North American Mining investigates the world of mine haulage automation, asking where we are and where we are heading next. By Jonathan Rowland The mining industry has “increasingly adopted automated haulage solutions as the technology is beginning to be more commercialized,” Masayoshi Ota, vice president of Mining Sales at Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas (HCMA) told North American Mining. “Numerous autonomous…
Read MoreWhat challenges does electrification pose to vehicle drive systems? North American Mining spoke to experts at drivetrain specialists, Dana Inc., and mining OEM, Liebherr Mining, to find out. By Jonathan Rowland Electrification of mining vehicles is gathering momentum and represents a “significant shift in the industry,” according to Richard Kraemer, Trolley/Battery Sales Support Manager at Liebherr Mining. “Even as diesel-electric…
Read More
Handling slurry inevitably exposes equipment to wear. The question is thus how to manage and minimize that wear. North American Mining spoke to four experts about issues in slurry pump wear protection. By Jonathan Rowland Introduction: the three types of wear There are three main categories of wear to which a slurry pump may be exposed: abrasion, corrosion and erosion.…
Read MoreNorth American Mining speaks to two experts on the importance of energy audits and debottlenecking studies for achieving efficient and sustainable mining operations. By Jonathan Rowland Efficiency. Optimization. Debottlenecking. These are buzzwords that get thrown around a lot in conversations about almost any heavy industry. Mining is no exception. They are also often connected to more buzzwords – like digitalization,…
Read More
Mining flowsheets can take many different routes, but more often than not they begin with drill and blast. Optimizing blasting outcomes can thus play a critical role in determining overall mine efficiency. North American Mining discussed current and future blasting best practices with experts from explosives providers and technology suppliers. By Jonathan Rowland Drilling and blasting are “key functions in…
Read More
North American Mining spoke to two raise borer OEMs and three drilling contractors about the current state and future direction of the raise boring sector. by Jonathan Rowland When you think of raise boring in underground mining, you probably think about the construction of ventilation and access shafts. But they are not the only application. With more advanced and increasingly…
Read More
From its headquarters near Munich, Germany, Bind-X is a company focused on disrupting the world of dust control through sustainable biotechnology. North American Mining spoke with the CEO to find out more. by Jonathan Rowland Think sustainable mining and what comes to mind? Chances are it is not dust control. The generation of dust is, however, an inevitable consequence of…
Read More
The NEXGEN SIMS research project is pioneering the use of virtual reality in mining education. North American Mining spoke to its Education Focus leader, Dr. Andreas Eitzenberger, for the details. by Jonathan Rowland Thanks to growing public awareness around the transition to a more sustainable, net-zero world, interest in mining is also rising. Politicians, companies, and others are realizing that…
Read More
North American Mining discusses the current state and future development of mining education in North America with experts from some of the region’s leading mining engineering schools, the National Mining Association, and the Mining Industry Human Resources Council. by Jonathan Rowland Workforce and talent gaps are nothing new to anyone who has spent time around the mining industry. The Society…
Read More
Heavy mobile equipment operating in the confined spaces of an underground mine poses a serious safety hazard. Proximity detection and collision avoidance systems can play an important role in mitigating that risk. By Jonathan Rowland One of the biggest safety risks in an underground mining operation is the interaction between mobile assets and personnel. “The risk exposure in this area…
Read More