Category: Tech Talk

Metal Testing has solidified its commitment to innovation by engineering the latest in track tensioning technology right here in Australia. With ever-growing pressures on mining operations, companies can now reduce maintenance time on their dozer equipment by up to four days by leveraging this track tensioner’s capabilities. When crucial machine or equipment breaks down on-site, the potential impact on revenue is significant to an operation. The sudden, unexpected impact to production means it is critical for the mine team to source replacements or get repairs done as quickly as possible. Metal Testing’s track tensioner design provides a safer, more reliable and durable tensioning system for use in some of the most high-risk and harshest environments in Australia. The Australian Mining…

HMA Wear Solutions is a global leading designer and manufacturer of wear solutions, including advanced silicon-carbide and zirconia-toughened alumina ceramics, bringing more than 40 years’ experience in engineering and manufacturing to the mining industry. With ever-growing pressure on operations across the resources sector, mining companies can increase the lifespan of some of their critical infrastructure by up to 10 years by utilising HMA Wear Solutions’ services and accessing its globally available ceramic solutions. With HMA Wear Solutions’ innovative ceramic technology, planned maintenance can be extended significantly bringing an incredible benefit to an operation’s revenue. The Australian Mining Review spoke with Wear Solutions’ Operations Manager, Mark Osborne, and National Sales Manager, David McKay to learn more about the products. HMA Wear…

The modern minesite employs increasing amounts of smart technology, relying more-and-more heavily on uninterrupted internet connectivity for core operations. Mining by its very nature tends to involve working in some of the most inhospitable, unforgiving terrain on earth, meaning site teams must have consistent internet access on-site and on-the-go both for safety and operational reasons. Workers and contractors living in nearby camps also find themselves in communications blackspots, without local mobile infrastructure (3G/4G mobile towers) or fixed-line internet services.  Being entirely disconnected from their families and the outside world can have a detrimental impact on staff morale and increase the difficulty of employee attraction and retention. Australian Private Networks (APN) provides a range of on-site solutions that solve all these…

Efficient ventilation systems in underground mines are paramount for regulating airflow, the amount and quality of air, as well as returning contaminants (gases, dust and heat) to the surface. Without proper control, extraction or dilution of contaminants, poor ventilation conditions can jeopardise the occupational health and safety of underground mine workers, resulting in potential fatalities. Generally made up of two ventilation systems, the primary one controls the total air volume flow through an underground mine, drawn in from the surface, and is also the exhaust circuit for the mine’s ventilation, or return airways (RAW) The secondary ventilation system refers to the provision of ventilation to development ends, stopes and services facilities which constitute secondary circuits tapped off the primary circuit…

RemSense’s Virtual Plant is a photographic virtual reality platform that enables companies to view their assets in extraordinary high resolution. Accessible on laptops, phones and VR headsets, Virtual Plant creates a visual ‘fabric’ that users can move through, viewing assets in detail as they appear on site, without any rendering or use of 3D models. Virtual Plant has been deployed across several sites in WA, where it has improved maintenance planning, enabled remote pre-inspection and reduced site visits for employees and contractors. With a surprisingly low set-up cost, and fast implementation without the need for any specialised hardware, software or training, Virtual Plant is a quick win for sites looking to improve efficiency without a huge outlay or long payback…

When it comes to safety around tailings storage facilities (TSF), it is imperative to have an effective monitoring program in place. According to Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) associate and senior geotechnical engineer James Penman, the starting point for dam safety monitoring and management is understanding the critical failure modes for the structure. “Dam safety failure modes are ways in which the dam fails, to the point that containment is lost and tailings and/or water flow out,” he said. Catastrophic dam failures typically happen through the three major failure modes of overtopping, instability and internal erosion (or piping). “Slope instability has been the most prominent failure mode in recent times, namely the Samarco and Brumadinho dam failures in Brazil. “Overtopping is less prominent in tailings…

When it comes to locking mechanism solutions, Nord-Lock Group is at the forefront of the industry, having engineered a range of innovative products including the Nord-Lock wedge-locking washers that prevents bolts from loosening, the popular Expander System, which eliminates the need for line boring, and the extended downtime associated with the process. The company also designed the Superbolt mechanical tensioner which is a safer, more reliable method of bolting large parts in heavy machinery together and Boltight hydraulic bolt tensioners and hydraulic nuts which are great for bolts on cutters and conveyors. Australian Mining Review spoke with Nord-Lock Oceania general manager Jeff Jared about the innovative technologies, as well as other solutions the company offers in the way of locking…

Pumps play an integral role in mineral processing plants, essential in moving material from one point to another. In the world of hard rock mining, the crucial job of pumping large amounts of solids or particles from one location to another is done with the aid of water or other solutions. The speed, efficiency and reliability of pumps are paramount to the smooth running of multiple, interconnected systems at an operation. A whole host of factors determine pump selection and system design at a mine site, including client preferences, site applications, nature of the solids and fluids, distance, height and gradient, to name but a few. Robust pumps are stable while in use, discharge solids properly and are easy to…

A common misconception in the mining industry is that it is too expensive to fabricate equipment from stainless steel. It has become the status quo to use mild or carbon steels due to the lower initial price tag, but there are several reasons why the use of stainless steel delivers more cost benefits in the long run. The nature of mining means equipment is inevitably exposed to the most harsh and abrasive environment of any workplace. Stainless steel is much more suited to this type of environment due to its increased corrosion resistance, higher strength and durability, which drastically extends the useful life of the equipment. Therefore, its use delivers cost savings in many mining applications, especially where chemical resistance…

With a proud history spanning 200 years, Valmet has perfected its high-quality filter fabric solutions over many years. Long term co-operation with suppliers, customers, universities and research institutes has cemented the company as one of the world’s leading suppliers of filter fabrics. Coupled with extensive in-house R&D as well as the wealth of expertise and manufacturing facilities that comes with a global company, it has meant Valmet has remained at the forefront of innovation. This vast experience extends to the high-level solutions that Valmet supplies to the mining industry for all applications, from disc, drum and press filter fabrics to tower press, belt filters and linear screens. Its fabrics are developed to withstand high process temperatures, complex chemical environments, and…

It seems that every aspect of mining is tough – hard rock, blistering temperatures, cyclones and abrasive dust particles. Venture underground or even to the bottom of the pit then high salinity and acidity are added to the mix. It is little wonder that protective coatings are an essential part of keeping mining operations in production. They play numerous roles to provide barrier protection against these destructive forces, literally from the front gate to the depths of the underground sump. Given the multitude of environmental and wear challenges faced by fixed plant, mobile equipment and other infrastructure, it is critical that protective coatings are fit for purpose. They must not only be the right type of coating, but their chemical…