Brownfield expansion overtakes greenfield development

Sandvik has launched its next-generation automated development drill rig, the DD423i, which offers 34.5% more drilling coverage than legacy models.Delivering 48% improved crosscut performance, the DD423i introduces new SB75i booms with double rollovers for superior reach in confined spaces, such as room and pillar applications. Automatic boom movements and integrated boom collision avoidance provide faster, safer and more precise drilling cycles.Sandvik development drills product manager Simon Morrissey says the introduction of the DD423i is an important milestone for Sandvik.“The DD422i set the benchmark for development drilling in 2015 and its success over the past decade has shaped the industry,” he said.“With the DD423i, we honour that legacy while delivering a future ready drill designed for even higher performance, automation and safety.”In field testing in Boliden, in the Skellefteå region of Sweden, the DD423i achieved over 95% machine availability, highlighting Sandvik’s commitment to robust and dependable equipment.“The Skellefteå region is known for its extremely hard and abrasive geological conditions,” Mr Morrissey said.“It is one of the toughest areas for rock drilling in Scandinavia and therefore provided the ideal testing conditions for the DD423i.”The redesigned cabin on the DD423i delivers a step forward in operator safety and comfort, offering 55% increased visibility, lower noise levels and improved dust control.Enhanced serviceability with easy access to key components supports quicker maintenance and reduces downtime while the advanced drilling control system provides fast and accurate performance with intuitive operation for all skill levels.The DD423i is fully compatible with Sandvik digital mining solutions, enabling a connected, data driven approach to development drilling.

WA’s next generation of mining safety leaders gets boost The Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Centre at Edith Cowan University (ECU), with support from the WA Government, is offering a number of fully funded scholarships for the Graduate Certificate of Leadership in Mining Workplace Safety.The program is designed to develop leaders who can effectively manage psychosocial risks, support a culture of safety and respect, and drive evidence-based wellbeing and safety practices across WA’s mining organisations.The course consists of three consecutive units delivered in an intensive block. It is offered flexibly online to accommodate the demanding and variable work schedules of the mining workforce, with regular opportunities for online engagement and support.To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must currently be working within the WA mining sector and will need to submit a course application and receive a course offer.MARS Centre deputy director Associate Professor Kate Blackwood says that as part of the applicant review process, consideration would be given to the applicant's motivation for undertaking the program, their plans for applying the knowledge gained and the steps they have taken to prepare for success."We're looking for applicants who are motivated to turn learning into action, leaders who want to strengthen safety, respect and wellbeing across their teams and organisations," she said."This program is designed to equip mining professionals with practical, evidence-based skills they can apply immediately, while balancing the realities of working in a demanding industry."The course is set to run between March 9 to July 19.

Weir has been awarded a contract to supply a 150tph crushing and screening plant for Bezant’s Hope and Gorob copper-gold project in Namibia.The order includes an ENDURON® ET905 jaw crusher; an ENDURON® ET906 jaw crusher, a Trio® TF4012 vibrating grizzly feeder, a Trio® EF3605 vibrating pan feeder, a Trio® TIOSP6162 scalping screen, conveyor belts and the supporting steel structure.Weir comminution director for Europe, Middle East and Africa JD Singleton comments on the contract.“There is obviously a lot of time, effort and resources that go into designing, developing and bringing to market new products,” he said.“The range of ENDURON® jaw crushers were developed in close collaboration with our customers, so we’ve been confident throughout the entire process that these crushers will help miners overcome some of their most pressing operational challenge.“Nevertheless, it’s rewarding to see this work come to fruition and crushers performing well in some of the most arduous crushing applications.“Today, miners are taking a more holistic view of their operations; rather than looking at pieces of equipment in isolation, they are increasingly considering how what happens upstream impacts what’s happening downstream, and vice versa. In other words, there’s more of a focus on optimising the entire flowsheet.“As an end-to-end solutions provider, Weir has long understood the value of this approach. We’ve worked closely with Bezant and its partners to develop a crushing and screening solution for Hope and Gorob project that optimises the entire flowsheets and enables them to meet their ambitious production targets."Weir recently launched its new range of ENDURON® jaw crushers, which have been developed to enhance safety, boost productivity, simplify maintenance and support its customers’ sustainability goals.The updated ENDURON® jaw crushers now feature a redesigned Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU), which allows for true push-button control of CSS adjustments. This new feature eliminates the need for manual intervention, significantly reducing safety risks for operators and maintenance teams.The new HPU also ensures consistent tensioning of the retraction springs at all times, improving reliability and ease of use across the full wear range of the jaw dies. The optimised motor power and oil tank capacity reduce the HPU’s carbon dioxide footprint and reduce environmental impact.Bezant technical director Martyn Churchouse says Weir’s service centre, located less than one hour from the mine site, significantly reduces project risk from a service and support perspective.“We recognise that crushing and screening plants require extensive maintenance, and having a hands-on partner who supports and stands behind their own equipment is essential to ensuring our success,” he said.

EACON hits autonomous haulage milestone in Australia A retrofitted Komatsu HD1500 haul truck has successfully completed its first fully autonomous haulage test cycle at Norton Gold Fields' Mulgarrie mine in WA.The achievement is part of a tri-partite project between EACON Mining Technology, Thiess and Norton Gold Fields, confirming the successful retrofit of autonomy on Komatsu trucks.Prior to the retrofit, the truck had about 20,000 operating hours and was elected as part of the project to broaden asset life.Following a structured series of testing and validation activities, the retrofitted truck, named Jerry, has met the criteria to operate fully autonomously, demonstrating the maturity of EACON's complete autonomous driving system under Australian operating conditions.The first phase of the project demonstrated reliable integration of EACON's independently developed drive-by-wire retrofit kit, consistent vehicle behaviour under autonomous control and effective tuning of control algorithms to match the truck's native operating characteristics.Comprehensive system-level validation was completed across perception, planning, decision-making and vehicle control, confirming the system's readiness for continued on-site testing and subsequent project phases.EACON Mining Australia chief operating officer Elaine Jin says the milestone reflects disciplined execution and close collaboration across all project partners."Achieving this milestone safely and on schedule validates the maturity of our ORCASTRA system, its adaptability to the Australian mining environment and its proven performance on large scale rigid dump trucks,” she said.Thiess assets and autonomy group executive Ryan Kirkwood says the global mining services provider was proud to work in partnership with EACON and Norton Gold Fields to demonstrate how autonomy could be introduced safely across mixed, brownfield fleets."Thiess has implemented, operated and optimised autonomous solutions for haulage fleets, dozer and drill applications globally for close to 15 years,” he said.“We're pleased to bring our experience to this project to support change management and implementation processes, from commissioning through to successful maintenance with our workforce of the future."Supporting fleet expansion and further validation activities, a second Komatsu HD1500 truck, Tom, has also recently completed retrofit works and is making its way to the Mulgarrie site.Norton Gold Fields chief executive Wei Lin says the milestone demonstrates the potential for retrofit autonomous haulage to be safely introduced into active Australian gold mining operations.“The project has progressed in a structured and measured way, with safety and operational readiness at the forefront,” he said.By enabling autonomy across multiple vehicle brands and models, EACON's open, OEM-agnostic autonomy solution provides a practical pathway for upgrading existing mining fleets and facilitates the transition of autonomous haulage from greenfield deployments to scalable brownfield and retrofit operations.