MINE LIGHTING
Smart lighting
LEDs and Li-ion batteries
are old news in mine
lighting now, the current
move is to introduce smart
lighting that can adapt to
changing conditions and
equipment needs, reports
Paul Moore
HALO Solutions LED strip
lighting underground at Oyu
Tolgoi copper-gold mine in
Mongolia. HALO worked with
local company Across The World
LLC to deliver the solution. Over
14 km of lateral tunnels have
already been constructed at Oyu
Tolgoi but eventually up to 200
km, at depths of up to 1,300 m,
will be built
ll the talk in the mine lighting sector
currently is on so-called smart lighting –
lights that can adapt to conditions in real
time, including weather, dust levels etc but also
to specific operational needs. Industry trends
are also driving this. With more and more mines
implementing or trialling autonomous
machines, the lighting approach also changes.
For example, if a mobile machine knows where
it and all the other machines are via laser and
radar technology, the lighting strategy then also
changes as it is no longer mainly about better
illumination for operators. While many of the
big industry players for lights on mobile mining
equipment like HELLA and Nordic Lights (which
is also the main OEM light fitting supplier to
Caterpillar) are remaining fairly quiet about
these developments, IM understands there will
be a number of new smart lighting launches in
2020.
HELLA did give an insight into what may be
coming, outlining one product its new smart
lighting range, the SMART Cornering Light.
Occupational safety is of considerable
importance in mines. Work is often performed at
night or underground, where there is no natural
light. The vehicle lighting is often the only light
source. Poor lighting leads to accidents and
tiredness and is consequently an increased
safety risk. “HELLA therefore develops lighting
solutions specially for the mining industry. The
new SMART Cornering Light from HELLA ensures
greater safety in mines, in particular when
turning the vehicle left or right. When turning
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International Mining | DECEMBER 2019
the vehicle in the dark, drivers often only realise
that there is a precipice or wall in the way when
it is too late. The SMART Cornering Light from
HELLA enables drivers to see obstacles in good
time and take the appropriate action. This
ensures greater comfort and safety when
working.”
The solution is available as a set with two
worklights (RokLUME C180 or RokLUME 280)
and a smart control unit. The control unit
communicates with the two worklights – one of
which is fitted to the front left of the vehicle, the
other front right. Based on the vehicle's
movements, either the right-hand or left-hand
worklight is activated automatically when
turning the vehicle in the respective direction.
“The LED SMART Cornering Light is quick and
easy to retrofit, and immediately ensures
improved illumination when turning the vehicle
left or right. In particular in underground mines
where there is often no lighting, this can prevent
accidents and vehicle repair downtimes, and
therefore additional costs.”
Cordless rules in cap lamps
Looking at other specific lighting markets like
underground cap lamps, there seems to be a
twin track market approach with all the leading
brands like Northern Light, Oldham, Wisdom
and others offering both the basic corded
models but also lightweight cordless models.
Fred Kopeschny, General Manager, Northern
Light Technologies (NLT) told IM: “Cordless
lamps now make up the vast majority of cap
lamps being used in mining. We still see that
some users, and some mines, have a preference
for corded lamps as they perceive them as being
less likely to get lost if they fall off the hard hat.
Also, our corded lamps have a longer duration
and are brighter. But the comfort and
HELLA’s new SMART Cornering Light sets provide improved illumination when turning the mining
truck left or right