MINE MAINTENANCE
MTG ’ s GET DETECTION safety and productivity device is already being used at a mine in the Nordic region
solution detects a possible GET detachment in less than three seconds , with a very high level of reliability , preventing a subsequent fall into the crusher .
This new series of digital solutions is a further step in MTG ’ s commitment to innovation and delivering premium products and services to its customers , it says . The company is already planning further additions to this platform , with more functionality for GET DETECTION expected soon .
The GET DETECTION series includes a suite of devices that are compatible with MTG ’ s TERRA cast lips , the TWINMET and new VEEMET tooth systems as well as the PROMET shrouds . The GET design of these product families enables the addition of sensors and activators to allow digital monitoring of the entire cast lip configuration , the company says .
“ Thanks to a robust digital ecosystem , the signals emitted by the GET sensors are transmitted via antennas and processed by an electronic control unit ,” the company explains . “ A tablet in the machine ’ s cabin displays the GET ’ s live status and alerts the operator in the event of an incident by means of a visual and acoustic signal .”
GET DETECTION has been developed for hydraulic excavators with an operating weight of more than 250 t and is so far available in Australia , Europe and USA .
CR acquisition paying off
CR has a GET detection solution of its own in the form of GET Trakka .
The company added this to its customised engineering offering in late 2020 , labelling it at the time as the only field-proven system able to provide reliable sensor-based GET loss detection for mining equipment .
GET Trakka product solutions are based on built-for-purpose industrial IoT platforms with rugged embedded wireless sensors to provide revolutionary productivity and safety outcomes for the mining industry , according to CR .
Close to two years on from the acquisition , Derek Mulder , Senior Product Manager – CR Digital , said the company had made significant strides in converting most of its hard-rock GET to be compatible with GET Trakka .
“ We have long been a digital technology company and GET Trakka has only deepened the integration between our mining consumables and load haul optimisation tools ,” he told IM .
The company continues to build market share in this fast-growing sector , and Mulder said CR ’ s digital business is continuing to explore the possibilities that come with this sensor-based system .
“ Our customers can be assured that this is a technology with longevity and many broader applications beyond GET loss detection ,” he explained .
More specifically , GET Trakka is already helping CR and its customers understand their GET usage at the point of consumption without relying on manual records .
Mulder concluded : “ Reliable GET loss detection is so critical for improving safety outcomes on mine sites . Crusher events bring multiple serious risks to personnel . For mine sites who have experienced crusher events , we encourage them to explore the current technology offering . Solutions have evolved and there ’ s now a real ability to prevent this risk in a reliable way .”
RME and safe mill relining
Another area of mine safety that companies continually strive to address is mill relining . There are only a handful of specialists around the globe able to effectively and safely carry this out , and Australia-based Russell Mineral Equipment is in that small contingent .
The company designed and completed production on its 500th Mill Relining Machine ( MRM ) for Australia-based gold producer Northern Star Resources Ltd earlier this year , yet , even with this experience , it continues to seek the best method to lift and remove worn mill liners safely and quickly .
“ Other lifting techniques rely on crowbars or slings made of a variety of materials ,” the company explains . “ These significantly increase the risk of crush injuries . So , we developed a safer system – a range known as the O-ZONE Liner Lifting Tools – that can be used with the RUSSELL MRM and also the three-axis MILLMAST Liner Handler .”
When worn liners land on the mill floor or charge , they are difficult to sling underneath and safely remove , according to the company . The O- ZONE tools form a systematic process to handle them with reduced manual lifting and mill downtime .
“ We created different sized sets with
maximum lifting ratings from 1,500-8,000 kg ,” the company said . “ They are also coloured to match the THUNDERBOLT Moil Axis Guide and THUNDERBOLT Moil colour coding and ensure that the right tools are used .”
These tools eliminate dangerous practices like slinging and reduce handling times of liner muck outs , RME says . In actual relines of a 300-liner ball mill , the company found that using O-ZONE tools reduced downtime and simultaneously improved crew safety .
The O-ZONE range consists of three main components : n O-ZONE Scissors : O-ZONE Scissors engage worn liners that fall face down without retained liner bolts , and are an essential lifting point for worn liner removal ; n O-ZONE Grips : These attach to liner bolts that have stayed in the liner . They are designed to engage worn liners that fall face down with retained liner bolts . When liners have one retained bolt and one free bolt hole , the O- ZONE Scissors and O-ZONE Grips can be used together ; n O-ZONE Hooks : These are required to lock the O-ZONE Scissors , with a unique hook handle protecting fingers away from where the hook and tool meet , according to RME . RME ’ s O- ZONE Hooks and Rigging Chains adapt between the RUSSELL Mill Liner Handler ( MLH ) or RUSSELL MRM lifting hooks and O- ZONE Liner Lifting Tools .
Conveying the right message
Conveyor belt repair and maintenance is an ongoing concern for every health and safety team at a mine site , all of whom are aware of the injuries personnel can suffer when not following procedure .
The Martin N2 Position Indicator monitors primary belt cleaner blades , notifying Martin Engineering service technicians and plant operations personnel when re-tensioning or replacement is required and / or when abnormal conditions occur
28 International Mining | JANUARY 2023