Burgex’s Jake Tanner examines what lies ahead for supply and demand across the commodity industries – not just for 2026, but well into the next decade and beyond. The clock on demand has started: record industrial draw for metals, a binding grid rule, a fixed highway window, and an EV market that’s maturing – not stalling – now define the…
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by Donna Schmidt Snow and skiing and mining – oh, my! Salt Lake City will once again play host to the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration’s (SME) MINEXCHANGE conference and exposition from February 22-25 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Thousands will return once again to the venue to visit with hundreds of exhibitors and take in presentations from…
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Why predicting vertical motor resonance is a more accurate method for equipment protection. by Harendra Singh and Ravi Kumar, Wolong Electric America Vibration in rotating machinery is a leading cause of premature failure, costly downtime, and safety hazards. For operators of vertical motors, one of the most important vibration-related concepts to understand is reed critical frequency (RCF). This natural frequency…
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Maintenance, safety, reliability: we know already that these are three crucial elements to the success of drive systems at the mine site. NAM digs down to the details with Hägglunds on how to keep a system at the top of its operational game – and it starts with an industry staying out of its own way. by Donna Schmidt Drive…
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Slurry pump shaft seals play a critical part in improving pump uptime, reducing water consumption, and lowering operating costs. by Jonathan Rowland Slurry pumps power the circulatory system that keeps mineral processing plants running. Many factors go into ensuring the efficiency and reliability of these essential pieces of equipment. The shaft seal may play a supporting role relative to other…
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From underground coal mines in 1980s Germany to some of the world’s highest-altitude conveyor systems in the deserts of South America today, gearless drive technology is transforming how mining operations move material. by Jonathan Rowland “Gearless drive systems were first used in various industrial applications long before they were considered a viable alternative to conventional conveyor drive concepts with gearboxes,”…
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NAM editor Donna Schmidt recently sat down with FLANDERS senior global product director Gerhard Labuschagne about some pressing issues for the future of drilling. Just what is an optimized mine from a driller’s perspective, and in the age of digitalization, what’s an engineer’s role? How are field relationships between operator and drilling partner key to each step of success along…
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Fully automated longwall operations have been dreamt about since the 1950s. Are they finally within grasp? by Jonathan Rowland Longwall mining has always been associated with significant safety risks for personnel. Reducing this risk through mechanization, automation, and remote-controlled operation has – alongside improving productivity and operational efficiency – been a “central driver of longwall innovation for more than five…
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From the pit to control room, how video analytics is streamlining mining operations in North America. by Gary Ng There was a time when mining oversight meant standing at the edge of a pit with a clipboard, hoping the dust did not hide the data. But today? The pit watches itself and reports in real-time. What previously relied on radios,…
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This lithium production methodology is growing rapidly, drawing interest from environmentalists and producers alike, because it reduces the environmental impact and the cost of lithium production. by Jorge Espinoza and Victor Mwaba Growing demand for lithium compounds for use in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries is constrained by the difficulty of maximizing its extraction from natural sources. There are only…
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