MINEXPO PREVIEW
of quality across the whole conveying process ”. The Copper Mountain stockpile installation will represent the first time the two have worked together on a project .
This increased visibility – from the pit to the stockpile to the process plant – will enable Copper Mountain to carry out a full grade reconciliation process , More said .
“ We will see every tonne they touch and correlate that with what comes out of the mill through online analysers ,” he explained .
More and his team will also be coming to the show with an underground offering ready for testing .
Having agreed with New Gold to deploy its ShovelSense for underground on a Cat R1600G LHD at the New Afton gold-copper block cave operation in British Columbia , Canada , the company is now in the position to talk to other miners about setting up trials .
“ The core technology – all of the algorithms , software , hardware – is the same as ShovelSense for open-pit mining ,” More said . “ It is the ‘ application package ’ – looking at how we can attach the unit to the machine and protect it in an underground environment – that is what we have to test out . The design for this is already complete ; it ’ s just a matter of trialling it .”
Still within the field of ‘ separation technology ’ Eriez plans to showcase its suspended electromagnets ( SEs ), wet drum separators and flotation technology for mineral processing applications at MINExpo .
Eriez says its suspended electromagnets , available in both manual and self-cleaning models , provide tramp metal collection from conveyed materials
SEs , available in both manual and self-cleaning models , provide tramp metal collection from conveyed materials . Wet drum separators feature the newest advances in magnetic circuitry design and offer continuous recovery of magnetite or ferrosilicon . The Eriez flotation product line , meanwhile , encompasses flotation cells , gas spargers , slurry distributors and flotation test equipment .
Hexagon plans to unveil its vision for mining ’ s autonomous future at MINExpo 2021 .
This represents the culmination of a journey that began at the last MINExpo in 2016 when Hexagon ’ s Mining division was barely a year old . With the company ’ s integration journey just starting , Hexagon ’ s booth , back then , reflected the pieces of a puzzle : a collection of safety solutions , led by its collision avoidance system ( CAS ); a general mine planning portfolio tested in mines worldwide during the previous 46 years ; a fleet management suite ; and an underground task management solution .
“ Connecting the pieces of that puzzle was essential to fulfilling the vision of becoming the industry ’ s number-one smart technology partner for integrated life-of-mine solutions ,” Rob Daw , CTO of Hexagon ’ s Mining division , said . “ It ’ s the backbone of a mission to empower mines for the decades ahead with technology to balance safety , sustainability and productivity .”
Increased investment in research and development and key acquisitions have taken place in the five years since this MINExpo debut . “ A uniquely holistic approach to drill and blast , a market-leading safety portfolio , and a data-driven focus to our entire smart mining technology stack are some of the outcomes of this strategy and will be centre-stage at in the Las Vegas Convention Center ,” Daw said .
With a theme for the show of “ The Power of One ”, Hexagon says it aims to show visitors that it is the one technology partner capable of helping mines successfully complete their
“ A uniquely holistic approach to drill and blast , a market-leading safety portfolio , and a datadriven focus to our entire smart mining technology stack … will be centre-stage at in the Las Vegas Convention Center ,” Hexagon says
journeys of digital transformation across the mining value chain .
In addition to displays , demonstrations and tech talks will be an “ immersive life-of-mine experience ”, through which attendees can navigate workflows and processes within the context of a “ smart mining portfolio ”.
Hexagon will also display some of its newest advancements in which sensor technology plays a key role .
“ As mines become more automated , the ecosystems created will rely more on sensors to provide information and protect people ,” Daw explained . “ Continued integration means more autonomy and eventually fully autonomous solutions .”
Using data from multiple sensors and integrated solutions is increasingly leading towards simple and consolidated hardware architecture , or a Smart Device Ecosystem ( SDE ). Installed in vehicles , an SDE means one set of components to deliver multiple solutions , Hexagon explained .
“ For example , in the same antenna , computing box , perception sensors and display , a mine could deploy multiple solutions for fleet management , collision awareness and avoidance , spotting assist , fatigue management , machine control and machine and asset health ,” Daw said . “ Not only can all of this be confined to a single unit , decluttering the cabin , but it also reduces maintenance and capital expenditure investment .”
That means one SDE for “ the next generation of operator experience ”, enhancing operator awareness , improving reliability , and addressing
International Mining | AUGUST 2021