RCT was selected as the preferred automation partner by Kalgoorlie-based company Westauz Mining.
Westauz Mining is an underground mining specialist that will equip two of its Komatsu WX07 loaders, with RCT’s world-leading Digital Automation solution.
These loaders will be deployed at the Norseman Project, a gold mine site located in the Goldfields – Esperance region of Western Australia.
RCT is thrilled to collaborate with Westauz Mining to maximise remote production with the deployment RCT’s latest innovative digital technology. Machine installations are currently in progress, and it won’t be long until they are operating on site.
Watch this space for updates on the project!
Smart technology specialist RCT is pleased to partner with mining services company Develop and deploy state-of-the-art digital automation technology at its recently awarded Bellevue operation in Western Australia.
RCT’s digital ControlMaster® solution empowers Develop with the best autonomous technology to safely manage their underground mobile equipment fleet and make consistent production gains.
The autonomous solutions are in line with Develop’s innovative business ethos of combining impressive technology with experienced professionals to transform operations into mining powerhouses.
Develop machine operators are excited in anticipation of utilising the ControlMaster® Automation Centre and manage a Sandvik LH517i underground loader within the underground complex.
In the future the company will roll out additional autonomous Sandvik LH517i loaders in line with their evolving mining fleet requirements as they move into production activities.
To accommodate a larger autonomous fleet, Develop will harness the power of ControlMaster® Multi-Machine Select (MMS) and Multi-Machine Control (MMC) capabilities into their Automation Centre.
These features mean machine operators can switch between underground loaders located throughout the mine and subsequently take control of each machine.
Develop will further support the Bellevue fleet by rolling out RCT Connect which is the only available mining communications infrastructure designed to accommodate autonomous mining equipment.
The specialised Wi-Fi network will ensure consistent communications and very low machine latency between the machine fleet and Automation Centre.
RCT’s Kalgoorlie Branch Manager Rick Radcliffe said the work at Bellevue will provide a strong foundation on which to grow a business relationship between the two companies.
“We are very pleased to be Develop’s automation technology supplier and provide cutting edge solutions and a very high level of service from the beginning at Bellevue,” he said.
“We will be there alongside Develop as they kick off autonomous machine activities and we are confident that our technology will deliver results every shift.”
“RCT proudly has 50 years of experience supporting Goldfield’s mining companies and we look forward to applying all our knowledge to whatever situation Develop faces in the future.”
Redpath Australia is utilising the industry-leading proven autonomous and interoperable mining fleet rolled out at the Rothsay Gold Mine in Western Australia in partnership with smart technology specialist RCT.
Redpath Australia selected RCT’s adaptive solutions in line with its technology roadmap which prioritises implementing innovative technology that enables mining companies to consistently improve their operations.
RCT has worked closely with Redpath Australia to implement its ControlMaster® Guidance solutions at the new narrow-vein gold mine in line with the ramp up of development works.
The underground mine is utilising three Sandvik LH203’s commissioned with ControlMaster® Guidance equipped with the latest AutoDump capabilities.
Site personnel are managing the loader fleet from two ControlMaster® Automation Centres equipped with Multiple Machine Control (MMC) functions enabling the operators to manage multiple loaders at once.
Operators can manage the loader fleet from either the Automation Centre on the surface of the mine or the second Automation Centre located in a secure underground work zone.
Redpath General Manager, Rory Burke, said that the successful implementation of automating the narrow vein loader fleet at the Rothsay Gold Mine is integral for the success of the mine.
“Being able to operate multiple loaders from the surface greatly improves safety and productivity and especially provides operators with a more ergonomic and comfortable position from which to operate the loaders,” Mr Burke said.
“The ease of set up has been very impressive and we look forward to continuously improving output in production and development loading.”
RCT Account Manager Scott Phillips said the proven autonomous technology will enable highly efficient production activities going forward.
“Right from the beginning, ControlMaster® puts the Rothsay Gold Mine on a path to full mine digitisation enabling site management to integrate it with other mine systems and scale the technology as the mine evolves,” he said.
“Managing the loader fleet from the mine’s surface enables site to continue production through firing times while also relocating operators to a safer work environment.”
“RCT’s technology is demonstrating fast autonomous tramming cycles providing consistently high bucket counts over the entire shift with clear, instantaneous communications between the loader and the surface at all times.”
“In addition, RCT’s ControlMaster® technology has eliminated damage to the loaders when the machines are operating in the Rothsay Gold Mine’s tight drives.”
“RCT’s technology will also maintain machine availability across the fleet which is essential to sustain high production rates.”
RCT has provided comprehensive training packages to Redpath Australia’s machine operators and maintenance personnel and will continue to provide ongoing technical assistance over the life of the project.
World-leading autonomous solutions specialist RCT has successfully commissioned the premier global mid-tier gold company Evolution Mining’s underground loader fleet with RCT’s proprietary ControlMaster® automation technology.
The project has transformed Evolution Mining’s underground loader fleet away from its previous teleremote provider in favour of RCT’s fully autonomous technology solution.
RCT installed and commissioned its ControlMaster® Guidance Automation solution onto one CAT R2900 underground loader and one CAT R1700 underground loader at the Mungari operation in Western Australia’s Goldfields.
RCT supplied two Automation Centres located at designated work zones within the mine which are fitted with GDash and provides the operators with real-time, graphical machine data.
The project also involved installing a communications network, critical spares parts and a specialised RCT parts cabinet.
RCT Business Development Manager Mining Ryan Noden said he is pleased that RCT has continued to build on its existing relationship with Evolution Mining.
“RCT’s automation solution was previously established at one of Evolution Mining’s other projects and is now helping the Mungari operation further optimise production capabilities,” Mr Noden said.
“We have been working with Evolution Mining for the past few months planning the transition to RCT’s automation solution that will deliver strong productivity gains,” he said.
“Our ControlMaster® Guidance Automation technology sets Evolution Mining onto a pathway to full mine digitisation with the ability to scale our technology as the mine develops and introduce the latest technology upgrades when required.”
“Mungari will receive on-ground technical support through our branch in Kalgoorlie backed by a team of highly experienced automation specialists.”
A spokesperson for Evolution Mining said: “Evolution Mining has seen a dramatic reduction in remote-related machine damage and a huge improvement in operator comfort and workplace enjoyment”.
“It’s wonderful to see Evolution Mining providing state-of-the-art facilities for its employees.”
RCT will also empower site personnel with comprehensive onsite training packages for machine operators and maintenance personnel.
RCT has developed a monitoring system to improve underground mining operations at a gold mine in Western Australia’s Goldfields.
The miner approached RCT’s Kalgoorlie-based staff to develop a way to monitor the project’s ore passes to ensure they did not get blocked by larger rocks during the transfer of material.
The ore passes—which are now used to dump waste—are vertical chutes used by the project’s Epiroc MT6020 haul trucks to dump material to backfill an old stope.
RCT subsequently developed the ore pass monitoring system consisting of a VEGAPULS 69 radar which spans the 91m deep pass and a VEGAMET 391 measurement display to indicate at what depth a blockage may occur.
The display was designed to use its readings to control an associated traffic lamp assembly on the wall of the mine to advise mine staff whether material had been successfully transferred.
Once the system was implemented the mining company introduced a procedure for operators to ensure the traffic lamps changed back to green after tipping to indicate the pass is clear of material.
RCT’s technicians also installed a suppression field in the first 20m of the ore pass and directly above it to stop sharp edges in the pass bouncing echoes and falsely tripping the sensor.
RCT Kalgoorlie Branch Manager Rick Radcliffe said the monitoring system can significantly reduce the downtime associated with blocked ore passes.
“If the pass becomes blocked then operators may not notice until the entire pass is filled up with material and at that point it will take a significant amount of time to clear the pass,” he said.
“The monitoring system ensures blockages are identified and cleared immediately.”
