CPI , Sibelco , Bell and xtonomy launch UK-first autonomous ADT pilot
WORLD PROSPECTS
Redpath to acquire RUC Mining
Redpath ( Australia ) Holdings Pty Ltd , a wholly owned subsidiary of Redpath Mining Inc , has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire RUC Mining Contractors Pty Ltd ( RUC ). Pending regulatory approvals , it is expected that the acquisition will be completed and for RUC to officially become part of Redpath by June 2024 .
George Flumerfelt , Chief Executive Officer at The Redpath Group , said the acquisition reconfirms Redpath ’ s position as a global leader in mine development , shaft sinking and raise drilling services .
“ Redpath has held RUC in high regard for a long time and this agreement is evidence of the quality of service and expertise it sees across the RUC team . Our combined capabilities will be a compelling proposition to customers and strengthen our position in capturing large and important projects in the future ,” said Flumerfelt .
“ Acquiring RUC will give Redpath enhanced scale , capabilities and stronger balance sheet to strengthen our market position and fund growth , particularly in the Australian , African , European and Asian markets .”
“ Our presence in the Australian market will be comprehensive , with a country-wide footprint able to provide a full range of services and support from both the east and west coasts , benefitting customers and employees .”
Once complete , the acquisition will enable Redpath it says to deliver a more diverse range of services to customers and opportunities to employees , including : n Mechanised mining : A single company that brings together the best of Redpath and RUC to offer customers comprehensive capability and reach . n Raise drilling : Be the Australian market leader , with increased investment in training and equipment that will strengthen Redpath ’ s global position . n Shaft sinking : Giving Redpath customers access to new capabilities from RUC , while also giving RUC customers access to Redpath ’ s global shaft sinking business . n Greater connectivity across Australia : bridging the east and west coasts with dedicated plant , assets and training facilities
on both sides of the country . n Diverse and iconic projects : Redpath becomes the go-to turn-key contractor for major vertical and lateral development works . Flumerfelt said Redpath management ’ s commitment to safety , and being a leader and employer of choice in the industry remain unchanged . “ Safety – First , Last and Always – is and will always be our number one priority . We are excited about the opportunities this acquisition will create for employees – including more training and professional growth , diversity of projects and exposure to work opportunities around the world .” https :// www . redpathmining . com
CPI , Sibelco , Bell and xtonomy launch UK-first autonomous ADT pilot
Sibelco ’ s china-clay Cornwood quarry in Devon , UK , recently played host to the launch of an autonomous ADT designed to help future proof the effectiveness and competitiveness of extractive operations such as mining within the minerals and aggregates industry .
The development of autonomous driving capability opens the door to a range of operational efficiency , safety , environmental and employee benefits to underpin the sector going forward , according to the compaies involved .
The UK-first project was initially conceptualised by Chepstow Plant International ( CPI ) and Bell Equipment following long-term trials between Bell Equipment and technology platform specialist , xtonomy .
CPI identified Sibelco , a long-term valued strategic customer , as the ideal partner to bring the project to reality in a live-working quarry environment . Collectively , the four stakeholders have collaborated to develop and launch a quarry transportation proposition that has its eyes on the future .
The launch event for the venture saw key industry guests invited to witness a full demonstration of the new autonomous solution within a working quarry setting . Presentations highlighted the on-board hardware and software technologies , including radar sensors from indurad , high-precision GPS , multi-channel communication systems and on-board processing hardware . They have been incorporated by xtonomy into a standard B40E dump truck to create an Autonomous-Ready drive by wire B40E solution .
As a result , the combination offers true and safe autonomy with a resilient navigation system that dynamically plans ADT paths and predictively controls the vehicle around the entire quarry site , the companies say .
Among the key objectives with this pilot scheme will be to demonstrate the potential to reduce vehicular incidents and subsequent accidents as well as upskilling then the existing workforce to further support the future of quarry operations .
Operational efficiencies will be enhanced as the autonomous ADTs are able to operate for longer periods during the working day , deliver highly accurate tipping results and ensure that the existing quarry shift patterns can be tailored to improve productivity . Further benefits will be available thanks to improved component life and reduced wear and tear on the Bell B40E dump truck , leading to improved asset availability for the quarry , they say .
On-board hardware and software technologies , including radar sensors from indurad , high-precision GPS , multi-channel communication systems and on-board processing hardware have been incorporated by xtonomy into a standard B40E dump truck to create an Autonomous-Ready drive by wire B40E solution
Environmental advantages will also be leveraged through the AI-enabled transformation . With enhanced driving accuracy and efficiency across the quarry , less fuel will be consumed , helping to ensure reductions in carbon emissions from a a quarry ’ s daily activities . To further enhance the autonomous ADTs impact on the environment , the Bell B40E uses HVO instead of diesel . https :// www . xtonomy . ai ; https :// www . sibelco . com / en ; https :// www . bellequipment . com ; https :// www . chepstowplant . com
6 International Mining | APRIL 2024