Autonomous solutions specialist RCT has been selected by Redpath Australia as its preferred technology partner at its recently awarded new underground operation, Rothsay gold mine in Western Australia.
RCT will commission its advanced autonomous technology ControlMaster® Guidance Automation with the latest Auto Dump feature onto three Sandvik LH203 underground loaders to operate in the planned narrow-vein underground mine.
RCT will install two ControlMaster® Automation Centres complete with Multiple Machine Control (MMC) capabilities enabling a single machine operator to manage the loader fleet from either the mine’s surface or secure work zones within the mine.
RCT Mining Account Manager Scott Phillips said they are pleased to implement the latest autonomous offering and put the operation on a pathway to full mine digitalisation.
“Guidance Automation with MMC is an ideal solution for this site as it will allow Redpath to leverage from RCT’s latest digital and automation features, increase productivity of their operators and loader fleet all whilst reducing damage associated with remote production when operating in very narrow drives.
“The plan to utilise RCT’s Surface Control Solution will allow Redpath to stay productive and capture the lost time during shift change and firing usually associated with underground remoting.”
Redpath Australia Managing Director Gavin Ramage has commented: “Redpath Australia look forward to partnering with RCT, in delivering semi-autonomous solutions to our underground project at Rothsay Gold Mine in Western Australia.”
“Automation is an important innovation component of our business as it allows productivity to remain consistent across shift change and firing.”
“The adoption of emerging technology such as this reinforces our commitment towards the implementation of our ‘technology roadmap’ over the next three years.”
RCT’s Automation technology is providing innovative automation solutions at Independence Group's (IGO) Jaguar Operation, located 60 kilometres north of Leonora in Western Australia.
Jaguar, a high-grade zinc-copper-silver mine that IGO has managed since 2011, is no stranger to RCT’s Smart Technology, with the ControlMaster® Teleremote deployed on their CAT 1700G loaders for the past few years.
In November 2017, IGO upgraded to RCT’s state-of-the-art Guidance Automation Solution in order to speed up bogging cycle times, increase production, and minimise risk of damage to the loaders.
According to Grant Hancock, Alternate Underground Manager at IGO’s Jaguar Operation, the upgrade has already delivered immediate and substantial benefits.
“Since introducing the Guidance technology, we have experienced a significant reduction in cycle times for the bogger, with a 32 per cent improvement in cycle times when bogging on long tram routes,” explained Hancock.
“We realised that the greater the tram length, the greater the improvement. Recently in long winding drive, our operators tell us that the difference between Guidance and normal Teleremote is approximately 3:1 (buckets).”
The Guidance Automation solution controls the machine’s steering, braking and speed. The speed is determined by the minimum width of the drive and the look-ahead distance of the on-board laser units as well as the object detection feature to further assist in tight areas.
In addition to the improvement in tramming times, there has also been a
reduction in damage done to the machines, which is another added advantage to introducing automated technology.
“There has been little to no damage on the bogger when it's on Guidance compared to the other bogger that is not,” said Hancock.
“This is positive on our bottom line because it means the bogger is spending less time in the maintenance shop and more time underground moving ore,” he said.
Overall feedback from those working at the Jaguar operation has been very positive, with both the bogger operators enjoying the opportunity to be introduced to innovative new mining technologies, and management seeing tangible improvements in the production cycles adding significant value to the IGO business.