The Australian Mining Review February 2026 Edition

Although starting out in the competitive and price sensitive world of agriculture, Universal Field Robots (UFR), has become synonymous with mining. Its early innovations in lawn-mowing robots and avocado picking laid the foundation for a more innovative approach to technology as it transitioned into other industrial segments. The company’s commitment to technological advancement led to the introduction of UFRautonomy™, a reflection of the continuous evolution in its architecture and technology stack. UFR has quickly gained recognition as an R&D leader in the field of robotics and automation, facilitating its expansion across several industries including mining, solar farm construction, and defence. The partnership with Newmont Cadia marked a significant milestone, one that resulted in the development of an automated Bobcat Skid…

Life as we know it has accelerated at an unprecedented pace. A malleable approach and the capacity for dynamic adaptability is more important than ever before. In a world where advanced technological conversions require strategic integration and methodical systemic application, the more personal aspects of this operating shift may be often overlooked. Encompassing a myriad of complexities, the transition towards an automated future is typically geared towards the mechanical efficiency aspect, whilst losing sight of the profound human factors involved in such an industrious evolution. Although there’s no doubt that our automated technologies possess an impressive degree of self-sufficiency and inherent independent ability, the bottom line is that these applications also demand effective manual inputs to actualise optimal functionality into…

Transitioning to a renewable economy will require a new mining industry that can extract significantly more metal from the ground to meet future demand, while operating in accordance with stricter environmental, social, and governance responsibilities. However, this is compounded by a myriad of challenges. Exploration success rates are dwindling, existing deposits are becoming deeper and more arduous to mine, and ore grades are declining. Mining companies are collecting more data than ever, yet they struggle to maximise value to meet the greater demands placed on them. The gulf between data collection and data-driven decision-making can be significant. In recent years, the mining industry has realised that machine learning (ML) is key to gaining the full value from its data. This…

Mining is one of the most demanding industries, with equipment and infrastructure constantly subjected to extreme wear and tear. From abrasive materials to harsh chemicals and fluctuating temperatures, the environment poses relentless challenges. Protecting and enhancing the lifespan of these assets is critical to maintaining operational efficiency and controlling costs. That’s where high-performance protective coatings make all the difference. At Rhino Linings Australasia, we’re proud to offer solutions designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the mining industry. Why Protective Coatings Are Essential in Mining Mining operations expose equipment and structures to some of the harshest conditions imaginable. The consequences of neglecting protective measures can include frequent equipment failures, costly downtime, and increased maintenance expenses. Protective coatings provide an…