HIGH PROFILE own wear sensors that are installed in the floor of the tray ; they consist of a vertical cylinder with multiple layers , and as the floor wears down the sensor also wears down , and the thickness of the sensor and the floor is constantly recorded in the system so it can be consulted at any given time ; alarms can also be triggered at predefined thresholds . It can also be used in steel floors for OEM trays .
Q What about network connection – how does your Smart Tray 4.0 remain connected to ensure consistency of this real time information ? A We thought early on in the project , why don ’ t we just do this with our own wireless system , where we don ’ t need to use WiFi , and the trays can use their own modem and connect to the main cellular network or private LTE network . A lot of sensitive data and information is often handled on WiFi , so this route avoids that . And then on top of this , the computer in the truck cab that is connected to the different digital sensors and cameras – connects directly to our Amazonhosted cloud that is equipped with all the necessary infrastructure to ensure security . Overall , what is important it is to be network and OEM agnostic , as well as secure . There is no shortage of companies around the world offering data analytics , but they are still mainly using information that has come out of the truck OEM system .
Q Miners often complain about the sheer volume of data they now deal with and in particular about having too many sensor-based screens and systems in the truck cab that can potentially act as a distraction to the operator . Why is NEXUS MINE different ? A First of all , we take safety very seriously , so we do not intend to add any screens to the truck cab unless the client is specifically asking for it . Also unlike other systems , it is not creating what you would call a big data package . It is not intended as a new layer of data that needs to go to the dispatch room for analysis – it is aimed as a maximum of three variables that are simply presented to the key mine and production management on their tablets , computers and smartphones , enabling them to take real time actions . We are also able to customise the software to work with the type of data the users want to see . Even if a manager wanted to just get a text when there is an alert , we can do that too . When the industry is dealing with data lakes , we provide something that is specific .
Q What about measuring fragmentation in the truck load , ore grade or even PSD or abrasivity ? A Fragmentation analysis is clearly very important and something that Duratray is working on – but in terms of a real time , custom solution like NEXUS MINE , it does bring added complexity – we are not there yet but it could be done . On things like ore grade , we would see that as something defined by drilling already in the blocks that form part of the model that dictates the mine plan . We see our system as more centred on quick operational wins .
Q What has been achieved so far in terms of development and testing ? Is the aim to offer it as standard ? A We intend to make NEXUS MINE available to every single Duratray user that wants it , whether they are using our SDBs or XP lightweight steel bodies . But if they client wants it fitted on trays from one of the other major truck tray players , then that is OK too – and like mines are normally using mixed trucks fleets – many of them also have a mix of truck tray types from more than one supplier . On testing , we are already 1.5 years into development , and I can say the system is already operating on a number of trucks but cannot give many more details due to NDAs . But I can say NEXUS MINE has been running at an iron ore operation in Western Australia as well as in a copper mine in Chile , on more than 20 trucks in each case . Notably the insight it has given managers into individual truck productivity and performance has been a real eye opener for them .
NEXUS MINE is an OEM and network agnostic system giving mining companies real time access to their data
Q So overall would you say that miners are seeing trays as more of an optimisation opportunity and less of a commodity ? A That ’ s a great question – I can tell you that before this project , the miners did not see trays as being integral to their efficiency improvements . This project and system will change that attitude and it already is where they are being used . They have been working with the data tools that they had , and the ability of a dump body supplier and designer to come up with a solution like this was not something they had expected .
Q What do you see as the market response to the truck OEMs to NEXUS MINE given that it will allow mines to bypass their systems ? A Of course , this is not something they will necessarily like , but we have been in the truck tray business for 50 years and we were the original creators of the lightweight steel tray system . There was a lot of resistance from truck players at the time as they could only offer heavy weight body solutions . But of course the rest is history and now most of the major mines use either lightweight , state of the art steel bodies or suspended dump bodies . Our suspended bodies are maintained using hydraulics , not welding , something else the truck OEMs tried to use in opposing our technology . But the performance and efficiency , and ROI , upside of modern advanced bodies , which is some cases can be up to twice the cost of standard truck OEM bodies , has been proven again and again , or the miners wouldn ’ t be using them . This NEXUS MINE system will also face resistance – but we are willing to also work with the major truck OEMs – after all we are all working to improve our clients ’ efficiency . IM
OCTOBER 2022 | International Mining 39