FLEET MANAGEMENT
And the evolution doesn ' t stop there . The Mining Control Autonomous system is at an advanced stage of development to meet the future demands of mining , being agnostic and integrateable with any autonomous equipment .
Jeremias Azambuja , COO and Head of Customer service , points out that all this growth and innovation is only possible thanks to the trust and results achieved by FAST2 Mine ' s customers . " Valuing people and the ongoing commitment to quality , agility and proximity in customer service will continue to be the main pillar of this expansion towards 300 operations .”
Wenco – more success in India & adding fatigue
Tata Steel ’ s Joda East Iron Mine ( JEIM ) recently celebrated the successful implementation of Wencomine FMS from Wenco International Mining Systems , marking another significant milestone in the Indian mining industry . The mining group stated : “ This state-of-the-art technology has ushered in a new era for fleet operations at JEIM , driving remarkable advancements in productivity , sustainability , and optimised resource utilisation . The introduction of the Fleet Management System at JEIM represents a paradigm shift in the way fleet operations are managed . By harnessing the power of the Wenco FMS , JEIM has experienced unprecedented improvements in operational efficiency , productivity , safety and sustainability , setting a new standard within the industry .
The FMS was implemented to track real-time performance , maximise production and enhance safety and productivity by optimising site constraints . Through dynamic dispatch , it generates real-time assignments , improving machine and employee productivity while reducing fuel consumption and carbon footprint , supporting environmental stewardship .
The Fleet Management System ’ s data analytics are crucial , providing vast data for analysis and operational enhancements . It improves Overall Equipment Effectiveness ( OEE ), aids mineral conservation through grade control and blending
Wencomine continues to be a preferred FMS globally , including another recent success in India with deployment by Tata Steel ' s Joda East Iron Mine
and automates report generation , boosting automation and digitisation in mining operations for increased efficiency .
Key cited benefits of the FMS at JEIM included advanced production data capture with monitoring and analysis for optimised operations ; equipment tracking and optimisation for minimised downtime , and maximised output ; plus dynamic equipment allocation with real-time assignments for efficiency . Real-time production management means rompt decision-making for smooth operations while optimised fuelling comes with cost and environmental impact reduction . Corporate-wide real-time information
makes for better centralised management for seamless operations . Real-time health monitoring means proactive maintenance planning for reduced downtime and its interface capabilities help to optimise operational efficiency .
In January 2024 , Wenco International Mining Systems also announced a major product development : SmartCap for Wencomine , representing the integration of Wencomine FMS and the SmartCap Fatigue Management solution . Wenco said since its acquisition of SmartCap & its EEG solution , its team has taken the globally used and respected predictive fatigue management system to new heights . Ben Sparrow , Product Manager : “ A major progress area in the development space with SmartCap is its integration into Wencomine . Now we ’ ve got one screen and one point of reference – so SmartCap doesn ’ t need a separate screen when it ’ s in a Wencomine FMS deployed site . That enables the user to have their MDT showing their fleet assignment – tracking timing and load haul status for example – but also now displaying their SmartCap fatigue score .”
All that is required for the integration is a SmartCap Bluetooth dongle connecting the SmartCap LifeBand to the Wencomine FMS . This minimises hardware , integration time and machine downtime which means SmartCap is fully retrofittable for all existing Wencomine users . It says the ease of install is significantly increasing the demand for SmartCap among mines already using Wencomine . This easy installation also allows Wenco to leverage existing SmartCap customers who might be looking to change FMS or upgrade it to consider Wencomine .
Eli Alston , GM of Safety Solutions : “ Many of our FMS customers now see SmartCap simply as an operational cost upgrade to their existing system – so it ’ s an enhancement or add on – which greatly reduces their time in terms of approvals .”
As SmartCap relies on the LifeBand which is effectively an electroencephalogram ( EEG ) monitoring operator brain activity , it does not use a camera . This can be greatly beneficial to operations with ancillary and light vehicles fleets . “ Firstly , it is not as limited as camera systems since camera ' s effectiveness can be impacted by operator positions and head movements seen on machines such as dozers and graders ,” explains Sparrow . " Secondly , there is its portability – you wear the LifeBand and you are ready to go .”
International Mining | MAY 2024