CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY
Provix supplies cap lamp wisdom
Provix is a Canadian mining supply company based in New Lowell , Ontario whose mantra is ' Now I Can See !' Through effective and efficient LED lighting , task-specific camera systems and integration of intelligent video capture and display into mining processes , Provix solutions it says offer enhanced productivity while increasing safety . Provix has recently received CSA certification for the charging racks for the Wisdom Cap lamps it provides to mines across Canada which are made by Wisdom in Shenzhen , China . “ This recent certification allows mining camps to implement the locking racks in various sizes ranging from 12-204 lamp spaces charging per rack . Wisdom cap lamps from Provix have become increasingly popular in Canada due to the extended run time , cordless design with Li-ion battery integrated into the lamp , and the highly bright but dimmable illumination from the cap lamps .”
Provix has also recently added flexible mounting brackets so that lamps can be ergonomically positioned to point to the work area without additional head twisting . With the Wisdom Wiselite cap lamp , Provix has also introduced an intrinsically safe model that has received its MSHA approval rating .
The cordless 3A model cap lamp is the most popular in hard rock mining Provix says for many reasons . A two-year warranty is standard on all the Wisdom cap lamps from Provix , " as is the unequalled waterproof rating of being able to be submerged to a depth of 20 m and still operate . The Li-ion battery fits into the cap lamp case on the cordless models 3 and 4 , as well as the MSHA- approved Wiselite . There is no cord . There is no battery pack on the miner ’ s belt . The lamp lasts 13 hours in the regular setting , which is exceptionally bright . Feedback from existing users indicates very little reason to turn on the higher power setting as ample light is available in the regular setting . The cap lamp is on a rotatable hard-hat / helmet clip , which effectively illuminates a work surface without any need for head tilting . With a total weight of 169 g , the Wisdom cap lamp offers an ergonomically designed cap lamp that offers excellent performance and brilliant illumination at an affordable price point ."
The Provix Wisdom Cap Lamps are in use in mines and industrial sites across Canada . Charging racks are available in multiple configurations : 12 , 24 , 36 , 60 , 120 and 204 lamp charging spaces .
Major Canadian mining contractors like Thyssen Mining , Boart Longyear , Redpath , Alex MacIntyre and Associates , Dumas , and Cementation are all using the cap lamps at various sites , while Canadian mine operators such as Vale , Newmont , Pure Gold , Kirkland Lake Gold , Hudbay Minerals , Rambler Metals & Mining , KGHM and Nyrstar are also using the products . to the outside of the cars provide a contact surface for the drive stations to propel the cars along the track . Propulsion is provided by fixed drive stations located at approximately 35 m intervals along the inclined track route and consist of electric motors mounted to tyres that press against the rail car side rails and propel the trains either forward or reverse . Variable frequency drives are used to control the speed of each train , and drive stations are only operating when an approaching train is detected . Dumping of cars on surface is accomplished by way of a vertical dump loop where the cars are inverted , discharging their contents into a bin . The configuration of the system is a single-track shuttle system with trains running forward and reverse along the track , with numerous bypass sidings incorporated into the system to allow upward-traveling full trains to pass downwardtraveling empty trains A total of seven 151 m long Rail-Veyor trains will be in operation at Troilus when the mine is producing from the lowest production level .
The open trough nature of the Rail-Veyor trains allows for the handling of relatively large muck ( 600 mm top size ) through the system , such that the need for an underground crusher to size the material prior to loading the Rail-Veyor system is not required . Instead , the crusher will be located on surface at the mill site to cater for the crushing of both open pit and underground mill feed material , eliminating the need for separate open pit and underground crushers .
Elsewhere , a preliminary economic assessment ( PEA ) on the potential expansion of Golden Star Resources ’ Wassa gold mine in Ghana has flagged the potential for applying alternative underground haulage methods . In terms of haulage infrastructure opportunities , Golden Star said it was considering the replacement of truck haulage with an infrastructure system like shaft hoisting , conveyor , or Rail-Veyor . The capital demand for such options would be offset by a large reduction in operating costs with automated systems , reduced diesel consumption and reduced ventilation demand , it noted . These haulage options were being studied to design different systems , estimate capital and operating costs , then complete a trade-off analysis , the company said .
Rail-Veyor also recently had a corporate boost after accepting an offer from RCF Jolimont Mining Innovation Fund II LP ( RCF Jolimont II ) for a significant stake in the company . RCF Jolimont II , a global investor in mining innovation , adds Rail- Veyor to its portfolio of high growth Mining Equipment , Technology and Services ( METS ) companies which are helping to transform the industry . Rail-Veyor was first brought to the attention of RCF Jolimont II during the 2019 Mining Cleantech Challenge which Rail-Veyor subsequently won in 2020 .
Mining investor RCF Jolimont II has taken a significant stake in autonomous materials handling specialist Rail-Veyor
RCF Jolimont II is part of Resource Capital Funds , a group of commonly managed private equity funds , established in 1998 with a mining sector specific investment mandate spanning all hard mineral commodities and geographic regions . Its current portfolio also includes fatigue management major SmartCap Technologies , mining radar & automation global player indurad , mine drilling advanced tech supplier Minnovare & Commit Works , a leader in frontline work management and short interval control software .
The Rail-Veyor haulage system is a low-cost , fully autonomous , and electrically powered materials handling system . “ With zero diesel emissions and significantly reduced OPEX costs over traditional methods – 90 % lower than diesel truck haulage – the system will also eliminate the potentially fatal risk factors of vehicle-human accidents and belt fires .”
Charles Gillies , a Director at RCF Jolimont Innovation , part of Resource Capital Funds , stated : “ Rail-Veyor is at the nexus of three major trends in mining : the rapid shift to electrification , automation , and a growing emphasis on environmental sustainability . The Rail-Veyor system is a cleaner choice compared to diesel for both the planet and the workforce with no heat , dust , or dangerous particulates generated by the system .”
Rail-Veyor Executive Chairman Jim Fisk added : “ We welcome the investment from RCF Jolimont which will enable us to fast track the rollout of the Rail-Veyor system to the many other sites
with which we are close to signing deals .”
IM
42 International Mining | APRIL 2021