UNDERGROUND LOAD & HAUL
order to speed up bogging cycle times, increase
production, and minimise risk of damage to the
loaders. According to Grant Hancock, Alternate
Underground Manager at IGO’s Jaguar Operation,
the upgrade has already delivered immediate
and substantial benefits. “Since introducing the
Guidance technology, we have experienced a
significant reduction in cycle times for the
bogger, with a 32% improvement in cycle times
when bogging on long tram routes,” explained
Hancock.
“We realised that the greater the tram length,
the greater the improvement. Recently in long
winding drive, our operators tell us that the
difference between Guidance and normal
Teleremote is approximately 3:1 buckets.” The
Guidance Automation solution controls the
machine’s steering, braking and speed. The
speed is determined by the minimum width of
the drive and the look-ahead distance of the on-
board laser units as well as the object detection
feature to further assist in tight areas.
In addition to the improvement in tramming
times, there has also been a reduction in damage
done to the machines, which is another added
advantage to introducing automated technology.
“There has been little to no damage on the
bogger that is on Guidance compared to the
other bogger that is not,” said Hancock. “This is
positive on our bottom line because it means the
bogger is spending less time in the maintenance
shop and more time underground moving ore,”
he said. Overall feedback from those working at
the Jaguar operation has been very positive, with
both the bogger operators enjoying the
opportunity to be introduced to innovative new
mining technologies, and management seeing
tangible improvements in the production cycles
adding significant value to the IGO business.
Byrnecut trialling Joy 22HDs
Leading underground mining contractor Byrnecut
Australia is in Q2 2018 to trial an underground
International Mining Mining Editor Paul
Moore and Publisher John Chadwick go the
extra mile to report on real mines and mining
projects globally and in person, unlike
competitor titles. So far in 2015 to 2017
alone, visits have included the following:
COUNTRY OPERATIONS REPORTED ON
INDONESIA
USA
PERU
SOUTH AFRICA
SWEDEN
TURKEY
RUSSIA
AUSTRALIA
FINLAND
UK
BRAZIL
COLOMBIA
BELARUS
UZBEKISTAN
KAZAKHSTAN Kaltim Prima Coal (coal)
KUC Bingham Canyon (copper)
Cerro Verde (copper)
Goldplat Recovery (gold, PGMs)
Boliden Garpenberg (polymetallic)
Aldridge Yenipazar (polymetallic)
Eurochem Kovdorskiy (phosphate)
Rio Tinto Tom Price/Marandoo (iron ore)
Outokumpu Kemi (chromite)
Compass Minerals Winsford (salt)
Anglo American Minas Rio (iron ore)
Drummond Pribbenow/El Descanso (coal)
Belaruskali (potash)
Muruntau (gold)
Kounrad (copper)
Leading underground mining contractor
Byrnecut Australia is in Q2 2018 to trial a Joy
22HD hybrid LHD from Komatsu Mining
diesel electric hybrid produ ction loader at OZ
Minerals’ Prominent Hill copper-gold mine which
was announced in the company’s Q1 results. The
trial is to test production efficiencies, diesel
savings and overall costs associated with this
equipment. The machine is one of two Joy 22HD
hybrid LHDs being supplied by Komatsu Mining
to Byrnecut this year and uses the Switched