A prominent mine in New South Wales, Australia, took a significant step forward in the modernisation of their equipment and operations by going digital with RCT - Powered by Epiroc.
Renowned for extracting tin, lead, and zinc, the site's commitment to innovation has led to this upgrade which will ensure greater efficiency, safety, and sustainability on site.
For years, the site has successfully operated a fleet of CAT 2900s using RCT’s analogue system.
Recently the decision was made to transition their production fleet of CAT 2900s to a full digital system - AutoNav Lite, allowing the site access to enhanced diagnostics and predictive maintenance.
Operators control the Automated LHD machines from customised Telecabins, mounted to Toyota Land Cruiser Utilities.
Now, with the implementation of a digital operation, they can monitor machinery status, from these vehicles without needing to go back to a central control room to observe/diagnose the LHD information.
This significantly increases operational efficiency and improves safety by reducing the time workers spend in potentially hazardous underground areas.
Although these cabins were already in operation, they underwent a customised digital hardware upgrade to meet the site’s specific needs. This included network management, and connectivity, ensuring that even the most remote areas of the mine are always connected.
The site’s move to digital is only the beginning. The company plans to continue refining and enhancing its systems to further optimise machine performance. With new hardware and technology being developed at a rapid pace, the mine owner has an eye on further innovations that will keep the mine at the forefront of the industry.
This digital transition not only strengthens the mine’s operational capabilities but also positions the site as a leader in mining innovation adoption.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Young, RCT Communications Officer
Efficiency and productivity have increased significantly at a Western Australian Gold and Copper mine thanks to the implementation of RCT’s Digital, Autonomous technology across its mobile mining fleet.
The site was no stranger to RCT’s state-of-the-art autonomous solution, having benefitted from our analogue technology for many years before the latest upgrade.
The decision to transform operations was made to future proof themselves with RCT’s latest digital solution.
The project involved transitioning a mixed machine fleet consisting of three existing Sandvik 514 loaders and two 1700 CAT loaders. The technology upgrade utilises RCT’s Connect - the full-scale digital communications solution that is designed to meet the demands of autonomous machines in real-time for both existing and future fleet needs.
“RCT’s innovative technology ensures all remote loaders on site can operate autonomously now and well into the future,” said RCT Account Manager, Scott Phillips.
As well as improved operating efficiencies, the upgrade in technology has enabled operators to remote from the mine’s surface.
While the technology implementation is still relatively new, a spokesperson from the mine said there have been a myriad of benefits so far.
“Managing the fleet from the surface or "hot seating" has boosted production. Capturing the lost time from shift change and continued operations over firing has tangibly improved our remote productivity,” said the mine site’s spokesperson.
“In addition to this, the digital system is proving to be a very reliable and easy to manage solution,” they added.
The changes have been well-received by our operators with improved picture quality following the digital upgrade.
RCT’s digital solution also paves the way for multiple machine control which was also a deciding factor for the upgrade.
“This particular mine site is known for its long production drives so having one operator operate multiple machines simultaneously will allow the operation to dramatically increase productivity – it’s the perfect scenario,” said Mr Phillips.
“This progressive mine site is now set up to introduce RCT’s latest features as they are released,” he added.
The industry’s largest global mining event is nearly upon us and RCT is gearing up to showcase at the world-renowned MINExpo held in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.
From September 24 – 26, RCT and be found at booth 11075 where we will be showcasing our industry-leading agnostic automation for both the surface and underground mine sites, our state-of-the-art Collision Avoidance and MIC as well as our Data and Information Systems.
“RCT is invested in advancing businesses by integrating our state-of-the-art solutions designed for any machine make or model and this is what makes us stand apart from our competitors,” said RCT’s Global Development Manager, Ryan Noden.
“This and the fact we support our clients and solutions throughout the process is also what sets us apart from our competitors,” he added.
This year’s MINExpo’s tagline is “Innovation lives here” which sums up what RCT has done for the last 50 years, to remain cutting-edge.
RCT’s main attraction will be our two Automation Centres at the booth, one displaying our automation at work on the surface of a mine and an underground environment.
As well as exploring all our cutting-edge solutions on display, available for all mobile mining machines, regardless of make or models, there is the opportunity to meet with RCT’s team of industry experts.
This includes, RCT’s Executive Director and Founder, Bob Muirhead who has more than 50 years’ experience in the industry, inventing, producing and refining mining technology solutions to improve safety and productivity on sites.
Joining Bob will be our experienced and knowledgeable sales team from RCT’s branches all over the world including, Ryan Noden, Aaron McIntosh and Kole Paulin. In addition to this, our Product Specialists Brendon Cullen and Andrew Sells will be on hand to answer any of your questions.
If you would like to reach out and book an appointment with one of the team, please register your interest by emailing: xxxxxxxxx@xxx-xxxxxx.xxx. Otherwise, we look forward to welcoming you to our booth and help you explore our transformative, agnostic solutions at MINExpo next month.
Hillgrove Resources’ (ASX: HGO) Kanmantoo Copper Mine not only recently came out of care and maintenance, but it transitioned from previous open pit mining operations to underground mining with the help of RCT.
It was this change in the method of mining that saw Hillgrove Resources implement automation technology on site to safeguard its operators as they converted to targeting resources underground.
RCT was chosen for the job and our state-of-the-art Automation was installed on two of its CAT2900 Load Haul Dump machines.
The implementation of this technology has allowed operators to operate the machines from the safety of an Automation Centre, located away from the active mining area.
“Removing the operators from the working area safeguards them,” said RCT’s Account Manager, Phill Dean.
The project was well structured and executed with RCT’s technology solution which makes it streamlined for any mine site.
In addition to this, training was carried out with operators and maintenance teams on site to ensure they could be self-sufficient with the technology and allowing them to get the most from the technology.
Our talented Field Service Technician, Dan Soh took the lead with the first LHD/Tele Cabin conversion installation and was recognised by the client for his exceptional skill set.
“He was able to answer all the clients’ questions and installed the technology and cabin on time with minimal assistance,” said Mr Dean.
Hillgrove Resources have also requested RCT complete another install on a third site-based machine currently in the final stages of completion.
Today, RCT’s agnostic Automation can be found at many of Barminco’s operations throughout the Goldfields region, and now there is one more to add with the completion of our most recent project at IGO’s Nova mine.
Despite the site's existing automation infrastructure, when it came time for upgrading, RCT Automation was selected as the preferred supplier by Barminco, which is a subsidiary of global mining services group, Perenti.
“Technology and innovation are a key focus for Barminco, and we appreciated the simplicity of the RCT Automation solution—quicker setup times and ease of use for our operators,” said Darren Kwok, Head of Mining Electrification and Technology for Perenti Contract Mining.
The loaders are operated from the safety and comfort of Automation Centres which have been situated both underground and on the surface of the mine.
To enhance sustainability and cost-efficiency, existing cabins were repurposed, meticulously refurbished at RCT’s Kalgoorlie branch.
“The cabins required sandblasting and painting before we lined them with fridge panelling and fitted them out with RCT’s state-of-art ergonomic chair and operations centre,” said Kalgoorlie Branch Manager, Rick Radcliffe.
In addition to providing agnostic, state-of-the-art automation, RCT was able to work with Barminco to utilise both the existing underground communications technology and supplement it with the RCT connect to ensure we provide the best and most cost-effective solution for the client.
Because RCT is a full-service company as well as supplying and installing the technology, the team provided extensive operator training to empower site and ensure self-sufficiency with the technology. This commitment to client support aligns with RCT’s ethos of providing comprehensive local assistance.
“We have a good working relationship with RCT, and this extends beyond just the service delivery and project delivery,” said Darren.
“Outcomes from the project have been positive and we have worked collaboratively with RCT to ensure any operational concerns raised were reviewed and their product offering improved based on our feedback,” Darren added.
RCT’s Kalgoorlie Branch Manager, Rick Radcliffe said it was a pleasure to complete this project with the Barminco team based at Nova.
“From the beginning to the end, everyone was well organised, communicated well and had a common vision of making this transition as seamless to the mining team as possible,” he said.
“When two companies have the same goal of implementing quality products into a technology focused operation, they will always be successful, and that was certainly the case at Nova.”
“We are looking forward to working with Barminco over the coming months to assess the impact that the project has had,” added Rick
The Avebury nickel sulphide project has come out of care and maintenance after 10 long years and has stepped into the future of mining with the help of RCT.
The Mallee-owned nickel sulphide project has empowered the site by installing RCT’s Digital Automation on three of its Sandvik 517i Loaders on site. Together with the deployment of two Automation Stations; removing operators from the cab of the machine and into an ergonomic and safe environment.
This technology will catapult the site into the future increasing productivity and safety and transforming the operator’s mining experience for the better.
“RCT was chosen for the project due to numerous reasons including our ability to install solutions on any brand of machine, fast set-up time, and ability to deliver fast,” said RCT’s Account Manager, Wayne Carrington.
The site’s goal is to run on 100 per cent electric underground and in doing so effectively run a mine of the future.
Avebury has one of the two Automation Centres operating from surface so operators can control machines without having to go underground.
“This dramatically reduces shift changeover time, ensure operator safety further and drive productivity,” said Mr Carrington.
RCT’s state-of-the-art solutions have been in operation at the site for many months and already the site has seen a productivity increase.
The Avebury site has basically started from scratch in terms of beginning to mine the site again.
“We don’t get very many new mines into the fold, so it was great to be able to supply them
with the best of our technology to start their mining journey,” said Mr Carrington.
“RCT technology is agile, and they can use it for many years to come,” he said.
The commute to work has just got easier for Gold Fields’ Granny Smith operators after securing RCT’s cutting-edge Remote Operations Centre (ROC) to manage some of its mobile equipment fleet from its Perth head office – an astounding 740km away from site.
This major advancement will revolutionise the way they do mining by allowing operators to control or supervise semi-autonomous fleet activities in real-time from the comfort and convenience of a central office location.
The digital ROC’s deployment represents the next major development in Gold Field’s autonomous mining operations and enables their personnel to work effectively from a major city which makes the job more accessible to a wide range of workers and reduces the company’s carbon footprint.
The project is made possible by RCT’s ControlMaster® digital automation solution which is already utilised by Gold Fields to manage its underground loader fleet from the mine’s surface.
However, the digital ROC technology means Gold Fields can offer significantly more flexible working arrangements and accommodate work/life balance requirements among their workforce.
Initial testing proved the ROC can instantaneously manage multiple underground loaders at one time operating in different locations within the underground mining complex.
The digital ROC technology means Gold Fields’ operators will be able to access ControlMaster®’s latest features as they are released which will help enhance semi-autonomous fleet operations onsite.
RCT and Gold Fields’ engineers worked together to implement the ROC and link it with the mine site through Gold Fields’ secure, dedicated network.
“The Perth Remote Operations Centre (ROC) started as a proof-of-concept trial following the digital upgrades project in December 2021. The ROC was aimed at showcasing Gold Fields Australia’s network capability and RCT’s digital operating technology but has now opened the doors to exploring future avenues in how we work at our underground operations,” said Granny Smith’s Mine Manager Michael Place.
RCT Account Manager Scott Phillips said the ControlMaster® ROC incorporates RCT’s latest digital technology which will fully empower Gold Fields to fulfil its mining fleet needs going forward.
“We are pleased to help Gold Fields take this next major step in their autonomous mining journey and implement technology that brings about major operational efficiencies,” said Mr Phillips.
“This project is only the beginning, and we look forward to working closely with Gold Fields to advance their mining operations in the future,” said Mr Phillips.
Thanks to the deployment of RCT's market-leading digital automation technology, a prominent gold mine in Victoria has been able to achieve major productivity improvements on site.
This transformation has resulted in an upgrade to the site’s mobile equipment fleet capabilities, enabling fully autonomous production loader cycles as well as providing a pathway for future operational improvements.
RCT’s latest ControlMaster® technology empowers site personnel to control the entire fleet from Automation Centres located on the mine’s surface and allows for rapid cross-shift changes.
With RCT’s digital automation offer, machine operators can supervise seven Cat R2900 underground production loaders from the surface, which significantly improves operations.
The ControlMaster® Multiple Machine Control (MMC) feature means an operator can switch between production loaders during auto tramming and supervise specific elements in the load-haul-dump cycle.
RCT Account Manager Wayne Carrington said the team is pleased with the outcomes of this significant package of work on site.
“The project represents the next chapter in a longstanding relationship between the companies with the gold mine having used ControlMaster® across fleet operations for many years now,” he said.
“Our new digital offer will set the site on a pathway to advancing their entire operations and realising strong and consistent productivity gains over the life of the mine.”
“With operators now relocated to the mine’s surface, the technology is demonstrating a new standard of safety for mining personnel.”
“Our technical team have supported the site throughout this transition and we will be here to support site personnel with any future needs as well.”
In what is believed to be a word-first, RCT together with equipment manufacturer Rham Equipment has deployed the first fully autonomous battery-electric Rham loader into the African mining sector.
This impressive technological feat saw RCT work with Rham to specifically engineer the automated loader to effortlessly work in height-restricted drives in a South African platinum mining operation.
RCT’s market-leading ControlMaster® automation technology was seamlessly integrated with the Rham ultra-low profile (ULP) 25HD battery-electric loader with the package installed at Rham’s factory, prior to the loader’s deployment to the site.
This project perfectly showcases ControlMaster® as a proven interoperable automation platform that can be integrated across any mobile equipment make, type or model.
With the technology established onsite, the loader operators are able to manage Load Haul Dump (LHD) operations from the safety of a ControlMaster® Automation Centre on the mine’s surface.
In addition to this RCT interfaced with the Rham dash display and replicated it on the Automation Centre, to provide the operator with important machine health information.
The project also includes the implementation of RCT Connect, a specialised underground communications network designed to enhance autonomous fleet operations.
Rham Managing Director Kevin Reynders commented: “This joint venture project has run effortlessly creating safer machines for our miners.”
“Rham Equipment, a Level 3 B-BBEE South African, (Pty) Limited Company, has been producing specialised mining equipment since 1980. The company has been providing the South African mining industry with quality products and top-of-the-range services for the past four decades.”
“The product range includes underground transporters, excavators, load haul dumpers, dump trucks, roof bolters and conveyor drives, to name but a few. To date, Rham Equipment has supplied over 2000 units to some of the most prominent South African platinum, gold- and coal mines who we count amongst our customer portfolios,” Mr Reynders said.
“The South African mining industry is well developed and prides itself on its technological development, productivity, and safety, and in line with this philosophy the company has built an enviable reputation as the supplier of choice, producing products that are durable, safe and cost-effective.
By keeping all our manufacturing in-house allows RHAM to control the quality of all our workmanship giving customers that all important peace of mind.”
“Now in its fourth decade of operation, the company continues to develop new products to best suit the needs of our customers.”
RCT Business Development Manager for Africa Mike Thomas said the project represented an important milestone on many fronts.
“We are very pleased to work with Rham Equipment to deliver this project and we regard them as a highly competent and organised OEM with a skilled workforce who can deliver high-quality technology.”
“ControlMaster® has an extensive history integrating with diesel powered equipment, but this project proves that the technology can interface seamlessly with battery-electric mobile machines,” he said.
“Battery-electric equipment fleets can significantly reduce a mining operation’s carbon footprint while eliminating the costs associated with diesel consumption, so we expect to see a greater uptake of the technology around the world."
“The technology will relocate the machine operators to a safe working area on the mine’s surface while enabling optimised autonomous machine operations.”
“A cornerstone of ControlMaster® is its ability to integrate with any machine and this project proves that our technology can interface with Rham’s loader, which is an entirely new machine for us.”
RCT’s technical team will empower mine site personnel with comprehensive training and technical support to operate and maintain the equipment going forward.
The project demonstrates RCT’s automation technology can successfully integrate with battery-electric mining equipment and is an important step toward delivering an autonomous, carbon-friendly mining fleet of the future.
Leading autonomous solutions specialist RCT has finalised the last stage of a project to automate 24 underground mine chutes for a client in West Papua in Indonesia.
Recently RCT implemented ControlMaster® Teleremote technology onto 14 chutes which can be managed by operators from four ControlMaster® Automation Centres in a surface control room.
The latest work follows on from stage one works completed earlier this year where Teleremote technology was commissioned on 10 chutes connected to three Automation Centres.
All seven Automation Centres are equipped with Multiple Machine Selection (MMS) enabling an operator to control any single chute system from their respective station.
The operators will now be able to observe chute operations through strategically placed cameras and remotely open and close the throat of each chute to pass ore and other material between different production levels for trucking to the surface.
The individual camera feeds can be manipulated and adjusted via intuitive mouse control options at each Automation Centre.
Previously operators were situated at the throat of each chute and manually operated each chute via their own line of sight.
RCT Account Manager Shane Smith said the chute control system will significantly improve safety onsite.
“Previously chute operators contended with heat, dust, exhaust fumes and potential wet muck situations which represent a substantial safety risk,” he said.
“Now they can more effectively manage the chutes from the safety and comfort of a surface control room which is far more preferable for everyone involved.”
“The convenient location of the control room will also significantly reduce shift changeover time as personnel can
easily access the central control room rather than travel to each individual chute chamber.”
RCT will provide onsite training for site operators while the locally based technicians will deliver ongoing technical servicing and support to the site.
