In this issue’s executive Q&A, NAM talked to Conn-Weld President Marvin Woodie, who is helping the company celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025 – as he personally marks his upcoming 45th anniversary of involvement with the processing supply manufacturer. He has certainly watched it grow right before his eyes, from 152 workers in 1986 when he arrived at Conn-Weld headquarters…
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Optimizing material tracking and monitoring across the mining value chain. by Rudy Moctezuma The mining industry is known for its variability and the challenges this creates for mine operations attempting to keep mining production as close to the mining plan as possible. Ore bodies are rarely uniform in mineralogy, grades and physical characteristics, presenting issues that extend throughout the mining…
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A case for maintenance plans that allow smarter, not harder, work through the use of artificial intelligence and robotics. by Ben Lawrence Remember the early days of the COVID lockdown? Amidst the uncertainty, one commodity became inexplicably precious: toilet paper. The paper industry, a typically steady behemoth, suddenly found itself grappling with a demand surge of unprecedented proportions. For paper…
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Process monitoring equipment needs – as told by a valve in a mineral processing plant. by Mariana Sandin Hello. I’m just a valve – one of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands – in a global mining operation, part of the utilities group in my facility. I don’t ask for much: a little grease, the occasional calibration, and the hope that…
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The two recently inked a memorandum of understanding to identify digital use cases and areas of strategic overlap in the mining industry. The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) announced in mid-March that it has teamed with The Open Group, a vendor-neutral technology consortium to work in tandem and foster collaboration between its members in mining and the OSDU for Mining…
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The mining industry’s cautious approach to innovation is understandable. With massive capital investments, complex operations, and significant reputational risks, prudence is essential. However, the cost of inaction can often outweigh the perceived risks of change. by Jaisen Kohmuench, president and CEO, Eriez As the mining sector faces mounting pressures to improve sustainability, efficiency, and profitability, a shift is underway: forward-thinking…
Read MoreCoal producer Peabody has signed a contract to provide 7-8 million tons of coal per year to Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. for at least the next seven years. Under this new contract, Peabody will supply Associated’s coal requirements for the New Madrid Power Plant and Thomas Hill Energy Center in Missouri from the North Antelope Rochelle Mine (NARM), located in…
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It’s what everyone wants to know, but is not afraid to ask: what’s next for artificial intelligence and its impact on business? William Smedberg, portfolio manager for AI and Automation at Sandvik, recently discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the mining, rock processing and manufacturing industries. The world has shifted from merely wanting AI to expecting tangible results. From…
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Call me a nerd, but I like to stay abreast of artificial intelligence’s speed of learning about the mining industry. In hopes of getting some creative inspiration for writing this month’s column, I decided to test AI by asking it what it thinks are the main themes and outlook of mining in North America and the world right now. While…
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To expand its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and help customers optimize their mining operations, Komatsu announced its intent to acquire Octodots Analytics, a Chile-based digital solutions provider. The announcement comes as the company debuts its new Modular ecosystem, a bold vision for the future of mine site optimization and data sharing, at MINExpo 2024 in Las Vegas. Building upon Komatsu’s…
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