RCT - Powered by Epiroc's AutoNav Tele (tele-remote) is enhancing narrow vein mining at the Vertex-operated Reward Gold Mine site at Hill End.
The state-of-the-art, agnostic automation technology has been installed on the Aramine L350D mining loader, which recently arrived from France to Epiroc's Orange Service Centre.
The small underground loader is uniquely designed for narrow vein mining, making it the perfect fit for the mining operation in New South Wales, Australia.
The historic gold mining town lay dormant for decades after mining operations ceased around 2010. Today, the site is undergoing a revival with the construction of a brand-new plant tailored for small-scale mining.
"This is more than just a machine installation," said East Coast Branch Manager, Owen Perrott.
"We're introducing technology that can access areas previously unreachable, in this narrow vein mine, unlocking gold reserves left behind for decades," he added.
With the Aramine machine, Vertex aims to efficiently extract gold from narrow, hard-to-reach veins, demonstrating the potential for innovative technology in small-scale mining operations.
RCT's AutoNav Tele allows operators to control the loader with the same functionalities from a safe location, removing them from the machine and allowing it to access the narrow vein mines with ease.
This is the first time the team has installed its technology on Vertex's Aramine loader, and we are proud to be the technology provider of choice for the project.
"Design was completed in collaboration between our experienced Field Service Technician, Tim Halstead, based in Orange, and the Brisbane Branch team," said Mr Perrott.
The installation was challenging due to the machine’s size and limited available space and required the team to collaborate with Aramine to ensure the machine met Australian Standards.
In addition to this, a custom "mini" AutoNav hut was designed and delivered on site to cater to the client’s specific needs.
The mini hut is not typically used at most sites, as it is approximately half the size of a standard AutoNav Centre. This introduced space constraints for the hardware; however, Vertex needed a mini hut to accommodate their mine structure and small portal.
"Due to the demand, I have been receiving from other sites for smaller hut offerings, I thought it would be a good opportunity to design a layout for one, from the ground up," said Mr Perrott.
"The client was extremely happy with the layout and quality of the finished product, and mentioned we should be making more of them, particularly with the previously less profitable small mines coming back to life with the current gold price," added Mr Perrott.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Young, RCT Communications Officer
Alpayana and Epiroc have reached a major milestone in Peruvian mining by automating the country’s first Load Haul Dump (LHD) using the agnostic AutoNav solution, a technology that enables remote control of multiple units and strengthens a scalable, safe, and efficient operating model.
With the opening of the WIRAQ Control Room at the Morococha Mining Unit and the implementation of Epiroc’s AutoNav technology, operators can now monitor and operate equipment simultaneously and remotely, without needing to physically enter the mine.
At more than 4,300 meters above sea level, mining operations face critical challenges in access, safety, and connectivity. The ability to operate underground equipment from the surface-level WIRAQ Control Room accelerates the transition toward a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable operation.
This milestone marks the beginning of a new era for underground mining in Peru.
“At Alpayana, we are committed to innovation, safety, and efficiency, and the inauguration of the WIRAQ Control Room at the Morococha unit is proof of that commitment. Thanks to our partnership with Epiroc, we have implemented state-of-the-art technology that enables us to operate equipment autonomously, reduce risks, and optimize processes,” said Alessandra Mandriotti, Manager of Transformation, Talent and Technology at Alpayana.
“At Epiroc, we have automated more than 1,300 underground loaders worldwide, consolidating our expertise in smart mining through agnostic solutions. In Peru, we have already implemented these automation solutions in open-pit mining. Today, we celebrate a new milestone together with Alpayana: the commissioning of the first automated loading unit in underground mining. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to driving innovation and safety across the mining industry,” said Dewi Cano, Business Line Manager, Andean–Caribbean Region.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Young, RCT Communications Officer
The RCT - Powered by Epiroc team at the Mt Isa branch has successfully completed its first installation of the AutoNav system on a CAT R2900 XE Hybrid loader for AIC Mines at the Eloise Copper Mine in Northwest Queensland.
The new machine was purchased by AIC Mines to support its ongoing efforts to extract high-grade ore from its underground copper and gold mine, which has been in production since 1996.
The Eloise Copper Mine has a long-standing relationship with RCT, with the Mt Isa branch providing state-of-the-art solutions to the site for over 20 years.
"As a result, the site is operating with our automation technology across most of its fleet including their CAT R2900Gs," said Mt Isa Branch Manager, Danny Ballard.
"This marks the first time the branch has worked with CAT's Hybrid loader, presenting a new platform for innovation," he said.
While it was the first time the branch had installed the technology on this specific loader, the talented team were able to deliver the project in a similar timeframe to that of a standard installation.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team at the branch, who have gone above and beyond to ensure the project's success,” said Mr Ballard.
Eloise mine site is renowned in the mining industry for its high-grade copper ore, and has recently undertaken an expansion project which includes an access drive to the Jericho ore body. The Jericho Access Drive commenced in June last year and connect from the Eloise decline.
"It's this ore body that positions AIC Mines to be a major player in the copper market for years to come, so it's a good feeling knowing they will do this with RCT's technology," he added.
At present, the site operates all RCT-equipped mining machines from cabins, located underground.
"Plans are in progress to establish an Automation Centre on the surface, aimed at enhancing safety and productivity over shift change to enable operators to work during blasting."
"RCT's agnostic AutoNav solutions are designed to be scalable, allowing us to adapt to the evolving needs and demands of the site, both now and in the future," he said.
Operators and maintenance staff at Eloise have undergone training to ensure they are able to be self-sufficient on site. However, as with all our clients, RCT is always on hand for support when needed.
"The team are always willing to go the extra mile for our clients and our relationship with Eloise is no different."
"We will be here to support their continued growth every step of the way," he added.
Mr Ballard said the Hybrid loaders are proving to be very popular in the Mt Isa region.
"The XE loaders have been well received in the northwest, and I expect we will see continued demand to fit RCT's AutoNav solutions to these machines as their popularity grows in the area."
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Young, RCT Communications Officer
The introduction of RCT’s ControlMaster® Teleremote and Guidance systems has seen productivity and safety increase at a mine site in Egypt.
“The company’s main aim was to extract as much metal from the large porphyry body while eliminating damage to the site’s mining equipment in the process,” said RCT’s African Business Development Manager, Mike Thomas.
Two of the site’s Caterpillar R2900 loaders were equipped with RCT’s Smart Technology. The Teleremote solution has removed the operator from the cab of the loader, allowing them to control the machine from a safe location. At this particular site, the Automation Centre is on a skid, positioned in the back of a light vehicle, allowing for a mobile operation. Guidance has automated the loaders ensuring they avoid all walls and obstacles while tramming. Paired together, the two systems are designed to not only ensure operator safety, but significantly increase productivity by allowing machines to reach greater speeds and eliminating unscheduled downtime associated with machine collisions and shift changes.
In addition to installing the systems, RCT delivered training to operators and maintenance staff which took place both on site and at RCT’s Perth office.
“The specialised skills training has empowered staff with the knowledge, and know-how to maintain and troubleshoot the solutions installed,” added Mr Thomas.
“Training ensures the site can be self-sufficient when it comes to our solutions which in the long term reduces downtime as maintenance can be undertaken on site, there’s no need for it to be carried out overseas,” he said.
The ability for operators to control the loader on Teleremote and Guidance solutions has increased productivity and eliminated machine damage at the site – directly meeting the client’s requirements.
