https://www.miningweekly.com
Engineering|Mining|Paper|Power|PROJECT|Projects|Resources|Safety|Technology|Equipment|Products|Solutions|Operations
Engineering|Mining|Paper|Power|PROJECT|Projects|Resources|Safety|Technology|Equipment|Products|Solutions|Operations
engineering|mining|paper|power|project|projects|resources|safety|technology|equipment|products|solutions|operations

Centre bridges gap between technology, people

DIGITAL JOURNEY The Technology Centre is assisting Zimbabwe’s mining industry on its exciting journey into the digital future

IAN BAGSHAW The use of digital technologies continues to increase significantly

HOSEA MOLIFE Hosea Molife heads the Technology Centre, which provides support to the mining industry

3rd September 2021

By: Simone Liedtke

Creamer Media Social Media Editor & Senior Writer

     

Font size: - +

Mining engineering multinational Sandvik Mining and Rock Solution’s Zimbabwe-based Technology Centre is assisting the mining industry’s journey into the digital future by bridging the gap between technology and people.

The centre, Sandvik territory manager Ian Bagshaw explains, is the “human side” of digital technology that teaches people how to easily and intuitively use digital technologies to improve safety and productivity at mining operations.

Launched in April this year, the centre forms part of Sandvik CEO Stefan Widing’s 2025 strategy – “We make the shift” – one of the key pillars of which is “the digital shift”, which aims to increase the use of digital products and tools in the mining industry.

As evidenced throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Bagshaw says the use of digital technologies increased significantly, despite their “not quite [being] as intuitive or easy to use as we initially thought”.

“Everything is monitored and connected, and technology is about taking data and turning it into useful information. Digital tools are now taking that information and compiling it into useful information, from which insights can be created to enable mines to make focused decisions,” he explains to Mining Weekly.

The above forms part of another key focus area of the centre: to make mines safer and more productive.

However, the power of the digital tool lies within human hands, hence, the Technology Centre, Bagshaw says.

The technologies employed by Sandvik essentially “take the lid off the mine, revealing vital real-time information such as tons mined, and holes drilled, equipment utilisation, machine uptime and much more”.

The Technology Centre can use various Sandvik solutions to make the data useful for clients. These include My Sandvik for equipment monitoring using up-to-date information, OptiMine for integrating resources and optimising processes, and AutoMine for automating mining activities.

OptiMine mainly focuses on analytics implementation, which Bagshaw says is “the next step” in the process of turning collected data into information that can be collated into mine insights.

There are three projects under way at the Technology Centre.

The My Sandvik solution is being provided for 100 machines at one site, while OptiMine is being installed on a 76-unit fleet, and AutoMine is used to create a trucking loop for a single-unit pilot project.

Sandvik’s digital solutions are a catalyst for mines to move away from paper-based and static data platforms.

In addition to installing the hardware and software to generate real-time data, the Technology Centre also works closely with clients on how best to use the reports, which are subsequently built into the mine’s daily operations and real-time decision-making, which Bagshaw says will “bring the productivity value add”.

The Technology Centre – headed by centre manager Hosea Molife – is basically a support centre, Bagshaw says.

“It’s like buying a state-of-the-art computer or cellphone and only using 10% of its power; the centre will improve the overall user experience and ensure we all maximise our digital tools,” he concludes.

Edited by Nadine James
Features Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

Hanna Instruments Image
Hanna Instruments (Pty) Ltd

We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Rittal
Rittal

Rittal is a world leading provider of top-quality integrated systems for enclosures, power distribution, climate control, IT infrastructure and...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.255 0.305s - 331pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now