Tag: mining technology

Weir to acquire Artificial Intelligence and Machine Vision technology leader Motion Metrics

Weir to acquire Artificial Intelligence and Machine Vision technology leader Motion Metrics

The Weir Group has agreed to acquire Motion Metrics, a leading Canada-based global mining technology business, for an initial consideration of £89m1 payable in cash upon completion, subject to customary net debt and working capital adjustments. Motion Metrics is the market leading developer of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D rugged Machine Vision Technology used in mines worldwide. Its technology helps miners increase safety, efficiency and sustainability of their operations. As part of the agreement, Motion Metrics Vancouver headquarters will become Weir’s global centre for excellence in AI and Machine Vision technology. Motion Metrics applications are highly complementary to Weir’s product portfolio. It will join the ESCO division reflecting the early adoption of its technology in ground engaging tools (GET)...

Solid as a Rock

Solid as a Rock

In 1996 Stuart MacGregor designed what was to become central to an evolving and innovative series of anchored instrumentation. A sixth-generation gold miner – and hoping his 19-year-old son is on his way to becoming the seventh generation – Stuart, the managing director and principal geotechnical engineer of SCT Operations, designed the first Rock-IT instrumentation with the effective and accurate measurement of ground movement in mind. "In a former role, I spent a lot of time underground, and my job was to measure the ground moving, so this is where a lot of these ideas crystalised," he said. "When I joined SCT (Strata Control Technology) the coal industry didn't have the experience in monitoring ground movement. "These instruments are all...

Virtual Reality In Mining: Pushing The Boundaries

Virtual Reality In Mining: Pushing The Boundaries

The University of New South Wales' mine simulator. Image: University of New South Wales. BY AMY BLOM THE benefits of virtual reality for miners are growing at a rapid pace, particularly in training and safety. Now, it could be time to expand the technology and begin looking at fully integrated systems. Augmented and virtual reality has become more widespread within the mining sector and according to researchers, exciting developments could be on the horizon. Virtual reality has already been used by numerous universities and organisations in Australia as an educational tool for engineering students and future mine workers. In recent years, the technology has also been used as a safety training tool for miners and rescue brigades in...

Rio backs automation course

Rio backs automation course

Copyright © 2018 Rio Tinto. Image: Christian Sprogoe Photography. BY REUBEN ADAMS AUSTRALIA’S first nationally accredited courses in automation will be delivered for the first time in 2019. This is the next step of a landmark partnership between South Metropolitan TAFE and Rio Tinto announced in October last year, with the miner contributing $2 million towards a new curriculum including robotics, data analytics and digital inclusion education. Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said the new wider curriculum being developed would enhance capabilities of those in the mining sector and form part of the learning pathways for those seeking to enter a range of industries applying automation and technology. The proposed curriculum will be completed...

Robots will take over: Hitachi

Robots will take over: Hitachi

Image: Hitachi. BY ELIZABETH FABRI WITHIN a decade Australian mines will be operated almost entirely by autonomous machines, according to global group Hitachi. Game-changing technologies such as remote and integrated operation centres, driverless vehicles, and advanced analytics are set to be “commonplace” across the entire industry by 2030. “Such advances in technology are predicted to increase productivity and reduce costs by up to 25 per cent, which will have a significant impact on retaining Australia’s competitiveness in the Asia Pacific region, in addition to major positive social impacts such as the ability for mining employees to work in metropolitan areas,” Hitachi stated. “Hitachi also predicts that by 2030 most mines will have fully integrated IoT systems that...

Mining tech giants join forces

Mining tech giants join forces

The winning Digi-MIN team consisting of three Gekko representatives (graduate process engineer Eliza Craig, graduate metallurgist Barry Tuncks and mechanical designer Matt Kurtze) and Monash University student Daniel Bechaz. By Elizabeth Fabri GEKKO Systems has partnered with Rockwell Automation to develop a metallurgical software program that will account for metal content at various stages of ore processing and provide miners with analytic capabilities to audit and improve performance. In late February the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and had now progressed to the development and pilot stage of the project. Gekko global mining and processing services manager Renaldo Maras said the company was pleased to be collaborating with Rockwell Automation; a company it had worked with at...