INTERNATIONAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
Auto tech supports port handling
RCT has completed an automation project with port, logistics and infrastructure specialist
Qube Bulk at the Whyalla Port in South Australia.
Autonomous solutions provider RCT
has finalised an automation project
with port, logistics and infrastructure
specialist Qube Bulk at the Whyalla Port
in South Australia.
In 2019 RCT installed and commissioned
its ControlMaster Line of Sight
automation solution as well as a single
camera Teleremote solution onto a
Liebherr R920 Excavator.
Qube Bulk approached RCT to develop
a safer and more productive way
to remove bulk cargos – such as
coal, dolomite and limestone – from
bulk vessels to support the Whyalla
steelworks operation.
Now machine operators stand at a safe
distance and use the automation technology
to carry out the full range of functions that
would normally be available to them when
sitting in the cab of the machine.
RCT Account Manager Phill Dean said
the project has been a complete success.
“Our ControlMaster solution interfaced
seamlessly with the excavator’s systems
and offers operators the exact same
functionality available to them under
the Original Equipment Manufacturers’
guidelines,” he said.
“Now operators have a much safer and
productive way of carrying out their work
and ensuring operations at the Whyalla
Port run smoothly.”
Qube Whyalla Manager Sean Walsh
is thrilled with the project adding “RCT
carried out a great job and we are very
happy with the performance overall”.
Auto haulage system boosts Boddington
8
APRIL 2020
will work to leverage its autonomous
technology training facility being
constructed in Collie, Western Australia.
Cat autonomous trucks have proven
reliability and durability in the autonomous
system, which creates higher truck
utilisation and increased production
rates. There are now 275 mining trucks
operating autonomously via MineStar
Command for hauling, and those trucks
have moved more than 1.9 billion tonnes
since 2013.
Caterpillar has reached an agreement
with global mining company Newmont
to supply and support Cat autonomous
trucks and the MineStar Command for
hauling system for the Boddington gold
mine in Western Australia
The fleet of autonomous Cat 793F
mining trucks will be fully operational in
2021 and will be the first autonomous
haulage system working in an open pit
gold mine.
“We are pleased to work with
Newmont in implementing autonomous
haulage at Boddington,” says Denise
Johnson, group president Resource
Industries, Caterpillar. “Command for
hauling has shown its ability to enhance
safety, optimise production and lower
costs at sites around the world. The
Caterpillar team is eager to demonstrate
these positive results in gold mining,”
says Johnson.
Caterpillar will work with WesTrac, the
regional Cat dealer, to manage logistics of
mining truck delivery and commissioning.
WesTrac will also play a key role in
implementing technology solutions and
Cat 793F autonomous mining trucks
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