HIGH PROFILE
if there is one brand for drills , trucks and loaders , then you still have lots of other brands for utility and other vehicles . So if you are going to solve the productivity challenges in the mining industry we believe that you have to be OEM-agnostic . Taking automation , of course we started with automating our own equipment but this also gave us the knowledge of how to do it in a fast , reliable and efficient way . We saw an opportunity to take on a technology position that is broader than just our own equipment , so that is what we are doing . Ultimately there will be no Epiroc equipment solution and an OEM-agnostic solution in automation and digitalisation – there will just be one . All the equipment units a mine uses need to be able to communicate with each other from a safety and productivity standpoint . Ten or even five years ago , OEMs were primarily focused on their own machines which is natural , but over time and talking closely to customers , it is clear an agnostic solution is what they want and need and we have responded to that .
Q What role do you think AI is playing and will play in your business and products going forward ? And on the flip side how do you make sure you still cater to the market that wants the more simplified equipment option ? A It is already playing a vital role especially with regard to our products and trying to remove the human element from hazardous operational areas . But of course you need to ensure that the baseline is the machines and systems being at least as smart as when there is an operator in the cab . A good example is an underground loader – and making sure the machine is as good as the operator in selecting the right entry point to the muckpile and ensuring maximum filling of the bucket . Everything is becoming more data driven and the more data you have , the more intelligent the solutions are becoming . On different customer types , I see in the last three to four years the interest in new technology is across the board not just from Tier 1 miners and contractors . This is true in terms of region also – in the past Canada , Australia and the Nordic region tended to lead the way . Today it is happening across all regions at the same time . We are seeing a lot of BEV growth in Africa , for example , which is fantastic to see . But you are right there are many customers still waiting to see how new technology evolves – to be fast followers . They want to see the technology functioning well in their region . So that is very important for us – so that prospective customers in their own part of the world can see the new
Helena Hedblom , Epiroc President and CEO , and IM Editorial Director Paul Moore
technology meeting KPIs as well as talk to operators and mine management before they are convinced . We have already developed the technology – we now need to ensure that it is implemented in the best way possible on behalf of not just the mine owners but also the operators , maintainers as well as our own service and support staff . Mines are mainly in remote places – we need to be sure we have the competences where they are needed . We have over 7,000 service technicians out there in the world , and their skill set will be the most important thing to ensure the technology will work 24 / 7 . This is being done in a very structured and certified way . You can ’ t just develop a machine , produce it and sell it anymore . And of course we want to ensure we retain our aftermarket strength for these new machines . These machines are complex so if we can ensure they are well supported , in many cases we should also be able to enhance our aftermarket presence even further which all adds to the resilience of Epiroc as a company .
Q Does it help that most of the machines you make today already have advanced analytical capabilities and in many cases are also autonomous ready ? A To be able to be automated , the machine needs our Rig Control System ( RCS ) in place . When I look at the number of units we have out there now equipped with RCS , it is far more than we actually have automated today . A lot of customers are not yet ready to go fully autonomous but instead have started with line of sight teleremote then to a controller cabin or office . You don ’ t often go straight from manual to full autonomy . But at least when they are ready to take all these steps , the machines themselves are ready – we just need to add the systems and processes , and operator training to ensure it happens in the safest and most efficient way . Also , a significant proportion of our installed base of machines is getting older and coming up for replacement – so this is a time when many of our customers are looking at the long term future for their fleets . IM
Phil Goode , Chief Commercial Officer at RCT , now part of Epiroc , talking OEM-agnostic solutions at the Epiroc World Expo 2023
10 International Mining | JULY 2023