UNDERGROUND LOAD & HAUL
The L440B that arrived last month at the NORCAT Underground Centre is the first ever delivery of this 5-t payload unit, according to Aramine
The partnership enables Komatsu to test and optimise the performance of the WX04B in a realistic mining environment, gathering valuable data and insights that will shape the future of battery-electric equipment in the mining industry, NORCAT says.“ The NORCAT Underground Centre offers a unique setting that bridges the gap between product development and market readiness,” it added.
Unlike many traditional systems that require extensive underground infrastructure, the WX04B’ s battery swap can be performed at ground level without additional equipment or risks of rigging overhead loads, Komatsu says. This streamlined process reduces costs and complexity, making it a more efficient and user-friendly option for underground mining operations.
At NORCAT, the company has also delivered a 150 kW battery charger that can, Komatsu says, boost power efficiency, offer broad compatibility with mining power sources( 400 VAC to 1,000 VAC) and has no need for an external transformer. This design minimises infrastructure requirements, offering mining operations greater flexibility without the need for a dedicated charging station, it added.
The ARAMINE L440B that arrived last month at the NORCAT Underground Centre, meanwhile, is the first ever delivery of this 5-t payload unit, according to Aramine. It follows the delivery of Aramine’ s L130D Teleop and L140B units to the facility previously.
The L440B sets a new benchmark in underground BEV loader performance, delivering 224 kWh of onboard energy and 230 kW of power. With the L440B, even the battery charger is integrated onboard, meaning no infrastructure changes are needed at the mine site.
Specifically designed for small to medium-section mines, the L440B ensures continuous operation thanks to Aramine’ s unique swappable energy modules. It
also features a more spacious and quieter cabin, along with an intuitive data collection system and machine software – all aimed at improving the operator’ s experience.
Aramine commented on the recent delivery:“ This delivery marks the beginning of a new chapter in electrifying underground mining operations worldwide. Having the L440B in operation at NORCAT represents an exciting milestone – not only for Aramine but also for the mining industry, which will now have the opportunity to discover the machine in this unique environment. We are truly grateful to NORCAT for their trust and confidence in us.”
Heading towards‘ hands-free’ operation
Gold Fields, in partnership with Universal Field Robots( UFR), a Sandvik company, previously took a bold step forward by implementing an OEM-agnostic autonomous truck haulage solution at its Granny Smith gold mine in Western Australia’ s Eastern Goldfields.
Two years into the project, Shannon McDermott, Manager Technology Programs at Gold Fields, and Dush Wimal, Director at UFR, reflected on the project’ s successes, lessons and future steps.
“ At UFR, we’ re not confined to one brand or operational system – our autonomy platform, UFRautonomy™, can work across any machine type or operational environment, making operations safer, more productive and more sustainable than replacing existing fleets,” Wimal said.
McDermott echoed this sentiment, explaining the mining company needed a solution that wasn’ t tied to a single OEM.“ Flexibility was key,” he said.
UFR was selected for its capability to deliver a fully autonomous and teleremote system adaptable to any underground truck.
By late 2022, UFR had deployed teleoperation on its first Epiroc MT65 haul truck at Granny Smith. Building on this milestone, the company delivered a fully autonomous MT65 truck by early 2024.“ Today, five MT65 trucks have been automated and are actively operating underground, with a sixth truck to be commissioned shortly,” McDermott said.
Currently, the autonomous fleet is used to haul ore to the surface during shift change, recovering valuable time that would otherwise be lost.
McDermott said:“ It takes around 45 minutes to drive from the bottom of the mine to the surface, and shift change takes another 30 minutes. By operating trucks during this time, we’ re recovering valuable haulage hours.”
With each truck moving roughly 60 tonnes, the automated fleet can deliver up to 180 extra tonnes daily.
The system integrates advanced LiDARbased 3D mapping for precise underground navigation and holds a SIL2( Safety Integrity Level 2) rating, underscoring its compliance with stringent safety requirements.
Looking ahead, Gold Fields is investigating fully autonomous opportunities to further enhance productivity and safety, with UFR working closely with the Granny Smith team to support this ongoing journey.
The project has proven UFR’ s capability to automate any underground truck, regardless of brand, allowing for the potential expansion of mixed-fleet automation across various machines and models, UFR says.
In parallel with the truck automation project at Granny Smith, Gold Fields is collaborating with UFR and Remote Control Technologies( RCT) to develop teleremote loader capabilities.“ Autonomous haulage is only the beginning,” McDermott said.“ Our next goal is to integrate teleremote loaders with autonomous trucks to create a truly hands-free operation.”
UFR has successfully automated five Epiroc MT65 trucks that are actively operating underground at the Granny Smith gold mine
26 International Mining | JULY 2025