RCT is proud of a long-standing partnership with Barminco and AUMS to deliver innovative solutions to overcome challenges at their mining operations.
Barminco and AUMS are constantly embracing new technology that will deliver value to their clients. RCT and Barminco share a long history and have worked together to deliver technology to their mining operations.
The most recent innovation we have partnered together on is to eliminate transmission and engine damage of the Atlas Copco MT60-20 vehicles at an AUMS project in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Together we have installed a speed limiter, engine overspeed system into the vehicles, through our collaboration it ensured a smooth installation of this new system.
This system is used to monitor speeds both on the surface and underground to ensure safe works on declines within the mines, to ensure safety in a restricted environment, reduce damage on the engine, drive line and overall reduce damage to the machines while underground.
By installing this device, Barminco can continue to deliver safer and more productive mining operations for their clients.
RCT’s latest automation technology has been successfully deployed at the Sunrise Dam Gold Mine in Western Australia. Sunrise Dam is wholly owned by AngloGold Ashanti Australia Ltd, with underground mining operations contracted to Barminco.
Barminco’s Sandvik and CAT loader fleets, which were already operating with ControlMaster® Guidance Automation, were fitted with enhancements including Multiple Machine Selection (MMS) and Multiple Machine Control (MMC). This cutting-edge technology gives an operator control of numerous mobile machines from the one station. This project was a first for all parties involved who collaborated to achieve successful delivery.
“For example, this allows one operator to tram one machine, while digging with another to make the process more efficient,” said RCT’s Automation and Control Product Manager, Brendon Cullen.
“Before the introduction of these features, one operator would only be able to concentrate on the activity of one mobile machine. The new features allow them to attend to multiple machines safely and effectively thanks to Guidance Automation which will keep the machine on the correct path, to avoid machine damage and to ensure faster tramming.”
These latest automation features are made possible by digitising the mine’s work area with RCT’s Bridge, the company’s own communication network; essential in supporting the latest autonomous features.
“RCT Bridge is the stepping stone solution to bring a mine site to full digitisation and is simply integrated into the site’s existing system,” said Cullen.
In addition to this, RCT’s Area Access Control (AAC) units have also been deployed. This relatively new system acts as an extension of the Automation Control Centre and interfaces between the work areas and machines.
“These lightweight, cost effective and portable solutions are
the ideal alternative to installing a cabin on site,” said Cullen.
Operators will not only have all these innovative features at their fingertips, but they will also be utilising them from the comfort of an Automation Control Centre on the surface of the mine which has been upgraded with operator ergonomics in mind.
“The control centre was overhauled to ensure improved functionality with a new operating system which includes the MMC and MMS features to make it more comfortable for operators.”
These additions are designed to help increase the mine’s overall efficiency and to increase productivity.
”This project is a great example of RCT’s interoperability capabilities; highlighting the company’s abilities to integrate with different brands of machines and a site’s information system,” said Cullen.
The implementation of RCT’s state-of-the-art features is part of Sunrise Dam’s technology transformation.
RCT is proud to announce its latest project with underground contract miner Barminco Limited at the AGAA-owned Sunrise Dam Gold Mine in Western Australia.
The Sunrise Dam project is no stranger to RCT’s Smart Technology with ControlMaster® Guidance Automation already deployed across its SANDVIK and CAT loader fleet, controlled from RCT’s underground and surface operator stations positioned throughout the mine.
The latest project will see the implementation of a number of innovative enhancements, including the delivery of Multiple Machine Selection (MMS) and Multiple Machine Control (MMC), operated via RCT’s latest communication offer RCT Bridge.
Three of the site’s loaders will be equipped with RCT’s Bridge technology as part of Sunrise Dam’s stage one rollout of the technology. RCT Bridge is the upgrade path to digitisation and will allow an IP stream to be transmitted over the existing analogue network; enabling large volumes of information to be transmitted and received promptly at RCT’s Automation Area Cabinets (AAC).
RCT Bridge was required to upgrade the mine’s network; to support the latest autonomous features and delivers further value to the customer with minimal investment or the need to move to a full-scale digital network in the work area.
In addition to this, the existing surface control station will be upgraded to an Automation Control Centre designed with operator ergonomics in mind.
MMS and MMC will allow an operator to control multiple machines from the one station to increase efficiency and productivity on site.
Installation is scheduled for early July.
Stay tuned for more on this project…