In the mining industry, ensuring the safety of operators and personnel is of utmost priority. However, achieving this goal comes with its own set of unique challenges. One of the most pressing issues is the risk of accidents involving operators working with or around underground drills. The confined and hazardous environment of underground drilling operations amplifies the likelihood of injuries, making it imperative to adopt effective safety measures.
Operators working with underground drills are often exposed to hazardous conditions that include limited visibility, constrained movement, and the proximity of heavy machinery. These challenges mean that operators must navigate through dark, tight spaces while managing the powerful and dangerous equipment necessary for drilling. Additionally, the noise and vibrations generated by drilling machines can further obscure an operator's awareness of their surroundings, increasing the potential for accidents.
The RCT Drill Stop Personnel Exclusion system is an innovative solution designed to address the critical challenge of operator safety in underground drilling operations. This advanced system, which can be installed on any drill regardless of make or model, enhances operator safety by detecting movement along the sides of the machine when the drill is armed and operating.
In a high-risk environment where every second counts, the RCT Drill Stop Personnel Exclusion system provides an essential safeguard against accidents, significantly reducing the risk of injury to personnel.
By integrating these advanced features, the RCT Drill Stop Personnel Exclusion system offers a comprehensive safety solution for underground drill operations, where traditional safety measures may fall short. By implementing this system, companies can achieve a higher standard of safety, protecting both their workforce and equipment, making it an indispensable tool for the industry.
Download the flyer or xxxxxxx xx xxx, and let’s dig deep into a world of safety!
The drill and blast method of surface mining just got a whole lot safer thanks to Jevons Robotics and RCT.
The companies joined forces to deliver a safer alternative to carrying out blast quality assurance, loading or stemming, replacing it with a single battery electric machine able to carry out the process on any bench condition including severely contoured or cavity filled ground.
Jevons Robotics can now deliver explosives or stemming via their ARTEV6000 product using an RCT’s remote control set either via Line-of-Sight or Teleremote control.
Implementing this technology has eliminated the need for personnel to conduct quality assurance or load the blast holes manually which removes exposure hours associated with highwalls, cavities and fatigue.
RCT’s Custom Manager David Wright said this project was different to any job done before and therefore our specialised bespoke department given the job.
“It is the first time we have remote controlled this type of vehicle carrying out this job scope,” said Mr Wright.
“We were able to use standard loader code, getting it on the machine and talking to the machine,” he said when asked about the execution of the project.
The job, in its manual state is well-known as being high-risk which also makes the role difficult to not only recruit for but then retain the staff.
“The great thing about the Jevons platform is that it can be used for a variety of applications on a mine site to remove additional hazards and its flexibility Is something that will bring great value to the industry, so we were so pleased to be able to work together on it.”
Jevons Robotics CEO Todd Peate said that when Jevons were looking for a teleop and line-of-sight capability we were immediately drawn to the established competency of RCT and its deep experience in mining.
“We wanted a solution that eased our customers mind on automating this process and we certainly have that with RCT,” said Todd.
Operations are now more efficient and safer for a Western Australia-based Earth Moving team thanks to the deployment of a ControlMaster® remote-controlled technology package to an Amphiroll Mud Scroller.
The mud scroller, used to aerate the caustic mud of the tailings pond to dry it out, was previously a manual operation requiring two machines operating at one time for personnel safety reasons.
The ControlMaster® Line-of-Sight solution has removed the operator from the cabin and allows them to control the machine from up to 200M line of sight. This custom one-off kit was designed, supplied, and installed by both the Perth Customer Service and RCT Custom team, the company’s designated bespoke solutions department.
“This solution removes operators from any potential danger that could arise from them physically being out on a tailings pond and allows them to instead carry out the task from the safety of a light vehicle located nearby,” said RCT’s Account Manager, Phill Dean.
The introduction of this technology has also dramatically changed how the Mud Scroller is transported to various sites.
“Previously amphirolls were twice the size requiring oversize movement permits and weighed about 18 tonnes so moving this piece of machinery required large multi-lift crane operation.” he said.
“Now, the logistics of moving the small unit is easier and only requires a large tile tray and this in itself reduces mobilisation costs substantially.”
As well as deploying the ControlMaster® technology. RCT designed, manufactured, and installed the EarthTrack® custom dashboard.
“This dashboard was designed to display all the integral information in an easy-to-read format. It will let the operator know the pump pressures, engine temps, fuel level and an overall live health report,” he said.
The new and improved mud scroller remote solution was deployed at the beginning of the year in trials and is being used today with great success to value add to their long-term clients.
A well-known mine in New South Wales now operates an autonomous dozer fleet safely and efficiently thanks to the deployment of RCT’s latest solutions.
The technology empowers equipment operators to stand at a safe vantage point overlooking the work zone and direct the dozer fleet to maintain a tailings dam wall on site.
The project means the autonomous dozers can push the top of the tailings dam wall and work close to edges in a way that was impossible to achieve safely with operators in the machine’s cab.
Mine management selected RCT’s ControlMaster® solution over global OEM tenders due to the technology’s ability to be repurposed to other mining equipment based on changing fleet demands in the future.
RCT’s Customer Service team recently mobilised to the site and commissioned ControlMaster® onto two Cat D8T dozers and are continuing to support the site on an ongoing basis.
RCT Account Manager Wayne Carrington said the project is just the latest in a successful business relationship with the mine which stretches back many years.
“We are very pleased to provide the site with fit-for-purpose technology which safeguards their personnel while enabling them to complete vital works,” he said.
“The feedback from site has been very positive with the operators loving the functionality of the solution and management is reporting that they are meeting their targets.”
“The ControlMaster® technology is vital to the success of this tailings dam project but in the future, the solution can easily be integrated with any other piece of mining equipment and provide additional benefits to the mine.”
RCT’s latest partnership with Gold Fields in Australia has seen the transformation of its Granny Smith mine and machine fleet into a state-of-the-art, digitally connected powerhouse, in a project which embodies the mining company’s key value of innovation, designed to increase productivity.
Gold Fields’ Granny Smith mine is no stranger to RCT, having been one of their technology partners for more than 20 years.
This latest project has seen the Eastern Goldfields underground gold mine become one of the most innovative, digitally connected mines in the world. The project saw RCT’s Kalgoorlie-based team of innovative technicians upgrade the site’s six existing Cat loaders from analogue to digital. This required the Kalgoorlie branch team to design and build specialised mounts and overhaul the site’s existing cabins. In addition, a total of 11 Area Access Controls (AAC) were also converted from analogue to digital to facilitate the upgrade.
“We recognise that they made a significant investment into the original technology, and we wanted to find the most cost-effective and sustainable solution available,” said RCT’s Kalgoorlie Branch Manager, Rick Radcliffe.
The team converted three of the site’s existing analogue TeleCabins and transformed them into digital ControlMaster® Automation Centres for underground use and two surface Automation Centres to digital, bringing them into the future.
The site chose to use RCT’s own full-scale digital communications solution – RCT Connect to meet the demands of autonomous machines across the mine site. The technology will cater to Granny Smith’s current and future machines.
The Kalgoorlie branch finished the upgrades in December last year, and although the technology has only been in place for a few months, the site has experienced amazing results from day one.
“The ability for the operators to mine from the surface with a pristine picture/video thanks to the digital network, has meant they have been able to increase the number of buckets per shift, while adding to the comfort of the operators,” said Granny Smith Mine Manager Michael Place.
“Implementing the new digital infrastructure RCT Connect has significantly improved both the availability and reliability of Granny Smith’s semi-autonomous remote production loaders and stoping fronts to date,” said Mr Place.
The upgrade saw the popular analogue technology that utilises the Yagi antenna replaced with RCT Connect.
“While the Yagi’s have been a tried and tested technology for many years, our digital RCT Connect Access Points has taken the Control Master underground communications system to another level. The system is now more reliable and provides a clearer picture and improved operator visibility,” Mr Radcliffe said.
“The feedback we have received from site is that the operators love the new technology and they wished they implemented it ages ago,” he said.
As well as experiencing the significant benefits of digital technology today, Granny Smith is futureproofing themselves, allowing them to make small, incremental changes as and when they are ready.
RCT Connect is a plug and play system, making it easy to install and maintain. The technology has produced a remarkably clearer picture which has greatly assisted Granny Smith personnel to continue operating their machines safely, in high-risk locations.
“Another added benefit to moving to digital is that RCT can now remotely support our clients to a higher level and are able to monitor and complete repairs in a short timeframe, as it eliminates the need for a technician to travel to site to troubleshoot in many cases,” Mr Radcliffe said.
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.
The annual International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) is fast approaching and RCT is excited to take part in Australia’s largest mining event to be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from October 29 to November 1.
This year’s event is expected to attract more than 6000 attendees from all over the world and RCT is looking forward to showcasing its latest Automation Station at SICK’s stand: B83.
The new station is ergonomic in design and has more features than ever before to ensure operator comfort and usability.
Visitors to the stand will be able to gain a greater insight into how RCT’s Guidance Automation works and see for themselves the technology in action at different mine sites around the world.
RCT utilises SICK Sensor Intelligence for its Autonomous solutions and is looking forward to having a presence at their stand this year.
“We look forward to meeting with attendees and getting the chance to showcase our Smart Technology at an event known to attract
global mining leaders,” said RCT’s Executive Director and CEO, Brett White.
Find out more about IMARC here.
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 Tasmanian-based Caterpillar OEM, Elphinstone for its client in Indonesia.
This project will be carried out by bespoke department, RCT Custom who were engaged to implement a ControlMaster® Portable Teleremote solution for an Elphinstone-manufactured WR820 Articulated Underground Water Truck.
RCT’s Portable Teleremote solution works by utilising cameras on board the machine to relay vision of its movements to the operator; who can then oversee the machine via remote control.
The machine’s tramming and the articulation of the water cannon mounted on the crane will be controlled by RCT using looms and hydraulics installed and manufactured by Elphinstone to RCT specifications. This wasn’t a straightforward installation, hence why RCT Custom was tasked with the job.
This is the second project where RCT Custom has applied this technology to a water cart for the same clients.
Stay tuned for more on this project…
RCT will be joining channel partner, Fasser at this year’s Expomin held in Santiago, Chile.
The expo, well-known for attracting key decision makers from the mining industry in Latin America and other regions is expected to draw a crowd of about 70,000.
It is the second time RCT has exhibited with Fasser and we are looking forward to engaging with our partner and our customer base.
With the commodity prices picking up, the boom is on once again in Chile, making it an even more important event for RCT.
“Expomin provides us with the chance to showcase our Muirhead® Protection systems that are designed to save client’s money but reducing fuel and machine wear and tear,” said RCT’s North America Regional Manager, Andrew Sells.
“It’s a great opportunity to work with our technical partner and assist with engaging and educating our customer base in Chile,” he added.
RCT’s solutions range is extensive; however, the Muirhead® range directly addresses the client’s needs in the area.
Expomin 2018 promises to be a great show and RCT is excited to be taking part with Fasser.
Held at the Espacio Riesco, Santiago, Chile from April 23-27. RCT and Fasser will be at booth 2-G78.
