of service that we’re known for without actually being in front of our customers.”

CRC Industries is another company with a strong focus on workplace safety. Karen Heidtmann, marketing service manager at CRC Industries Australia says the company has continued to support customers by adopting strict safety protocols.

“Obviously no organisation has been immune to the impact of COVID-19. CRC has instigated safety protocols to ensure the safety of its employees, as well as enacted work from home protocols, however we still have people attending the office,” Heidtmann says.

“Over this time, we’ve been in the enviable position of providing our customers with essential products due to having a manufacturing facility at Castle Hill in New South Wales.”

CRC Industries is sponsoring the Mine Manager of the Year Award at the 2020 Prospect Awards.

“Management encompasses so many factors – operational excellence, productivity, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) and environmental safety.

CRC provides products to assist mining managers in their role,” Heidtmann says.

PROSPECT AWARDS

Staying ahead of the curve

As mining companies look to enhance safety in their operations and workforce, there’s been a greater emphasis on adopting technologies, such as remote monitoring and industrial internet of things (IIoT) in mining.

Sensor technology and IIoT solutions provider, ifm, is at the heart of these technological enhancements in the sector, offering a wide range of hardware and software solutions for motion control and safety technologies.

The company is sponsoring the Excellence in IIoT Application Award at the 2020 Prospect Awards.

Rachael Ashfield, marketing manager at ifm efector, believes the constant demand for improved safety, quality, efficiencies and output is at the forefront of developments with new and advanced technologies for mines.

“IIoT has never been more crucial in keeping the Australian mining community at the forefront in the rapidly changing and advancing technologies to keep ahead of the global competition. With the global pandemic gripping the world, development of solutions that give advanced and remote connectivity via the cloud is imperative,” she says.

Ashfield says events like Prospect Awards are instrumental in building the industry’s resilience.

“This has been the most challenging year, both nationally and internationally, where we have all been touched by the global pandemic, which has changed the way we work forever.

Through the Prospect Awards, we can showcase and celebrate how flexible, adaptable and resilient the Australian mining industry is,” Ashfield continues.

Responsible mining

While disruptions from COVID-19 might be the most immediate challenge for the sector to address, there are other medium- and longterm priorities to keep in mind.

“Due to the growing interest towards protecting the environment as well as societal concerns around the impacts of climate change, our customers increasingly need to justify their social license

consumer, where we offer solutions that minimise energy requirements and maximise operational performance. Also, in areas like tailings management, Metso Outotec is well equipped to use its expertise

THE PROSPECT AWARDS CELEBRATE THE MINING INDUSTRY’S TOP TALENTS.

Reducing the environmental impacts, such as the industry’s energy intensity, water consumption and carbon footprint is a top priority for the sector. Metso Outotec, the sponsor of the Excellence in Environmental Management Award, has a strong sustainability culture and is focussed on offering solutions in this space.

AUSTRALIANMINING

to operate,” says Stuart Sneyd, president, Asia Pacific at Metso Outotec.

“We can help our customers reduce their carbon footprint by providing smart, innovative technologies and solutions across the whole value chain from ore to metals. One example is in crushing and grinding, a known high-energy

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through integrated solutions that can involve dewatering, dry stacking and the reprocessing of tailings.”

On July 1, Metso Minerals and Outotec officially merged into a new company, Metso Outotec, to become a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services across the minerals processing, aggregates, metals

PROSPECT AWARDS

THE EVENT WAS STAGED IN BRISBANE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2019.

refining and recycling industries.

Sneyd says the new organisation will also strongly focus on further developing its suite of digitalisation offerings. The company’s experience during COVID-19 has shown that the demand for remote monitoring at site, for example, has accelerated.

Metso Outotec is well positioned, through its technologies and services, to continue supporting and partnering with its customers through such challenges.

“Innovation is key at our company, as illustrated by our research and development (R&D) program.

Metso Outotec’s R&D investments annually are €100 million ($163 million), the highest in the industry.

So, the Prospect Awards dovetail nicely into our focus on excellence and innovation.”

Sustainability continues to be one of the biggest challenges for the mining industry.

CDE Global, the sponsor of the Mineral Processing of the Year Award, is committed to reducing waste in mineral processing.

Kate McCormick, CDE Mining business development manager, says this commitment is reflected not only through CDE’s patented technologies, allowing for clean and energy-saving wet processing operations, but also in the company’s innovative approach to waste management.

“CDE’s technologies open up a new range of possibilities that involve the transformation

of waste ores into valuable highgrade products whilst ultimately eliminating the need for settling ponds and tailings dams,” McCormick says.

CDE Global is also leading the way in the adoption of Industry 4.0 technology tools to allow its customers to have greater control over their plant. The CDE CORE range of technology solutions use automation and sensors to monitor and enhance productivity, minimise downtime, automate processes and lower operating costs, while maximising profitability.

McCormick says CDE’s support of the Prospect Awards is in line with the company’s goal of innovation, excellence and sustainability.

“The Prospect Awards highlight the value of mining and minerals projects that contribute to the local economy every day without compromising on safety and environmental protection. Crucially, the Awards highlight the wealth of talent in the industry by recognising the drive for innovation and ethical values of these projects’ architects,” McCormick says.

“Importantly, the individuals and companies acknowledged for their contributions to next-generation technologies for efficient and ethical site operations become champions in their field, informing wider community members on how sustainable mining and minerals operations inhabit the very core of a thriving, healthy economy.”

AUSTRALIANMINING

Better community engagement While engaging positively with local communities is already a top priority for most major mining companies, Liebherr’s executive general manager sales and marketing – mining, Tom Juric, is of the opinion that the industry needs to do more to remain relevant to the broader community.

“The industry is constantly under the microscope, and yet when mining contributes positively, and in some instances profoundly, these stories don’t make it onto the main stage,” Juric says.

“Whilst this has had some impact, I fear the issue will only get worse, particularly in attracting and developing new talent and the next generation of mining professionals.

“I believe the mining industry has lost relevance to the everyday Australia. Even though, to quote Ian Macfarlane, everything in the room you’re reading this in wasn’t grown.

It was mined.”

He believes events like Prospect Award provide a good opportunity to change this negative perception.

“Awards like this give us a

chance to hear and revel in the achievements of the people within our industry. In a time where good, positive stories are few and far between, these awards provide a respite and a reality check that mining is a dynamic and innovative industry that’s here to stay.”

German technology company, SEW Eurodrive, is another longtime supporter of the awards, sponsoring the Coal Mine of the Year Award since 2013.

The company’s national service manager for gearboxes Daniel Dallari believes the awards provide an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the industry.

“This award acknowledges the nominees who demonstrated the highest level of productivity, efficiency and safety,” he says.

“The awards have also raised awareness to the general public on the importance that the resources industry plays on the Australian economy and people’s livelihoods. That’s why we think it’s important.” AM Nominate at prospectawards.com.au/ nominate/ THE PROSPECT AWARDS WILL RETURN FOR THE 17TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS

MINING’S TOP WOMEN RECOGNISED IN WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS TWO OF THE MINING INDUSTRY’S BRIGHTEST STARS, SARAH WITHELL FROM WHITEHAVEN COAL AND RACHAEL ASHFIELD FROM IFM EFECTOR, HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED AT THE WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS, TAKING OUT THE EXCELLENCE IN MINING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS OF THE YEAR CATEGORIES RESPECTIVELY.

T

he Women in Industry Awards aim to recognise and celebrate women in traditionally male-dominated industries, such as mining, engineering, transport and manufacturing.

Winners are chosen across 10 categories: Excellence in Mining, Excellence in Engineering, Excellence in Transport, Excellence in Manufacturing, Mentor of the Year, Safety Advocacy Award, Industry Advocacy Award, Business Development Success of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Social Leader of the Year.

This year’s awards saw a 27 per cent rise in nominations compared with last year, as well as a record number of individuals, businesses and organisations represented.

WHITEHAVEN COAL EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER HSE, SARAH WITHELL.

The Women in Industry Awards winner for Excellence in Mining this year is Whitehaven Coal executive general manager HSE, Sarah Withell. She started her mining career as a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) environmental scientist at a remote operation in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia.

From there, Withell launched a career that has since spanned two decades by expanding her knowledge to work in health, safety, environment and community roles.

During the past 10 years, Withell has

THE WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS CELEBRATE ACHIEVEMENTS ACROSS THE MINING, ENGINEERING, TRANSPORT AND MANUFACTURING SECTORS.

moved into senior leadership teams for some of Australia’s biggest coal operations.

This includes being a member of the BHP Minerals Australia health and safety environment (HSE) leadership team, providing guidance and support to more than 18,000 workers. In this role, Withell partnered with senior leaders in the business to set the strategic direction and performance of two of BHP’s biggest coal assets.

Reporting to the Minerals Australia vice president for HSE, this put Withell two levels below the BHP Minerals Australia president and three levels below BHP chief executive officer, Mike Henry.

Additionally, Withell is a member of the New South Wales Minerals Council’s environment and community committee, bringing industry professionals together to discuss pertinent issues and opportunities at local, regional and state levels.

She is also part of the NSW Mineral Council’s HSE and community conference steering AUSTRALIANMINING

committee, with her contributions in this space resulting in program improvements for the organisation.

Withell was the first female head of health safety and environment within BHP’s New South Wales business and the first female member of the New South Wales energy coal asset leadership team,

IFM EFECTOR MARKETING MANAGER, RACHAEL ASHFIELD.

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which helped her to identify issues particularly relevant for women in the industry.

She also started a family prior to parental leave policies being fully developed in the mining industry, so she took it upon herself to forge this new ground, allowing all women to benefit from this as well.

After experiencing the difficulties of returning to work while breastfeeding, Withell was instrumental in introducing a dedicated parent’s room at the Mt Arthur coal mine in New South Wales.

This allowed her and other parents to return to work while breastfeeding and have a safe, relaxing, private and hygienic space to do so.

Recognised for her leadership qualities and passion for supporting women and future female leaders, Withell has spent the past four years involved in the WIMnet New South Wales mentoring program and actively mentored within BHP. Withell has replicated her work to diversify mine sites within her own team, where she achieved more than

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS

40 per cent female representation, 30 per cent female leaders and 8 per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation across her staff.

In addition to striving to hire a diverse workforce, Withell holds regular development discussions with her team members to continue work to remove barriers for female workers, promoting flexible work to all team members, both males and females, showing that this indirectly supports work for other females.

With this impressive resume, Withell is a worthy winner of the Women in Industry Awards title for Excellence in Mining.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2020 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS HAVE RISEN BY 27 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 2019.

The many courses to success

After sticking with the same company for almost 20 years, ifm efector marketing manager Rachael Ashfield knows a thing or two about how to grow the business.

As the recipient of the Business Development Success of the Year award at the 2020 Women in Industry Awards, Ashfield has been commended for a number of innovative campaigns that have grown ifm in the food/beverage manufacturing and mining sectors.

Ashfield’s role sees her develop a number of marketing and communications campaigns to

expand its customer base for ifm sensor technology and equipment. ifm’s products are applicable to a number of industries and fully embrace the advantages of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) 4.0 technology through its sensors and automated technology.

Ashfield’s long-standing career with ifm has resulted in developing a deep understanding towards automation technology – starting in administration and working her way up to the company’s marketing manager.

E Q U I P M E N T

.

P A R T S

Her colourful role has helped strengthen ifm’s national and international presence. Ashfield has developed relationships with publishers, trade event companies and cartage contractors, which previously she had no relationships with.

She has also familiarised herself with a number of industries that were foreign to her prior to starting her career at ifm.

Harbouring this knowledge, Ashfield has identified that a stronger presence in sector-targeted

.

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advertising and marketing was needed.

Growth areas for ifm that Ashfield identified included the mining sector and food/beverage manufacturing.

In the past year, Ashfield has launched two campaigns that have enhanced ifm’s visibility in the Australian market, along with being utilised by ifm’s global marketing out of Germany.

One of the two campaigns was directed at mining, where Ashfield

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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS

THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN APPLAUDED FOR THE HIGH CALIBRE OF ITS NOMINEES THIS YEAR.

helped develop an animated marketing campaign that focusses on the safety aspects of ifm’s solutions for the mining industry.

In 2019, Ashfield launched the ‘Still Working’ campaign, with part two released this year. It is designed to show that ifm’s sensors can withstand extreme situations and conditions to highlight the robustness of the products.

The ‘Still Working’ campaign’s innovative approached followed a ‘mythbusters’ video format and featured ifm employees well known in industry circles, showing the equipment still works at the end of harsh condition testing.

The videos are designed to be fun and unique to ifm – demonstrating the company’s business model as a likeable, playful yet reliable and solid “out-of-the-box” business.

Ashfield also worked alongside a web development team (stillworking. com.au) to complement the videos and to emphasise the messaging behind the campaign.

The campaign received praise from ifm’s Asia marketing team, followed by the company’s top German team, which has since instructed each country to replicate it for their own markets.

Ashfield’s innovation behind this campaign allowed her to achieve global-ifm status due to her ability to look outside of the box using a multifaceted approach to expanding

the company’s market presence.

Being the front-runners of Women in Industry Awards does not only affect the winners themselves, or even their company and industry, but also those who have the privilege of recognising their achievements.

Christine Gibbs-Stewart, a 2020 judge and recipient of a Women in Industry Award in 2016, is humbled to be in their company.

“As a judge, it was great to read each applicant’s inspirational story. Each is unique and should be told, and these awards are a great way to do that,” the Austmine chief executive says.

“We have been a supporter of the Women in Industry Awards for many years as it is great to recognise the achievements of some amazing women.”

The 2020 winners and nominees are regarded as “strong and influential women”, who have led positive change across Australia.

“Hearing their stories is not only inspiring but shows the steps the industry is making to reach gender equality,” Women in Industry judge and Tradeswomen Australia head of operations Angela Gaylard says.

Another Women in Industry judge and National Committee for Women in Engineering 2020 chair, Hayley Rohrlach, says the quality of nominees she reviewed are impressive. She had a hard time splitting a number of the nominees and felt it unfair to not be able to AUSTRALIANMINING

give a full mark to each of them.

This goes to show the number of high performing female engineers throughout all stages of careers.

Rohrlach isn’t the only one who says it was challenging to be a judge for Women in Industry Awards. National Association of Women in Operations board member Melissa Donald also had a challenging time judging due to the impressive calibre of nominees.

They include mentors who are committed to developing women in the sector, industry advocates who have positively shaped the portrayal of the sector and social leaders who have influenced change across the broader community.

The diversity of manufacturers that put forward nominees also left an impression on Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre director, corporate affairs, Kelly Godeau.

“We saw nominations from some of Australia’s largest businesses through to smaller companies that expressed the same (huge) pride for the work their female staff contributed,” she says.

“The level of commitment these nominees dedicated to their roles exceeded what would be deemed necessary.

“Many sacrificed personal time to get things done to ensure a safer workplace, better policies, encouraging more women and younger girls into manufacturing, and lifted

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the perception of what it meant to work in Australian manufacturing.”

But Women in Industry judge and Institute of Quarrying Australia chief executive Kylie Fahey says that one thing stood out in each application: a genuine commitment and passion to improve the industry.

“The awards promote the contribution of women and support the broader agenda of diversity and inclusion,” she says.

“By highlighting and celebrating the contribution of women to the industry, we can encourage more women into careers, help increase representation in leadership roles and support change.”

Driving forces behind Women in Industry

Atlas Copco, a long-term supporter of the Women in Industry Awards, came back this year as the sponsor of the Rising Star of the Year award.

As a global manufacturer of air compressors, vacuum pumps and industrial gas equipment, with offices in major cities across the globe, Atlas Copco has always maintained a strong focus on diversity and inclusion.

Atlas Copco’s commitment to creating an inclusive work environment for its employees is reflected in their commitment to supporting the Women in Industry Awards, five years in a row.

In the words of the company’s

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS

spokesperson, “The Women in Industry Awards is a special way in which we can show our commitment to advancing the gender balance in industry.”

“As a global company, Atlas Copco recognises the link between diversity and innovation and as we say: ‘there is always a better way’ and contributing to these awards is just one way that we can show that Atlas Copco recognises the talent and achievement of females across our industry.”

Another long-term sponsor, BOC, has been supporting the Women in Industry Awards for the past six years. This year, the company came back to support the Safety Advocacy Awards.

For over 80 years, BOC has been producing high-quality gas throughout the South Pacific, using local talent and resources. Given the nature of the industry, it is not hard to imagine why safety is a priority for BOC when it comes to the awards’ sponsorship.

“We strive to constantly improve safety for our staff, customers and our community,” says the BOC spokesperson.

This year too, BOC was impressed with the calibre of nominees and winners at the Awards.

“The calibre of nominees and

winners each year demonstrates considerable leadership and commitment to their various sectors, and aligns with BOC’s focus on the pursuit of excellence in industry.

“BOC believes the awards are an important event, and it’s critical companies continue to support the participation of women in industry and shine the light on the women who are true role models in leadership,” the company states.

The Excellence in Engineering Award was sponsored by BAE Systems Australia. As one of the largest employers of engineers in the country, BAE Systems has a strong focus on gender diversity.

“We have female engineers to thank for many of the world’s greatest innovations yet they make up only 12 per cent of engineers employed in Australia,” the company continues.

Some of the focus areas of BAE Systems to improve gender diversity within the team include: Flexibility in the workplace, advancing gender balance and offering opportunities in education. Current BAE Systems’ initiatives in this area include partnerships with the Foundation for the Inspiration of Science and Technology (FIRST), Northern Advanced Manufacturing Industry Group (NAMIG), and the University

of South Australia.

“Awards such as these are important to not only celebrate achievement but to also provide inspiration to others to break down barriers, and excel in the engineering industry,” the company adds.

The Women in Industry Awards 2020 once again highlighted the achievements of women in the

mining industry, as well as in manufacturing, road transport, logistics, rail and bulk handling, infrastructure and engineering.

Above all, the awards provide an opportunity for companies to learn from each other’s experiences and get inspired to extend their support for more inclusion and diversity across the sector. AM

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY 2020 WINNERS SOCIAL LEADER OF THE YEAR Jackie Lewis-Gray - BAE Systems Australia

MENTOR OF THE YEAR Dayle Stevens - AGL Energy

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR Alicia Heskett - Shell Australia (QGC)

EXCELLENCE IN MANUFACTURING Rochelle Avinu - Leica Biosystems

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS OF THE YEAR Rachael Ashfield - ifm efector INDUSTRY ADVOCACY AWARD Rose Read - National Waste & Recycling Industry Council SAFETY ADVOCACY AWARD Nadine Youssef - Sydney Trains

EXCELLENCE IN MINING Sarah Withell - Whitehaven Coal EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING Elizabeth Taylor - RedR International EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORT Melissa Strong - Lindsay Australia

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DEFYING THE TREND: NO SIGN OF SLOWDOWN FOR FENNER DUNLOP

THE KWINANA PLANT STEEL CORD PRESS LINES MEASURE 18.5 METRES IN LENGTH.

THE MINING INDUSTRY’S INCREASING DEMAND FOR EFFICIENT CONVEYOR BELT SOLUTIONS HAS DRIVEN CONVEYOR BELT MANUFACTURER, FENNER DUNLOP, TO EXPAND ITS WESTERN AUSTRALIA MANUFACTURING FACILITY TO KEEP UP.

W

hile many Australian manufacturers have seen a slowdown in business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, conveyor company Fenner Dunlop is defying this trend by investing in more production capacity.

After investing $70 million to build its steel cord plant at Kwinana in Western Australia in 2009, Fenner Dunlop spent another $20 million in 2013 to double the plant’s production capacity by installing a second press line.

In July this year, the company announced a decision to invest a further $23.5 million to commission a third press line for the plant, boosting its capacity by another 50 per cent.

Fenner Dunlop chief operating officer Steve Abbott believes the company’s consistent growth has been in line with its mining clients’ objectives of higher production efficiencies and “near-field” mine developments.

“Over the past years, demand for

conveyors has followed the general trends in mining, which is a demand for increased productivity, production volumes and speed. To keep pace with the requirements of our mining clients, we have had to invest in manufacturing stronger and wider belts,” he tells Australian Mining.

“Our plan has always been to make incremental investments when the existing capacity becomes constrained, going from one to two to three press lines at Kwinana. We will eventually fill that capacity and look for further incremental investments once another constraint emerges.

“Last year, we invested in a new idler plant in Brisbane, which is approaching a capacity constraint. By the end of the year we will open a new state-of-the art pulley manufacturing facility, also in Brisbane.”

The Kwinana plant is Fenner Dunlop’s 15th global conveyor belt manufacturing facility and its fourth steel cord plant. The facility currently houses two of the world’s largest steel cord press lines, measuring 18.5 metres in length and having the capability to produce steel cord and rubber ply belts AUSTRALIANMINING

up to 3200 millimetres wide and up to 50 millimetres thick.

Kwinana’s third press line, which is expected to become operational

by January 2022, will increase the plant’s belt making capacity by 50 per cent per year.

For the third press line, Fenner Dunlop has again partnered with German company Siempelkamp to develop a 18.5-metre long multipiston press line, offering enhanced features to produce ply belts more efficiently, Abbott says.

“The technology that we use at Kwinana is the best in class. Being German-manufactured, the press line is designed to last many decades. One of the key features that helps increase the plant’s efficiency is that the press line can be set up for the next job even as the current order is being processed, which offers significant time and costsavings,” Abbott says, While many companies are moving their manufacturing operations offshore, Abbott says Fenner Dunlop is proud to be manufacturing close to its key mining clients in Western Australia, while still maintaining its

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globally competitive prices.

“One of the main reasons why we are keeping our cost competitiveness is our focus on efficiency and making investments in the plant. We are an extremely efficient producer,” he says.

“The size and quality of the equipment, the commitment of the team to make sure we are efficient with raw material sourcing and that there’s no waste, these are things that

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we have really been focussed on over the past years and that’s put us in a price-competitive position.”

Another factor behind Fenner Dunlop’s success, according to Abbott, has been focussing on providing complete conveyor system solutions.

“In 2012 we developed the business model of engineering conveyor solutions. Our focus has been on being the best in class in providing solutions to customers in total conveyor systems. We’ve been consistent in this focus and have developed a great team with a shared ambition to succeed,” Abbott says.

“It’s been an eight-year journey, but I think now we are seeing the benefit, where increased demand from our customers has prompted us to invest more in our people, as well as in building more capacity.

“We’ve recently extended contracts with come of our largest customers and in their assessments, we’ve ranked first in factors such as product quality, security of supply, technical support, continuous improvement and innovation and lead time. It is our focus on these factors that has placed us at that number one spot with our customers.”

In 2018, Fenner Dunlop was

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acquired by the multinational tyre manufacturer, Michelin. Abbott says the acquisition has not changed the way the business is operated internally, but it has assisted with transfer of technical knowhow from Michelin.

“Both Fenner Dunlop and Michelin have an ambitious goal to improve in the re-use and recycling of used conveyor belts and tyres. It’s a big challenge, not just for us, but for the industry as a whole,” he says.

“But we are taking a long-term approach to make sure that we put our business in a position that we can meet our customers’ requirements, while also meeting our environmental goals.”

Having spent heavily on technology improvements and research and development over the years, Abbott hints that Fenner Dunlop is also at the cusp of introducing new technology for conveyor system performance monitoring.

“Over the past 12 months, we’ve been investing heavily on technology that will help us gather better information to monitor the performance of conveyor systems in general. We hope to be able to announce some big news in the fourth quarter of this year, which will be a game-changer for the industry.”

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REMOVING FIFO REQUIREMENTS WITH DIGITAL TWINNING

DIGITAL TWINNING TECHNOLOGY CAN PREVENT MINE WORKERS FROM HAVING TO TRAVEL TO WORK.

DIGITAL TWINNING AUSTRALIA’S VIRTUAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY ARE REDUCING THE NEED FOR FLY-IN, FLY-OUT TRAVEL, ALLOWING WORKERS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

A

ustralia has endured its fair share of isolation this year.

With the advent of border and travel restrictions, a chunk of the country’s fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mining workforce had its wings clipped, barred from interstate travel.

Some workers have been forced to leave their family behind on the other side of the country and reside in a different state that is close to their workplace for the sake of their livelihoods.

According to the Western Australian Government, between 5000 to 6000 FIFO workers employed at mining or oil and gas sites travel to the state from Australia’s east.

Prior to the pandemic, FIFO employees were often stuck in arid, desolate locations for weeks and even months at a time. The mental toll of this line of work is often overlooked.

In 2018, the Western Australian Mental Health Commission studied the impacts of FIFO travel on the mental health and well-being of FIFO workers, with heightened feelings of anxiety and depression being common factors.

One third of FIFO workers in the study reported either ‘high’ or ‘very

high’ levels of psychological distress.

A tragic outcome of this is that many FIFO workers have developed a dependency on drugs or alcohol, which can lead them down a rabbit hole and negatively impact their health and wellbeing.

Digital Twinning Australia chief executive officer Genéne Kleppe understands the impact that FIFO travel can have on workers.

DYNAMIC DIGITAL TWINNING WON’T TAKE AWAY JOBS IT WILL REINVENT JOBS. FIFO WORKERS WILL BECOME RIRO WORKERS – PHYSICALLY IN-SITU TO VIRTUAL IN-SITU.” “Digital twinning technology made a huge difference to me,” she tells Australian Mining. “I’m sympathetic because I actually understand what it’s like to travel that much.”

With an extensive career as a professional in the mining industry, Kleppe has often been required to work away from home for long periods. She has witnessed many AUSTRALIANMINING

people in the industry longing for more physical interaction with their family.

Sporting dynamic digital twinning technology, Digital Twinning Australia introduces a virtual environment to a mine site, allowing workers to remotely monitor and interact with the digital twin of an operation.

It can be accessed via a computer and fully embraces the complete benefits of automated technology.

With the industry embracing technology more than ever, digital twinning is set to assist the mining workforce with improved reliability and productivity through data analysis of critical systems.

“A critical system is a core system that is fundamental to delivering product at the lowest cost,” Kleppe says. “Our ability to access critical systems has happened, is happening and can only truly be achieved with a dynamic digital twin.”

For Kleppe, this has enabled jobs to be RIRO – remote in, remote out.

She says workers benefit from RIRO by being at home with their families at the end of each shift.

“FIFO workers need to balance coping with isolation one week and re-entry trauma the next.

Significantly reducing or removing FIFO will go a long way to reducing reliance on drugs and alcohol as a

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SEPTEMBER 2020

means of coping with the distress associated with such extremes in emotional wellbeing,” she says.

Digital twinning requires operating data to replicate a physical operation, which allows the mine’s engineers, geologists and managers to all access the site remotely.

“Today, when an alert goes off a worker advises another worker who will go and have a look, see what needs to be fixed (if anything) and bring others into the investigation,” Kleppe explains.

“With a dynamic digital twin, sending people off or waiting for people to arrive to complete the investigation is averted. People can virtually investigate and participate in a conversation from anywhere, without needing to be physically in-situ.”

Digital twinning technology also removes the need for workers to operate in hazardous environments, while also improving their mental health and wellbeing by moving onsite jobs to a computer screen.

“Coupling safety in design with digital twinning capability is a significant game changer for physical risk,” Kleppe says. “Digital twinning is going to reduce the requirement for FIFO workers to be FIFO workers.”

Kleppe says this can improve mental health by allowing workers to have a

TECHNOLOGY

much more stable and healthy family unit by preventing interstate work.

“FIFO workers are moving from being on site, and therefore isolated, to being back with their family, which means having to connect to routines they don’t normally belong to and fitting in with everybody else’s plans,” Kleppe says.

“RIRO means they’ll be more connected to their social environments and if they become part of it, then the argument says drug and alcohol abuse will decline and domestic violence will decrease as a result.

“Dynamic digital twinning won’t take away jobs it will reinvent jobs.

FIFO workers will become RIRO workers – physically in-situ to virtual in-situ.”

Kleppe believes the mining industry’s workforce may look very different in years to come, thanks to the advancements of digital twinning technology.

She says Digital Twinning’s technology will also enable workers to have a “cool, modern and trendy” job.

“Mum and dad walking around the back yard with a computer and goggles fixing the turbine, or for show and tell at school mum drops a hologram and shows the class what she does – which is way cooler than driving a Hilux,” Kleppe says.

DIGITAL TWINNING AUSTRALIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GENÉNE KLEPPE.

And the idea of both dad and mum working in a mine is made possible with digital twinning, allowing for what Kleppe describes as “gender neutral” jobs for the next generation.

“Digital jobs are and will continue to develop into being gender-

neutral,” Kleppe says.

“Digital Twinning Australia has a demonstration site in a girls’ school, using dynamic digital twinning of buildings we are introducing girls to modern technologies, showing them how the sun makes electricity, what

a virtual power plant looks like, how water is wasted and used.

“These children will be technology, data and digitally ready when they leave school. These children will help us define what the future jobs will look like.” AM

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TECHNOLOGY

OPENING AUSTRALIAN SKIES TO AUSTRALIAN MINES DRONEDEPLOY’S EXPERTISE IN DRONE AERIAL DATA SERVICES IS TRANSFORMING THE WAY MINE SITES ARE OPERATED AND MAINTAINED AS THE COMPANY NOW TAKES FLIGHT IN AUSTRALIA. NICKOLAS ZAKHARIA WRITES.

T

he world is in a vastly different space to where it was 12 months ago.

With social distancing the new norm for at least the remainder of the year, major industries are looking for different ways to enhance workflows and improve efficiencies.

Drones were already on their way to becoming a highly utilised technology in mining prior to the pandemic, but this year’s unprecedented events have elevated their status as a necessity to many operations where workers are not allowed on site.

With the arrival of Industry 4.0’s datacentric technologies and digital solutions, DroneDeploy’s platformas-a-service has landed in Australia.

DroneDeploy offers various industries a user-friendly platform that improves workflows using drone data, including image processing, data storage, 3D models and real-time sharable drone maps – all accessible remotely via the cloud.

Since its founding in 2013, DroneDeploy has introduced the world to an abundance of solutions made possible with drone technology.

With a local DroneDeploy office opening in Sydney, the company has its sights set on strengthening its presence in the Asia Pacific region.

“Australia-New Zealand is the fastest growing region for DroneDeploy internationally speaking,” DroneDeploy Asia Pacific general manager Adam Savage tells Australian Mining.

“We’re building the foundation for the future operations here regionally and are really excited about the opportunity within this market.

“With the advent of more insights

DRONEDEPLOY ENABLES INVENTORY AND MATERIAL MANAGEMENT REMOTELY FROM YOUR COMPUTER.

required in order to reduce risk and increase operational efficiency, this is driving us to that next wave of innovation.

“Industry 4.0 is the next level of efficiency and operational best practice that you can continue to

drive in your field of operations. And ultimately, I think that we’re well positioned to augment that notion and actually lead the market from a platform perspective.”

Co-founders Mike Winn, Jono Millin and Nicholas Pilkington first

DRONEDEPLOY’S SOFTWARE ALSO ALLOWS USERS TO VIEW A 3D MODEL OF A MINE.

AUSTRALIANMINING

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SEPTEMBER 2020

created DroneDeploy to combat poaching in South Africa. The company has since grown into a global enterprise, with more than 200 countries using its drone software worldwide.

DroneDeploy acts as the catalyst for developers, hardware partners and pilots to support operations across mining and other industries, with its customers mapping over 150 million acres and helping support 400,000 job sites with drone technology.

In mining, DroneDeploy can enhance planning, excavation, stockpile management, maintenance and safety.

“We enable mining companies to get a wider, three dimensional perspective of the environment in a safer, at height way,” Savage says.

“We aim to reduce downtime by reporting progress and efficiently managing your logistics. Effectively you’re visualising and measuring these paths to success and making sure that all of your systems and processes are kept running in the field of operations.”

DroneDeploy also has the ability to accurately measure mining assets that traditionally rely on estimates from an operator in the field, such as resource stockpile estimates. Savage says they have historically not been as reliable or time urgent as desired.

“We enable those workers to be removed out of harm’s way and DroneDeploy allows the drone to go into what may be considered even more hazardous situations – but safely,” Savage explains By implementing machine learning, DroneDeploy has enabled its software to help organisations automatically detect when maintenance is required.

“With machine learning you can

TECHNOLOGY

take images of what is a piece of equipment in good condition,” Savage says. “So, when you get a piece of equipment that’s corroded you can automatically identify the differences, and act on remediation procedures in near real-time.”

The company describes drones as the ideal ‘socially distant worker,’ providing an eye in the sky for operations when a workforce is forced to operate remotely.

This notion has been emphasised throughout COVID-19, as drone demand has grown with an industry that is well aware of the risk a global pandemic poses to business operations, not to mention numerous on-site hazards that are ever-present.

“Thousands of companies were forced to navigate the widespread shutdowns when the pandemic hit, so for those that were using drones, they found they could still carry on,” Savage says.

“The socially distant field operatives (drones) need to be managed like human beings. But now we can continue to go on site and map, we don’t need to bring a whole lot of folks in.”

While there is a growing interest and enthusiasm from the Asia Pacific market for drone and data-focussed technologies in the mining industry, privacy concerns over data remain an issue. DroneDeploy, however, has pledged to keep customer data secure and private.

“This is about us offering your data to your processes, opposed to thinking your data is somehow now our data. It’s a big change in thinking – especially in the mining industry,” Savage says.

“I think the way the market is responding is they’re saying, ‘I get it, I understand the return of investment and the business case for why unmanned vehicles need to be in our

DRONEDEPLOY CAN ENHANCE PLANNING, EXCAVATION, STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY FOR MINING OPERATIONS.

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digital transformation in our digital ingestion and input. Now it is about developing robust, standard operating procedures and enterprise grade platform integrations to key systems of record feeding downstream critical infield processes and procedures.’”

With deep philanthropic roots, DroneDeploy also combines its knowledge with local governments and environmental organisations. The

company is working with organisations, such as CSIRO, the Institute of Marine Science and GBRMPA to monitor Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef.

“Through various channels of enquiry, the government in Australia is excited to speak to us about programs such as those with CSIRO, AIMS and Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority, which we play a crucial part in,” Savage says.

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“Part of the benefit is in helping understand what’s best practice in building out and scaling a drone operation and bring that knowledge to the market.”

The sky is the limit for the DroneDeploy team, which believes the future will further elevate the possibilities involved with drones and drone data.

“It’s going to be delivered through a number of different ingestion techniques, so a range of robotics, a range of cameras and industry advancements in photography, AI, and so on – all in the aim to eliminate more risk and improve efficiencies,” Savage says.

“The world is losing staff in many, many companies. We’ve got a lot of impact to deal with. And how do you keep the lights on? You have to look at the Industry 4.0 tell-tale signs.

And I think that’s what’s happening.

“Our mission is to make the skies and drone technology accessible to everyone. We’re just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to machine learning and figuring out how to leverage the data that drones capture.” AM

MINING SERVICES

ITM’S EAST COAST OPERATIONS SERVICE COAL MINES ACROSS QUEENSLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES.

ITM KEEPS UNDERCARRIAGES ROLLING FROM COAST TO COAST ITM IS HELPING AUSTRALIAN MINES MAINTAIN THEIR UNDERCARRIAGE SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SERVICING IRON ORE AND GOLD MINES IN THE WEST AND COAL OPERATIONS IN THE EAST. MANAGING DIRECTOR ADRIAN BATTLEY DISCUSSES THE COMPANY’S PRESENCE IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA.

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egardless of the commodity being carried, Australia’s terrain can be tough on equipment. ITM has established the knowledge and facilities to maintain and repair this impact on a range of undercarriages, dozers and excavators.

While different commodities can have a varying level of impact on

mining equipment, ITM managing director Adrian Battley says the key to extending equipment life is preventative maintenance.

At its east coast warehouse in Yatala, south of Brisbane, ITM has a dedicated team that supports predominantly coal mining operations, ensuring machine undercarriages stay in working condition for as long as possible.

“Our eastern seaboard customers

are primarily coal producers rather than iron ore and gold like our Western Australian warehouse,” Battley tells Australian Mining.

“While it’s a different market from the west, our service does not differ a great deal, we are dedicated to keeping machines going for longer and ensuring they are less fatigued.”

ITM seeks direct feedback from both the eastern and western markets to ensure its solutions are reflective

ITM KEEPS MINING OPERATIONS’ UNDERCARRIAGE SOLUTIONS AT ITS EAST AND WEST COAST OPERATIONS.

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of its market’s requirements and for longer machine life.

The company takes this feedback directly to its factories and makes the necessary alterations to the equipment at the factory level.

“We listen to our customers for their experiences with wear rate and design faults on their equipment and correct those issues,” Battley says.

“ITM has made changes across shovel and dozer undercarriages to make them more durable and longer lasting.”

Undercarriage maintenance is some of the most important ongoing work over a machine’s life, as about 50 per cent of maintenance costs over the life of equipment can be attributed to the undercarriage, according to Battley.

By tending to known problem areas, ITM helps its clients to identify different environmental factors that may put their equipment under further stress.

For example, weather patterns in northern Queensland differ vastly from those at the sites ITM services in Western Australia, so the eastern and western teams have different solutions for different weather problems.

“Some of the most common failures for machines like excavators and dozers are tight or loose tracks contributing to undercarriage failures,” Battley explains.

“Tight tracks can occur

MINING SERVICES

particularly during wet seasons, like what our eastern clients get in central and northern Queensland and the Hunter Valley (in New South Wales) during winter.

“When you’ve got lots of rain packing into the undercarriage that stretches the track and lots of mud and dirt can get into the system which starts wearing and breaking.”

With unplanned maintenance costing mining companies in productivity and follow-up capital, ITM predicts issues on site and completes preventative repair work before failures occur to save valuable time down the track.

With the ITM Global brand’s worldwide reach and decades of experience, in addition to the local focus of the Australian branch, ITM aims to keep mining equipment rolling for longer with preventative maintenance and care.

The Australian operation may be a younger branch of the company, but it already manufactures and services undercarriages for some of the largest original equipment

ACCORDING TO ITM, THE KEY TO EXTENDING EQUIPMENT LIFE IS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.

manufacturers (OEMs) across the market, including Liebherr, Komatsu, Hitachi and Caterpillar.

Just 40 kilometres south of Brisbane, the east coast branch offers a small but personalised service to clients in a strategic location.

It is well placed for clients in key Central Queensland coal regions

like the Bowen Basin and for those to the south in the Hunter Valley coalfields.

“We have our dedicated track frame rebuild centre for excavators and dozers in the same space where we can do everything from stripping equipment down to weld and crack repairs or OEM rolling stock,”

Battley says.

“With our two track benches in our workshop we can complete pin and brush turns for drills and excavators and any repairs on sealed and lubricated tracks. Whatever it is our customers require we will be there for them and be flexible to their needs.” AM

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DRILL & BLAST

AT THE SUMMIT OF THE GLOBAL MINING EXPLOSIVES INDUSTRY AECI MINING IS STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN THE GLOBAL MINING MARKETPLACE

BY INTEGRATING A NEW BRAND AND INCREASING A FOCUS ON OFFERING ITS CUSTOMERS MORE HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS.

A

ECI Mining’s strategic global expansion drive compels the company to be increasingly cognisant of the international environment and focus its research and development (R&D) efforts to satisfy a much more diverse market.

The strategy is underpinned by the company’s unique ability to design and manufacture products and solutions, which can solve the intricate challenges faced by miners all over the world.

While these efforts are coupled with enhancing AECI Mining’s distinguished brand, the company remains steadfast in its quest to operate safely and sustainably without any harm to people or the environment.

AECI Mining continues to place a strong focus on repositioning itself as a strategic partner in the value chain of its mining customers.

The AECI Mining Pillar was strategically devised by integrating AECI Mining Explosives (AEL Intelligent Blasting) and AECI Mining Chemicals (Senmin) as a

THE AECI MINING PILLAR IS AN INTEGRATION OF AECI MINING EXPLOSIVES AND AECI MINING CHEMICALS.

means of bolstering the broader mining value chain.

The new brand has rejuvenated the group’s position in the mining industry.

By leveraging both the strong brand and the group’s innovation drive, AECI Mining is energised by the potential this integration holds in the evolving mining market.

Excited about the company’s future

opportunities, AECI Mining managing director Edwin Ludick says the new brand has been well received.

“By providing a combined solution to the market, we are optimising on opportunities with our customers and growing our footprint globally,” Ludick says.

“Through effective collaboration with all stakeholders, AECI Mining is

AECI MINING EXPLOSIVE’S INDUSTRY LEADING RANGE OF EMULSIONS.

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increasing its contribution and focus on digitised mining, to ensure that we lead the market within this space.”

Global expansion

The venture is already yielding results, with the company finalising an acquisition of Brazilian explosives manufacturer, Dinacon.

The transaction includes full

DRILL & BLAST

ownership of a bulk emulsion plant, packaged explosives manufacturing facility, licensed storage facilities and distribution networks. The agreement was settled in the first half of 2020.

It provides AECI Mining Explosives with a platform from which to grow, not only in Brazil, but across Latin America. Peru and Chile, two established mining destinations in the region, have also been flagged as key growth markets for the company alongside Brazil.

Dinacon’s Lorena facilities mainly serve the Brazilian construction and civil blasting industry, but had limited exposure to the country’s mining sector, something that AECI Mining will focus on changing.

Ludick says there are significant opportunities to grow the Dinacon business under AECI’s ownership.

The group will leverage its experience in underground and surface mining to achieve this. Ludick believes AECI Mining’s existing relationships with global mining customers will stand the company in good stead in Latin America.

Cutting-edge innovations

IntelliBlast underscores AECI Mining’s intelligence, experience, R&D, and offers a holistic and flexible approach to help customers on their unique journey to optimal blast outcomes.

IntelliBlast demonstrates to customers that AECI Mining is perfectly positioned to deploy seamlessly into their operations through the use of its innovative and agile products and services.

This offering is underpinned by four main enablers: adaptable delivery systems, blast consult, intelligent software and differentiated products.

AECI Mining’s growth is supported by sustained investment in R&D to keep its operations at the frontier of

INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION ARE THE MAIN DRIVERS IN AECI MINING’S GLOBAL EXPANSION STRATEGY.

technology to deliver innovation and state-of-the-art solutions.

Ludick says a strong R&D drive puts the company at the forefront of cuttingedge innovation. An example of this is the company’s focus on autonomous mobile manufacturing units (MMUs), which are set to usher in new standards in the explosives industry.

“In future, we will see autonomous MMUs with patented technology and smart-loading capabilities, which will intelligently deliver explosives according to GPS coordinates positioning,” Ludick says.

“We believe that going autonomous will significantly contribute to improving safety and accuracy in blasting processes.”

AECI Mining Explosives product manager Ritzema Nel says a significant development that bolsters its emulsions offering is the Powergel X2 range.

The solution is designed for surface

mining applications, where extreme blasting conditions, such as hot holes and reactive ground, or a combination of both conditions, exist. The product was introduced to the market in the first half of 2020.

“Powergel X2 is a revolutionary breakthrough,” explains Nel, who adds that most other products available in the market cater for either reactive ground or hot holes, but not both.

The product was developed and tested by some of the most dedicated and creative minds from AECI Mining’s R&D department.

Its other key benefits include eliminating the need to use plastic sleeving in reactive holes.

Meanwhile, AECI Mining Explosives has broken new ground with its underground emulsion at the Khoemacau copper project in Botswana. This is the first time since the Gautrain project in South Africa

that the product has been deployed at an operation of this magnitude.

So far, results have been excellent and the project is consistently exceeding targeted milestones.

The company is also excited about a venture in Zambia and the success it has recorded with its Vertical Drop technology, delivering sticky formulation at 980 metres underground, which is the deepest recorded installation done by AECI Mining Explosives to date”.

Elsewhere, Nel says the company is on its way to deploying a bagged emulsion offering in South Africa’s underground mining sector.

By partnering with customers on their unique journey, AECI is able to ensure efficient and sustainable blasting practices by focussing on optimal blast outcomes, optimising blasting processes and solving blasting problems. AM

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CRUSHING & SCREENING

ON THE PULSE OF SCREEN EQUIPMENT CARE AT ANY MINE SITE, THE SCREENING PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT ARE WHERE MONEY IS MADE, MAKING EFFICIENT VIBRATING SCREENS ESSENTIAL. HAVER & BOECKER NIAGARA EXPLAINS HOW ITS PULSE VIBRATION ANALYSIS SERVICE KEEPS SCREENING EQUIPMENT IN TOP CONDITION.

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aver & Boecker Niagara is a global leader in designing and manufacturing screening equipment and mineral processing plants and systems, using the latest technology to create innovative solutions.

The Pulse Vibration Analysis Service is no exception, embracing advanced software to conduct preventative maintenance on screening equipment, allowing mining companies to fine-tune the equipment to maximise their performance.

Haver & Boecker Niagara Australian national sales manager Duncan Hooper says the Pulse Vibration Analysis Service helps mining companies to address issues before they require major maintenance, causing unplanned downtime.

“Mines must stay on the cutting edge to keep up production and maximise productivity and profits,” Hooper tells Australian Mining.

“One way we are helping producers accomplish this is by embracing advanced software and conducting preventative maintenance.

“Pulse is used to optimise vibrating screen efficiency, resulting in increased throughput and an improved screening result, such as removing more fines.

“Vibration analysis also allows producers to fine-tune their equipment to maximise performance.”

The Pulse Vibration Analysis evaluates the condition of screens, detecting irregularities that have the potential to diminish performance, decreasing operational efficiency, increasing costs and eventually, causing equipment to break down.

Using Pulse, mining companies can not only maximise the performance of their equipment for better efficiency and capital costs, but also use it to schedule maintenance, rather than waiting for a problem to occur.

“Pulse allows producers to aid maintenance personnel in minimising unplanned downtime by scheduling needed repairs during normal maintenance shutdowns,” Hooper says.

“Additionally, scheduling reoccurring measurements can outline

trends, helping producers predict equipment deterioration.”

Pulse monitors screening equipment via eight wireless tri-axial sensors, which fasten to key areas of a vibrating screen such as the machine body or side arms.

These checks pick up on irregularities or breakages that are often missed by the human eye, including damaged springs, which are often not apparent in day-to-day operations but can lead to high costs if left unfixed.

“With Pulse, we can easily measure the health of vibrating screens and spot irregularities invisible to the naked eye,” Hooper says. “This could be a hairline crack in a side plate or side plate twisting that could affect equipment longevity.

“The ability to catch and address these issues early can mean significant savings in terms of downtime and repair costs as a result of preventing a chain reaction of damage caused by the initial issue.”

Once in place, Pulse measures the equipment’s orbit, acceleration, deviations and other important data points that indicate the machine’s

condition, then transmits this information back to the Pulse tablet

by Wi-Fi. This information is also stored on the Pulse web portal, allowing producers to view historical information about the machine’s condition all in one place to track the performance of their equipment.

After the data is transmitted back to the Pulse tablet, it is processed into a detailed diagnostic report, identifying any irregularities in the machinery’s speed, stroke and amplitude.

Haver & Boecker Niagara also has a team of certified service technicians and engineers to help with the process of analysing results and planning maintenance, supporting the in-depth monitoring that Pulse provides for mine managers.

“With Pulse, we offer a service program that includes a vibrating screen inspection by a Haver & Boecker Niagara certified service technician,” Hooper explains.

“Following the inspection, customers receive a Pulse diagnostic report, which provides an analysis of their vibrating screen and detailed recommendations to prevent downtime.”

HAVER & BOECKER NIAGARA’S PULSE VIBRATION ANALYSIS SERVICE IS USED TO MONITOR SCREENING EQUIPMENT.

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Electronic reports are convenient for saving time, capital and being efficient and this has become more apparent during 2020 as more operations and meetings became remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pulse portal allows for Haver & Boecker Niagara engineers to review the data uploaded into the system and provide technical support and advice to the mine site without being required to physically visit the site.

With Australian mine sites often in remote locations, this is an enormous time saver for Haver & Boecker Niagara’s mining clients.

Using Pulse, mines are able to use one device to plan preventative maintenance, troubleshoot and view a machine’s entire life history.

When combined with regular visual inspections of machinery, Haver & Boecker Niagara’s Pulse allows mines to get the most out of their machinery and save time and money for processing more material for shipment.

“Pulse is not only a useful diagnostic tool for optimisation and troubleshooting but also as a regular scheduled inspection,” Hooper concludes. AM

CRUSHING & SCREENING

DERRICK G-VAULT OVERCOMES OCEANAGOLD MAINTENANCE NEEDS OCEANAGOLD HAS SHIFTED TO A NEW TECHNOLOGY IN ITS PROCESSING PLANT AT THE HAILE GOLD MINE IN THE UNITED STATES BY REPLACING WEDGE WIRE SCREENS WITH DERRICK G-VAULT INTERSTAGE SCREENS.

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iven a choice, blinding and pegging of screens in a processing plant is not a mine operator’s favourite event.

Unfortunately, it was a daily occurrence at the carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuit at OceanaGold’s Haile gold mine in the southern United States.

Haile’s senior metallurgist Jeremy Rozelle says on average, his team experienced 14 to 16 hours of interruptions per week because of the situation. This meant the circuit was not running at optimal performance.

“At the Haile gold mine, we were pulling screens daily – it takes roughly two hours per screen.

The Haile CIL circuit has 16 total screens, two in each tank,” Rozelle tells Australian Mining.

Looking for answers to the problem, the Haile team decided to test Derrick G-Vault interstage screens for a 12-week trial.

Derrick, a world leader in fine separation technology, installed two G-Vault interstage screens to compete with the existing wedge wire screens in the first and last CIL tanks. This gave the Haile operation a unique opportunity to evaluate the screens side by side under typical

operating conditions. Subsequently, G-Vault interstage screens exceeded expectations, allowing OceanaGold to shorten the 12-week trial at Haile to 6.5 weeks.

“We have two different flow rates in our CIL. We trialled a screen in different tanks to test against both flows,” Rozelle says.

“In both cases, the Derrick screens remained without issue for 6.5 weeks. At that time, they were lifted and inspected. We found no defects or issues, so Haile decided to move forward with the screens.”

The Derrick interstage screens have continued to allow Haile’s circuit to run more steadily and efficiently. The Haile team has now retrofitted all 16 CIL screens with the Derrick G-Vault.

“During one event where a tank was offline, the Derrick screen had partially sanded in. Operations turned the rotation on to test it. The screen cleared itself without the need for lifting and cleaning, saving operator time, potential maintenance time, and allowing for a faster restart of the tank. This was one of the many factors to a successful trial,” Rozelle says.

“This time-saving feature allows all parties to be focussed elsewhere, leading to a more stable performance throughout the process. Pulling and

A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF A WEDGE WIRE SCREEN AND G-VAULT SCREEN AFTER OPERATION.

AUSTRALIANMINING

DERRICK’S G-VAULT AFTER SIX WEEKS OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION.

cleaning is not as complex as it is time consuming.”

The Haile operation has now transitioned from daily maintenance issues to experiencing no shutdowns or diversions at all from the CIL circuit.

The change-outs have also protected the maintenance team from being exposed to a suspended load as the screens had to be lifted for maintenance. Team members were also required to wear a face shield as high-pressure water was used to clean the old wedge wire screens when blinded.

The G-Vault screens do not need to be pulled, which provides better run times and delivers both safety and operational benefits.

“We expect that the circuit will remain in operation more frequently, allowing for smoother operation,” Rozelle says.

“We also plan to reduce the loss of carbon due to the screens not being removed as often.”

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The Haile circuit is now running close to maximum throughput.

The Derrick G-Vault screens have proven that they allow for even more throughput.

“This means the circuit, if capable, could process more. We anticipate a small increase in our circuit’s available throughput,” Rozelle explains.

The move to Derrick G-Vault interstage screens reflects OceanaGold’s modern-mining approach at the historic Haile gold mine.

OceanaGold’s leadership is proud to build upon Haile’s rich history as one of the first mines in the United States producing gold since 1827, with an array of technological and design improvements.

The company celebrated its first gold pour at Haile in 2017, with plans to continue producing until 2033 and beyond using modern technology such as Derrick G-Vault interstage screens. AM

RESILIENCE MEANS NOT WORRYING ABOUT “WHAT NOW?” AND INSTEAD, FOCUSING ON “WHAT’S NEXT?” The choice to be resilient has never been more important for a business to make. Today, resilience means choosing a different approach to insuring your commercial property. Above all, it’s choosing to navigate the business, personal and risk complexities you face to ensure you move your business forward. Which is why Resilience is a Choice.

RESILIENCE IS A CHOICE.

© 2020 FM Global. All rights reserved.

THE MINING INDUSTRY HAS MOVED TO A NEW PHASE FOLLOWING THE MINING BOOM, ONE WHERE PRODUCTIVITY, INNOVATION AND SAFETY HAVE EMERGED AS ITS KEY PRIORITIES TECHNOLOGY MAINTENANCE VOLUME 112/8 | SEPTEMBER 2020

MINING SERVICES

AN EVOLVING WORKPLACE UNDERGROUND MINING IN FOCUS

Established in 1908, Australian Mining continues to lead and inform the Australian mining industry of the latest innovations in mining technology and equipment.

Australian Mining’s special features provide organisations with a forum to showcase the role each mining sector plays in helping the industry achieve its modern-day targets.

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MINING EQUIPMENT

NIVEK STRENGTHENS AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WITH MINING PARTNERS NIVEK INDUSTRIES HAS BEEN SAFEGUARDING MINE WORKERS FROM THE DANGERS OF THE JOB SINCE 2011 WHEN IT INTRODUCED ITS TRACKING ELEVATING DEVICE, OR TED. AUSTRALIAN MINING SPEAKS WITH NIVEK ABOUT HOW STRONG CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS HELP GUIDE THE DESIGNS OF ITS INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS.

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ince the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia, the importance of a strong local manufacturing sector has become even more apparent, supporting jobs and providing equipment to essential industries such as mining.

With the mining industry driving the Australian economy, local manufacturers like Nivek Industries have been key in keeping the nation operating as normally as possible.

Being a small and fully Australian owned and operated business, Nivek’s customers are at the helm of the business, with the company aiming to create meaningful, long-term relationships to benefit both parties.

“For us, being a small local business, having that quality relationship with our clients is one of the biggest things for us,” Cant tells Australian Mining.

“We’re not here to just sell our products, we are also here to sell the full package including after sales support, training and documents for training and full life service of our products”.

By building these tight relationships with clients, Nivek views many of its customers as partners, involving them in the process of improving its

NIVEK INDUSTRIES’ TED HAS HELPED TO KEEP FITTERS SAFE ON THE JOB SINCE 2011.

existing products and developing exciting new ones.

Nivek has a range of feedback processes, from simple feedback forms, obtaining responses from its clients on social media platforms, and meeting with top clients to discuss their experience using the company’s products.

Cant says by gathering feedback directly from the industry, Nivek

NIVEK INDUSTRIES AIMS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH FELLOW LOCAL MINING BUSINESSES.

AUSTRALIANMINING

is able to tweak its products and techniques to stay ahead of the trends and give its customers exactly what they need, boosting their own business as well as that of their clients.

“We talk to our clients constantly, they come back to us to share their ideas and we can work on solutions together,” Cant explains. “Typically, feedback about the TED machine alone is quite positive, it’s a great machine for safety on site.”

Nivek is currently in the process of working on a new product range, which is being developed based on feedback from its clients.

“We’re growing our business and have got some exciting new products in development based on feedback from our customers,” Cant says.

“If mine sites have any safety issues, we are more than happy to listen to their concerns and create niche products to counter these issues; being a smaller company we have the capacity and flexibility to do this.”

In addition to Nivek’s post-sales support for clients, its customer support team is always available to take phone and email enquiries, ensuring clients are never kept waiting on

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quotes or repairs.

With this dedicated team, Nivek aims to respond to all enquires the day they are received, so customers can get their required information or parts as quickly as possible.

“The last thing we want is to have our products out of service, it’s not good for our customers and it’s not good for us as a supplier. We build our machines to help people in the workplace and therefore they need to be introduced to site seamlessly and remain operational,” Cant says.

Despite this local mindset of a small business, Nivek’s clients range from other small, local businesses to big Tier 1 mining companies, assisting each of them to build safer and more efficient workplaces.

Cant says that in addition to enhancing safe work practices in mine sites across the nation, this has also helped Nivek Industries expand as a company and as a key supplier to the mining industry.

“For us as a business, we have not only assisted large mining companies in making safer workplaces but have also grown as a company,” he says.

“Without their support and feedback that helps us to develop new products, we wouldn’t have gotten to where we are now.”

Supporting Australian manufacturing and business is one of Nivek’s key priorities as a company, to provide quality products that guarantee safety to the industry.

With mining equipment operating in tough conditions, Nivek prioritises manufacturing products that are not only tough enough to handle these harsh conditions, but also easily maintained, therefore reducing downtime.

“As an Australian business, we like supporting other Australian manufacturers and keeping those jobs here in Australia,” Cant says.

“We are proud of our products and are proud to sell 100 per cent Australian owned and made quality products.” AM

2020

AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS

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PROFILE

FRESH LEADERSHIP SPEARHEADS MINING’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION MICROMINE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANDREW BIRCH HAS EXHIBITED THE LEGACY AND IMPACT THAT ONE PERSON IS CAPABLE OF CREATING IN A YEAR. AUSTRALIAN MINING TELLS HIS STORY.

S

eptember marks the first anniversary of Andrew Birch’s appointment to MICROMINE’s executive leadership team as chief executive officer.

A technology expert with 25 years’ experience, Birch has a great vision for the global mining software developer.

Cloud-based mining and geology software systems, machine learning and a strong emphasis on underlying cyber security are three key opportunities that Birch plans to develop at MICROMINE. With a strong line-up of products covering the mining sector’s entire value chain, MICROMINE is well-placed to take advantage of the digital transformation that is unfolding in the industry.

“Data is becoming more and more important to our clients,” Birch tells Australian Mining.

“MICROMINE has a big functional footprint, servicing 90 countries and more than 2000 sites, even in remote locations, something that we can build on and continue to develop.”

Birch, former chief operating officer of MYOB, observed tremendous success with the accounting software giant’s cloud solutions in Australia and internationally.

The mining sector can expect to receive similar capability during Birch’s leadership at MICROMINE. “There are a lot of external success factors in the mining sector, and technology is one of them,” Birch says.

“If we can adopt some of these established technologies and ways of doing business and make mining even more successful, that’d be really great for MICROMINE. “And, as we continue to roll out our products across the whole value chain, we can start introducing a digital platform where we can put some of its functionality in the cloud. In fact, we’re well down this track already at MICROMINE.” Under Birch’s leadership, MICROMINE has introduced a

software subscription bundle as a value proposition for its clients.

Its success is backed by two main features: it requires a lower upfront investment and users get to enjoy the latest version of MICROMINE software at all times.

“As we release more and more software upgrades, clients get the value straight away. As we invest more and more in our products and the business, everyone gets up to speed,” Birch says.

The subscription bundle is hugely popular in Australia and its uptake across all of MICROMINE’s operating regions has been excellent.

Although new to the mining industry, Birch says the principle of technology providers to service their clients and make sure they get the most out of company offerings is similar.

He believes the mining sector is interested in evolving technology and digital transformation.

“Some companies are early adopters, others are slower for various reasons,” Birch says.

“I would say there’s a good demand and interest. It’s only a matter of innovating and accelerating the process of releasing new technologies and software for them.

“When we talk about technologies and platforms and how to best service our clients, there are lots of similarities in that you want to make sure they get the most out of your technologies and applications, and picking what’s most important to them and then expanding on those.”

MICROMINE has established a foothold in more than 90 countries on six continents, including Australia, Europe, North America, Asia, South America and Africa.

The company has accelerated software release cycles across its product range, making the subscription proposition a logical step for the company.

MICROMINE’s global reach is also what attracted Birch to join the company a year ago.

It offered a good opportunity to be involved in something that is “big, important and global”, and reflects the reach of the mining AUSTRALIANMINING

MICROMINE HAS A BIG FUNCTIONAL FOOTPRINT, SERVICING 90 COUNTRIES AND MORE THAN 2000 SITES, EVEN IN REMOTE LOCATIONS, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BUILD ON AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP.” sector in general.

“The mining industry is very global and a very important sector for the economic prosperity of many countries. And the role of technology that MICROMINE can play in that sector is huge,” Birch says.

“Therefore, MICROMINE is very well-placed. It’s already a global

business and it could be a really good vehicle to delivering greater impact to the mining sector.

“What’s more, MICROMINE is a great Australian-originated company where there is extensive history in mining and geology. It’s nice to see an Australian company doing well in that global scene.”

The collaboration between MICROMINE’s regional offices continues to deliver benefits.

The company has a key focus on collaboration despite great geographical distances.

Each region has its own unique drivers derived from its local markets, and this develops a distinct product roadmap that caters to each area and user experience.

“I’m very optimistic about the future, in the growth of our regional offices and in our ability to deliver greater functionality across MICROMINE’s product range globally,” Birch concludes. AM

MICROMINE CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANDREW BIRCH (LEFT) WITH COMPANY CHAIRMAN TIM REED.

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, D E E N U T. O 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

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

LOCAL DESIGN AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING – IT NEVER DIED DESPITE FEARS ABOUT THE DEMISE OF AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING, TRICYCLE DEVELOPMENTS HAS HIGHLIGHTED WHAT THE LOCAL SECTOR IS STILL CAPABLE OF. AUSTMINE TALKS WITH THE COMPANY ABOUT ITS APPROACH. with Southern Innovation, an ongoing, happy and growing customer.

Delivering a world-first product to the market

THE SITORO INNOVATION AT WORK IN THE FIELD.

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peed, quality and expertise are more important than ever for design and advanced manufacturing.

Local award-winning studio, Tricycle Developments, has more than 15 years of experience in innovation and bringing technically challenging products to life.

Born from Swinburne University’s Product Design and Engineering course in Melbourne, Tricycle Developments blends the industrial design disciplines of human factors, product form, user interface and user experience with the technical disciplines of manufacturing and mechanical engineering.

Austmine sits down with Tricycle Developments director Mat Trainor to gain his insights on the company’s unique approach to developing solutions, as well as to discuss the company’s partnership with Southern Innovation.

Enabling rapid technology deployment

Tricycle Developments has an ongoing relationship with leading mining equipment, technology and services (METS) company Southern Innovation, which it assisted to rapidly develop, build and test products for minerals exploration and mining.

Southern Innovation’s SITORO

technology provides real-time XRTS (x-ray transmission spectrometry) for the analysis of exploration drilling as the sample comes out of the ground, reducing waste and impact, increasing efficiency and accuracy, and improving mapping.

For this program, Tricycle Developments worked closely with Southern Innovation in a true collaboration to facilitate mechanical requirements for ongoing technology development, design and manufacture of custom equipment.

Tricycle Developments assisted with research and development and was responsible for mechanical design and engineering related to the product, including early lab test prototypes to the production ready, field tested units.

De-risking technology development

Tricycle Developments’ team of problem solvers, designers, engineers and makers was able to provide certainty to a complex process through a practical, rapid and applied problem-solving approach to robust engineering.

“Our team was able to assist by bringing simplicity through the design process to a complex, technical and risky venture,” Trainor says.

“The key element to our process is identifying, mitigating and validating AUSTRALIANMINING

any high-risk areas within a program.

“These may be technology, manufacturing or even human related, but all programs go through a process of risk analysis and project planning to make sure that any identified unknowns are investigated as a priority within the program.”

Tricycle Developments was able to assist with developing mechanical manufacturing IP by investigating the unique requirements, as well as providing support through field testing and internal pre-compliance testing.

“Our facility is designed for rapid development and testing, both virtual and practical,” Trainor says. “As the team is able to not only design but also manufacture and test this removes any communication, time zone or shipping issues from a program.

“When programs are technically challenging these issues can quickly become amplified, creating massive problems. As we have the facilities and diverse experience to conduct this ourselves those issues don’t even surface with our team.”

Investigating and testing prior to compliance testing allowed space for research into new materials and manufacturing techniques that delivered advances across mechanical outcomes.

As such, the team was able to develop a cost-effective, complex electromechanical solution rapidly

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Tricycle Developments’ multidisciplinary approach means the team was able to rapidly develop a cost-effective, complex electromechanical solution.

“The whole team has a multidisciplinary background, which allows us to easily and rapidly customise our process to each client and technical challenge,” Trainor says.

“The development process requires so many interfaces between design requirements, production, materials, capabilities, environment, commercial and other areas.

“Being able to quickly and efficiently reach alignment between stakeholders and solve problems is key to not only a fast, but also a successful development program.”

The final units were mechanically designed, engineered and built at Tricycle Developments, with the x-ray elements commissioned at Southern Innovation.

They feature a ruggedised design to withstand the unique, harsh Australian mining environment, including a vibration dampening, dust and water ingress sealing and cooling systems.

Giving confidence to technology ventures

The team’s multidisciplinary experience and skillsets uniquely position Tricycle Developments in the market to assist Australian mining and METS companies looking to improve products and systems to new and novel products.

Further, Tricycle Developments understands the key element of a successful development process is the ability to address the difficult or unknown things upfront.

“Our development process focusses on identifying and mitigating risks related to unknown or complex elements, as early as possible in order to ensure that ongoing development decisions are based with confidence on ‘knowns’ rather than ‘unknowns’,” Trainor says. AM

THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR AUSTRALIA’S MINING INDUSTRY

ISSUE 8 - JULY-AUGUST 2020

Remote revolution

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Technology

Dust suppression

Virtual reality

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EVENT SPOTLIGHT

AUSIMM DIGS DEEP INTO FUTURE OF UNDERGROUND MINING THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY (AUSIMM) UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE IS AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST GATHERING OF UNDERGROUND FOCUSSED MINE OPERATORS, ENGINEERS AND SUPPLIERS. IN 2021, THE EVENT WILL HAVE A NEW FORMAT.

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usIMM plans to bring the Underground Operators Conference back better than ever in 2021 after it was postponed this year due to the limitations COVID-19 put on international and interstate travel and social gatherings.

The conference will be transformed into a hybrid of both in-person and remote online experiences, to allow for any restrictions that may still be in place by the time it is staged in March 2021.

Technology will be a key theme at the event, as not only a form of connection for those attending the event remotely, but also as underground mining continues to use technology as it transitions closer towards fully automated mining operations.

Underground Operators Conference 2021 chair Anne-Marie Ebbels, of SRK Consulting, says the conference aims to explore solutions to problems that may not yet exist as mining operations are forced to delve deeper to uncover valuable orebodies.

“Underground mining is on a transitional journey and the future is

unclear to how far technology can take the industry,” Ebbels tells Australian Mining.

“Currently, the vision is non-entry, fully automated mining but that is just the start as orebodies become deeper and more complex – the potential problems and solutions haven’t yet been thought of.”

“The conference provides the opportunity for suppliers to show their new products and for operations to share the innovative things they are implementing on their sites.”

In its 43rd year, AusIMM and the Underground Operators organising committee have committed to hosting conferences that provide operationally focussed technical papers, presentations and discussions solely dedicated to underground mining.

Keynote speakers BHP Olympic Dam asset president and chief geoscientist Laura Tyler, CommChain executive chairman Gary Zamel and Rock Engineering consultant Knut Garshol will share their knowledge of new technologies and changes in practices.

“It also provides the opportunity for informal networking and learning from others that may have the same issues at

AUSIMM UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE 2021 CHAIR ANNE-MARIE EBBELS.

their operation,” Ebbels says.

This will allow young professionals the opportunity to meet leaders within the industry, while seeing the latest products on the market from key suppliers in the mining industry.

Key topics being discussed at the event include revolutionising the traditional mine, mining contract management and introduction to the application of risk-based methods in underground mining geomechanics.

THE AUSIMM UNDERGROUND OPERATORS CONFERENCE WILL TRANSFORM INTO A HYBRID EVENT IN 2021, WITH BOTH IN-PERSON AND DIGITAL EXPERIENCES.

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“I am particularly interested in the topic of revolutionising the traditional mine,” Ebbels says. “I am looking forward to hearing what operations are doing that is different to the way mining activities have been conducted in the past.”

The conference will also host interactive workshops and networking events for attendees to reconnect with colleagues and build new strategic relationships.

With over 4000 square metres of exhibition space, some of the companies on display include major sponsor BHP and host AusIMM, as well as others like Sandvik, Dyno Nobel, Epiroc, Xylem, Astec and more.

The event will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in Western Australia, which is the home state to some of Australia’s largest underground mining operations, such as BHP’s Nickel West operations and Newcrest Mining’s Telfer gold mine.

As AusIMM’s first hybrid model event, the organisation is excited to welcome attendees both in person at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and online, for those unable to travel.

“There will be a few changes in 2021 with a hybrid model being adopted for the delivery of the conference, allowing a remote experience as well as the in-person experience,” Ebbels says.

“We believe this will cover contingencies regarding any travel restrictions that may still be in place at either a government or company level.”

To make up for the postponed 2020 event, AusIMM will also deliver a showcase series to release the 2020 research papers to industry stakeholders during the second half of this year.

With content from both 2020 and 2021 available at the event, the Underground Operators Conference 2021 will be bigger and better than ever, diving deeper into the world of underground mining. AM The Underground Operators Conference 2021 will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 15 to 17 2021.

For more information, visit undergroundoperators.ausimm.com

PRODUCTS

EPIROC CHARGES FORWARD WITH BATTERIES AS A SERVICE

ANSUL LVS LIQUID AGENT REDEFINES FIRE SUPPRESSION

Epiroc’s Batteries as a Service (BaaS) offering provides flexibility to mining companies by allowing them to take ownership of the battery and automatically replace and update the units as needed.

Epiroc will work directly with companies to define a battery plan that suits the needs of their operation.

The lifespan is guaranteed and the battery status is carefully monitored to ensure predictive maintenance with reduced downtime.

A change in the required battery capacity can also be met with an adjustment to the plan.

Epiroc will remove old batteries from site and replace them with new, where the old batteries will be used for secondary applications or recycled at the end of the process.

“This means the mine site can breathe easier and continue to focus on heightened production,” Epiroc Canada product manager Rocvolt, Shawn Samuels said.

Johnson Controls has unveiled its new suppression agent that helps rapidly knock down flames, blanket the fuel and cut off oxygen to help prevent reflash.

According to Johnson Controls director of pre-engineered systems, Mark Neumann, mining vehicles and other heavy mobile equipment must work around the clock in harsh conditions and need reliable fire protection 24 hours a day.

The product, called ANSUL LVS non-fluorinated liquid suppression agent, is manufactured without using perfluorinated chemicals and has been tested to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Developed using organic salts and surface-active ingredients, the formula provides superior cooling and securing properties needed for vehicle fire protection, without the addition of fluorosurfactants found in other suppression solutions. It is effective against Class A and B fires in mobile equipment.

• epiroc.com

• redefined4ansul.com

MICROMINE RELEASES FLEET MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

GATES HYDRAULIC HOSE LINE A BREAKTHROUGH Gates Australia is redefining high-pressure hydraulic performance with the introduction of the MegaSys MXG 4K hydraulic hose.

Qualified to one million impulse cycles, the hose is a lightweight, compact, highly flexible drop-in replacement for conventional spiral hoses.

It features Gates XtraTuff Plus cover, which is 25 times more abrasion resistant than Gates’ standard cover and has enhanced ozone resistance.

This provides improved durability when powering the most demanding fluid power applications.

Gates vice president, global product line management, Mike Haen said: “Our customers’ applications require a lighter weight, more flexible, compact hose; so we tasked our engineers to design a new class of premium hydraulics to exceed the performance typically achieved with wire spiral constructions, but with the lower weight and flexibility driven by Gates next generation wire-braid technology – and they delivered.”

Pitram 4.17 is the latest release of MICROMINE’s fleet management and mine control solution.

The solution’s materials management and shift planner modules boast key functionality enhancements, providing greater data insights and enabling better decision-making. Pitram Mobile can now also launch third-party applications, MICROMINE Pitram product strategy manager Chris Higgins said.

“Security and access control has also been upgraded across the suite of intuitive tools,” he said.

Geologists can gain greater insight into stockpile levels, composition, inputs and outputs.

Stockpile viewer is also enhanced to give all the information needed to effectively manage stockpiles. It summarises the last source, last destination, quantity, depletion model, grade, colour and shape.

Pitram’s material management module also enables geologists to gain full transparency and a better understanding of material flows.

• micromine.com

• gatesaustralia.com.au/mxg

AUSTRALIANMINING

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PRODUCTS

POWER FOR REMOTE APPLICATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS

SANDVIK BRINGS BACK TORO LINE-UP Sandvik is reintroducing the Toro family name to its underground hard rock loaders and trucks this year.

Toro LH517i and Toro LH621i are “large, intelligent loaders” that feature design upgrades. Both loaders can now be equipped with a Stage V engine, which comes with the operator speed assist feature to support downhill tramming and preserve equipment brakes.

A new traction control system is also available as an option to reduce wheel spin and slippage when penetrating to the muck pile, extending tyre lifetime.

Toro TH551i and Toro TH663i are 51- and 63-tonne trucks will also benefit from design upgrades, including a new transmission, heavy-duty cooler and AutoMine for Trucks.

The fifth model to acquire the Toro family name is a large payload capacity underground loader, Toro LH625iE. The “giant” features a 25-tonne payload capacity and is electrically powered by a trailing cable.

The Independent Smart Pole (ISP1/ISP2), depending on its configuration, will provide either 40-watt or 80-watt of continuous power 24/7.

There is enough redundancy built into the system to provide continuous power for three days without further solar or wind generation.

This is achieved by using a 400-watt wind turbine generator and two 360-watt photo-voltaic (PV) panels on the ISP1, and a 400-watt wind turbine generator and two 470-watt PV panels on the ISP2.

The units wind-solar hybrid successfully powers a range of highly efficient and functional application using its AGM/LiFePo4 battery technology, coupled with the controller’s smart power management techniques to satisfy consumer requirements.

The inbuilt software can conserve energy by controlling the load on/ off times, and load power levels and can increase the power for periods as required. After the requirement is met, it returns to reduced standby power.

Smart pole’s benefits include remote flexible and efficient deployment capability; removing the requirement for grid connection and fibre network infrastructure in remote areas; fully standalone system with independent recording; remote monitoring and configuration of the units; and extensive intelligent video analytics capability.

• rocktechnology.sandvik

• trafficsensors.com

BME GUIDE APP AIDS BLAST PLANNING DECISIONS

REMA TIP TOP EASES MATERIAL FLOW

Android mobile users can enjoy BME’s free Blasting Guide application to help them rapidly calculate and check blast designs.

The application is available for download from the Google Play Store, and replaces paper booklets carried and referenced by in-field users.

It includes a blast design calculator, quick calculators and prediction calculators, on top of surface blast design rules of thumb, environmental guidelines and a table of common rock properties.

“The blast design calculator is a series of guiding formulas that allows a blaster or engineer to plan a blast from start to finish,” BME global manager Blasting Science, D. Scott Scovira said.

“The blast design calculator utilises user inputs including burden, spacing, stemming height, sub-drill, hole diameter, bench height and explosive type to determine explosive loads, powder factors and other outputs.”

REMA TIP TOP has unveiled a revised version of its wear protection product for wet processing and conveying of sludge.

For the first time, the REMA PERFORMANCEline 35/CN achieves an abrasion of only 80 cubic millimetres, according to Germany’s DIN ISO 4649 for soft rubber linings and wet abrasion.

In combination with the integrated caking protection and the proven CN bonding layer, the revised wear protection offers an additionally improved service life, lower maintenance costs and optimised plant performance.

“Particularly when processing round grains and sticky materials, our rubber material stands out due to its excellent abrasion value and as a caking protection,” REMA TIP TOP product manager Rico Harting said.

During further development, the elastomer product was specially designed for the wet processing and conveying of sludge. This means that it is optimised for lining sludge channels, pipes, pumps, hydrocyclones or scrubbers.

• bme.co.za

• performance.rema-tiptop.com

AUSTRALIANMINING

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EVENTS

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS EVENT SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU Minesafe International Digital Conference 2020, online, September 22-23 AusIMM‘s Minesafe International Digital Conference will be delivered as a completely new digital experience.

Held 100 per cent online, government regulators, health and safety practitioners and other resource industry professionals will come together to share the achievements and challenges within their operations and showcase new workplace safety innovations. Setting the benchmark for industry best practice, the conference will cover current and emerging health issues, legislation and regulations, policies and strategies, risk management and critical controls, as well as highlight effective leadership strategies and psychosocial management that promotes a zeroharm workplace safety culture. This conference will also include live and on-demand presentations from industry experts, live question and answer sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities.

• minesafe.ausimm.com

Australian Mining Prospect Awards 2020 The Australian mining industry’s biggest awards celebration returns for the 17th straight year in 2020.

Since 2004, the Australian Mining Prospect Awards have been the only national awards program to stop, take a look at what the mining industry is doing, and reward those who are excelling and going above and beyond,

recognising and rewarding innovation.

That trend is set to continue this year, with 14 awards on offer for mining’s highest achievers, including two new awards. Visit the Australian Mining Prospect Awards website for information about nominating for the 2020 awards.

• prospectawards.com.au Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum, Kalgoorlie, October 12-14 This annual conference brings mining and exploration companies, brokers, bankers, investors, financiers and mining services companies together in Australia’s unofficial gold mining capital, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

The event, which has been moved from August to October following the impact of the coronavirus, combines presentations by listed companies with a large display area, housing a range of exhibitors from within the sector.

Diggers and Dealers also features a world-class entertainment program and high-quality speakers, including an opening adress by WA Premier, Mark McGowan in 2020.

It is also possible to visit sites within the Kalgoorlie-Goldfields region during the conference by contacting companies directly.

• diggersndealers.com.au The Preconcentration Digital Conference, online, November 10-11 and 17-18 AusIMM’s Preconcentration Digital Conference will explore the value of preconcentration, the early rejection

AUSTRALIANMINING

of non-valuable material prior to mineral processing. The concept has a significant amount of value attached to it, which AusIMM will shed light upon at the conference, focussing on some of the operational, environmental and corporate social responsibility (CSR) challenges of preconcentration. The event will allow various industry experts and stakeholders to discuss new developments in the preconcentration space, and will include keynote speakers, some who have written case studies on preconcentration in mining.

The event will be presented digitally enabling from around the globe to tune in and expand their knowledge, with the four live keynote sessions set to be recorded and placed on demand for six months after the event.

• precon.ausimm.com IMARC Online, November 24-27 The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2020 event has been postponed due to COVID-19 and has launched as an online event starting November 24 as a replacement.

IMARC Online will offer a global platform for the industry’s leaders to come together and discuss hot topics that shape the future of the mining industry, which will stand centre-stage in reshaping the global economy postCOVID. The interactive program includes all the components attendees expect of the in-person event, including workshops, keynote presentations, networking, meetings and a virtual expo hall showcasing the latest mining projects,

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technology and innovations.

Additionally, IMARC Online is welcoming a series of co-located events, like IMARC METS Arena #LIVE, Mines and Money 5@5 and Mines and Money Online Connect.

Attendees will be able to create their own personalised program of content, meetings and networking events based on their interests, both within longer opening hours and on demand.

• imarconline.com Underground Operators Conference 2021, Perth, March 15-17 2021 Underground Operators is back in 2021, bringing together underground mining engineers, mine operators, technical service managers and consultants to share operational experiences and practices.

For the first time, Underground Operators will merge to form a hybrid event in 2021, with the in-person event in Perth running subsequently with an online digital event, to allow for any travel restrictions or event limitations that may still be in place by next March.

In 2021, Underground Operators will feature internationally recognised keynote speakers: BHP Olympic Dam asset president and chief geoscientist Laura Tyler, CommChain executive chairman Gary Zamel and Swedish rock engineering consultant Knut Garshol.

These speakers will cover discussion topics including process transformation, innovative mining methods and practices, health and safety, revolutionising traditional mines and more.

• undergroundoperators.ausimm.com

TECHNOLOGY DEFINING PRODUCTIVITY

NOW IN UNDERGROUND The CR Mining underground range offers a suite of highly engineered underground G.E.T. solutions for your mine site.

CR Mining helps support partners drive machine productivity and reduce Total Cost of Ownership across their entire underground fleet with our world-class G.E.T. technology.

CR’s Wearpact™ G.E.T.

At CR, we use applied technology and innovation to lead breakthrough solutions for the mining industry worldwide.

www.CRmining.com/underground PART OF THE CR GROUP

OUR KNOW-HOW, YOUR ADVANTAGE. Expert advice. Anywhere. Anytime.

Our team of experts are out every day helping you get the most from your investment. From basic training through to expert maintenance and maximising productivity, our people know your machinery inside and out.

You’ve got the best gear — we’ve got the people that’ll get the best out of it. Available anywhere, anytime for advice or support, our know-how is just one of the advantages of partnering with Hastings Deering.

CALL 1300 170 590 OR VISIT HASTINGSDEERINGS.COM.AU/AUSMIN