MINEXPO PREVIEW II
be wirelessly sent to the drill , eliminating the need for the operator to manually survey each drill location . This provided operator assistance through live onscreen feedback of current location versus the desired location , increasing the positional accuracy . The data collected through the ARDVARC One-Touch system allowed the customer to compare and realise a 22 % increase in productivity , compared to manual drilling . By the end of 2008 , over a dozen ARDVARC equipped drills were in production in the US and Indonesia .
While the One-Touch drill system functionality was a great first step toward full autonomy , the same customer envisioned this fully autonomous drill as a part of a fully autonomous mine . By 2010 , Flanders engineers had produced their first fully autonomous drilling solution which provided accurate and precise autonomous positioning on the designed blast hole and safety monitoring of the surrounding area for obstacles and hazards using the Flanders HazCam 3D imaging system . This breakthrough in automation resulted in up to 30 % productivity gain over manual drilling .
By the end of 2013 , FLANDERS had deployed seven ARDVARC systems in Australia , two fully autonomous ARDVARCs with special mobile command centres in the US and fully autonomous ARDVARC drills in South Africa and Brazil . Today over 65 ARDVARC installations have been completed with operation in six countries .
COO Allen Patterson notes , “ Our approach to doing business is captured with our tagline , ‘ Listen . Innovate . Serve .’ Solving customer problems has driven us since the beginning . Our employees are our greatest asset because we ’ re all of the same mind-set – which is to serve and solve problems for our customers .”
Flanders ’ long term goal is to completely integrate ARDVARC into a completely autonomous mining operation , in addition to removing the operator from the command centre .
Underground , Flanders has the experience and expertise to maintain , repair , and improve diesel generators ; underground power centres and high voltage transformers ; belt starters and controllers ( including Variable Frequency Drives ); permissible AC longwall motors for face conveyors , stage loaders , and crushers ; and much more .
The Varel Mining and Industrial Division has grown to become a go to solution for roller cone drill bits for open pit mining . “ We earned this prestigious position one drill bit and one mine visit at a time ,” the company says . “ We provide the market ’ s leading drilling engineering services along with the world ’ s performance leading three cone drill bits for blastholes , HDD , water well , and pilot hole applications . Our global presence and unique personalised approach assures fast , accurate responses regardless of the distance or the location .”
Supporting field service professionals , Varel ’ s expert engineering staff uses a combination of modern computer-based design and analysis tools to speed product development and continuously improve performance through innovation and patented solutions . Varel ’ s modern manufacturing facility includes in-house carbide manufacture , heat treating , and machining capability to meet the most demanding manufacturing requirements . Additionally , investment in both API and ISO quality system certifications help demonstrate commitment to quality and continuous improvement in every aspect of the business .
Varel will feature the recently expanded Avenger series of sealed bearing blasthole bits . Avenger now offers both sealed journal bearing and sealed roller bearing options to meet drilling needs . Ridgeback , Avenger , D-Force , and Target ( HDD ) drill bits as well as the unique patented RPS ( rotary percussion system ) that combines the synergies of percussion and rotary tools will also be on display .
New Volvo products that will be on display include the Volvo A60H articulated hauler , its largest hauler , with a 60 t capacity offering customers an alternative to rigid dump trucks and construction trucks . The A60H provides operators the ability to easily manoeuvre on soft , uneven or steep roads , and gives them a 40 % increase in payload over the Volvo A40 . A60H owners will appreciate the increased capacity , and decreased fuel costs .
The A60H includes Automatic Traction Control — which automatically engages the appropriate traction required ( 6x4 or 6x6 ) for the conditions , reducing fuel consumption and tyre wear and tear , and allowing the operator to focus on the job at hand . Adding
to productivity and savings is the On-board Weighing System , which feeds payload data directly through the Volvo CareTrack ® telematics program . This integration gives site and fleet managers access to information that can decrease component wear , increase fuel efficiency and provide insights about possible operator training opportunities , for complete payload management .
Also new is the Volvo EC750E crawler excavator , a 75 t workhorse that combines power and fuel efficiency with a maximum breakout force of 328 kN . It also features integrated work modes so operators have the ability to select the right power for the job at hand , allowing them to move more for less . An attachment management system allows for efficient change-outs , with the ability to preset and store up to 20 different attachments .
MINExpo visitors will also have the opportunity to see a golden-painted Volvo A40 articulated hauler . Created to mark Volvo ’ s 50th anniversary of the development of the articulated hauler , the hauler has been used to help draw attention to the significant skills gap appearing in the industry . Volvo partnered with SkillsUSA and Skills Canada — organisations dedicated to improving the quality of North America ’ s skilled workforce — and has taken the hauler to Volvo dealerships throughout North America , inviting SkillsUSA and Skills Canada students to learn more about the industry . The golden hauler will be auctioned off to benefit the organisations at CONEXPO-CON / AGG 2017 .
Martin Engineering will feature bulk material handling technologies , including highperformance conveyor belt cleaners , dust suppression systems , industrial vibration , air cannons and new nozzle designs . It will also highlight its newly-published volume , Foundations for Conveyor Safety , as well as the Martin ® Roll Gen™ system , a patent-pending innovation that uses the kinetic energy from a moving conveyor belt to generate enough power to run a wide variety of electronic systems . The new design is engineered to create a small , self contained power station that delivers energy to run lighting and other accessories , monitoring systems and safety mechanisms . Because it can be retrofitted on existing idler support structures , the generator can be employed on virtually any steel roller . The new product is another step forward as conveyors move into
34 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2016