IM 2018 December 18 | Page 5

THE LEADER VO LU M E 1 3 • N U M B E R 1 2 Heavy autohauls Founder and Publisher John Chadwick B.Sc. Min Eng Email: [email protected] Editorial Director Paul Moore B.Sc (Hons), M.Sc. Email: [email protected] Editor Daniel Gleeson BA (Hons) Email: [email protected] Editorial Board Professor Malcolm Scoble Robert E. Hallbauer Chair in Mining Engineering., University of BC, Vancouver Peter Knights Mining Professor Stephen Stone West One Management Perth, Western Australia Dr. Andrew M. Robertson President, Robertson GeoConsultants Vancouver, Canada. Ed McCord Project Consultant Caterpillar Global Mining, USA Jason Nitz Fleet Management & Dispatch Superintendent Newmont Mining Corporation, USA Dr Terry Mudder Managing Director, TIMES Ltd, USA Simon Tarbutt Consultant, Santiago, Chile Dr. Mike Daniel Comminution Process Consultant CMD Consulting Pty Ltd Editorial Enquiries: Tel: [phone] Fax [phone] Advertising Sales: Phil Playle Email: [email protected] [phone] Advertising Production Lynne Lane Email: [email protected] Design & Production Trevor Sheldon Email: [email protected] Circulation Enquiries [email protected] Website: www.im-mining.com Annual Subscription Enquiries: Emma Smith Email: [email protected] Annual Subscription UK and Europe £160, €230 Rest of the world US$270 International Mining (ISSN No: 1747-146X) is published monthly by Team Publishing Ltd, GBR and is distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831 and additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick NJ. POSTMASTER: send address changes to International Mining, 17B South Middlesex Avenue, Monroe NJ 08831 Printed by The Manson Group, St Albans © Team Publishing Ltd 2018 ISSN 1747 -146X IM uses, as preference, SI units throughout, so, for example, all tonnes are metric unless otherwise stated. All dollars are US unless otherwise stated he potential for autonomous truck haulage in surface mining is not just from large rigid dumpers within the pit. Many mines also use more conventional off-road heavy trucks for transport between mines and process plants or ports. And as it happens, Volvo Trucks has just signed a landmark agreement with Brønnøy Kalk AS in Norway to provide its first commercial autonomous solution transporting limestone from an open pit mine to a nearby port. The solution for Brønnøy Kalk AS consists of limestone being transported by six autonomous Volvo FH trucks on a 5 km stretch through tunnels between the mine itself and the crusher. Tests of this solution have been carried out successfully and will continue throughout the rest of 2018 and 2019 to become fully operational by the end of 2019. The autonomous Volvo FH trucks are managed by the operator of a wheel loader. The agreement follows recent successful automation projects involving mining, sugar cane harvesting and refuse collection. “Yet this commercial solution represents an exciting first for Volvo Trucks. Rather than purchasing autonomous trucks, Brønnøy Kalk is buying a transport solution – specifically the transport of the limestone between the two hubs.” “This is an important step for us,” says Raymond Langfjord, Managing Director of the mine. “The competition in the industry is tough. We are continuously looking to increase our efficiency and productivity long-term, and we have a clear vision of taking advantage of new opportunities in technology and digital solutions. We were searching for a reliable and innovative partner that shares our focus on sustainability and safety. Going autonomous will greatly increase our competitiveness in a tough global market.” “We are proud to be able to present an autonomous solution which will meet the challenges of our customers both in terms of safety, reliability and profitability,” says Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks. “The global transport needs are continuously changing at a very high pace and the industry is demanding new and advanced solutions to stay ahead. Our aim is to be the leader of the development of products and services to respond to these demands,” continues Nilsson. “It is exciting to reach this point where we introduce autonomous solutions,” says Sasko Cuklev, Director Autonomous Solutions at Volvo Trucks. “By working in a confined area on a predetermined route, we can find out how to get the best out of the solution and tailor it according to specific customer needs. This is all about collaborating to develop new solutions, providing greater flexibility and efficiency as well as increased productivity.” T The agreement involves a deal whereby the customer buys a total transport service and pays per tonne delivered. Brønnøy Kalk AS extracts approximately 2 Mt/y of calcite marble every year. The calcite marble is shipped from Velfjord to Omya Hustadmarmor’s processing plant in Elnesvågen. And equally, underground automation has not been confined to LHDs and low profile underground trucks. Self driving Volvo FMX trucks are already being tested in regular operations at Boliden’s Kristineberg, which produces zinc, copper and lead. The self-driving trucks are part of a development project aimed at improving the transport flow and safety in the mine. The trucks covers a distance of 7 km, reaching 1,320 m underground. “The trucks contribute to increasing productivity and safety, as they can keep working directly after blasting is taking place. Normally a wait is required before work can commence. This is an example of full automation in a confined area, where no driver is needed.” Scania too has its Autonomous Transport Solutions (ATS) project. Back in 2016 it showcased self-driving trucks, in a unique demonstration with two collaborating vehicles and stating that the technology will likely initially be applied in mines and ports, and trials in these applications have taken place. At the time Scania stated: “With their in-built intelligence, the trucks have the ability to interpret and adapt to their surroundings and carry out pre- determined tasks. The autonomous vehicles are already performing impeccably in testing, although it will be a few years before the technology is ready to be sold commercially.” Scania also points out that these are modular systems allowing ATS solutions to be tailored to a range of areas including mining, port operations and public transport. Tom Nyström, Expert Engineer, Scania R&D says that Scania is no longer defined only by the delivery of high-class vehicles, but instead by its involvement in the whole mobility ecosystem. “As the company makes this transition to a mobility provider it increasingly embraces connectivity with 5G and its partnership with Ericsson. ATS also helps Scania to reinforce its sustainability commitment. Scania’s Autonomous Transport Solutions offer increased efficiency, reduced fuel and further elimination of waste.” Paul Moore Editorial Director [email protected] DECEMBER 2018 | International Mining 3