Spotlight Feature Articles Ansul Modern Open Pits February 16 | Page 8

MODERN OPEN PITS_proof 21/10/2015 10:07 Page 7

MODERN OPEN PITS
reducing equipment downtime due to tire
maintenance issues. As the FMS acquires data
via OEM interfaces, such as the Michelin
Earthmover Maintenance System®, the

Up to ten unique checklists can be configured to
correspond to specific tasks and/or equipment
units.
The FastFeedback™ module receives real-time

DISPATCH system’s optimisation algorithm
incorporates corresponding tyre control actions
into its real-time decision making logic.
Associated actions include the allocation of

equipment health alarms from onboard OEM
sensors, and automatically warns operators and
supervisors when corrective action is required.

trucks to tyre shops, assignments on shorter
haulage paths, emergency tyre exceptions, and
more.”
When deployed at the mine in Brazil, the
Active Tire Management system helped the mine

assigns qualified personnel to equipment before
the start of a shift, freeing up valuable supervisor
time. Factors considered as part of the automatic

proactively manage their tyres rather than wait
for damage to accumulate, thus leading to a
marked reduction in tyre-related events. The
results were measured using the number of tyrerelated events received over a four week period,
during which an average of 48% fewer tyrerelated events occurred per shift in comparison
to comparable events observed before the
system was implemented.
As is often the case with customer-initiated
enhancements, The Active Tire Management
system is now available to all Modular customers
as an optional DISPATCH system add-on module.
In terms of other new modules to Modular key
products, the DISPATCH system includes a
number of core and optional modules designed
to address specific areas of interest and/or
concern such as cost reduction, operator safety,
or increased efficiency. Examples, aside from the
mentioned Active Tire Management system
include the Mine2Plan module, which provides
the ability to import information from third party
mine planning applications into the DISPATCH
system. Mine2Plan can be used to create new
records, such as for locations and grades, or
update existing records such as elemental
values.
The Prestart Checklist module helps to enforce
operator responsibility for equipment readiness.

The Lineup Management module automatically

assignment logic include personnel status,
seniority levels, permanent assignments, crew
rosters, equipment location, and equipment status.
In terms of how Modular's offerings fit with
greater degrees of automation in the industry,
the company told IM: “Modular has been helping
customers conduct mine management activities
from remote locations for more than a decade.
One customer in Australia remotely manages a
dozen sites from an integrated, command center
nearly 1,500 km away. Modular customers with
remote operations centres can also be found in
Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and the US. The cloudbased design of our MineCare 3 solution
facilitates ‘anytime, anywhere’ equipment health
monitoring and management. Extensive
adaptability of the solution enables mines to
monitor a single piece of equipment up to
thousands of units spread across multiple sites
from a centralised location.”
The RemoteCare™ program enables Modular
to manage a customer’s site for them by
monitoring real-time telemetry data, and
providing feedback and recommendations to onsite mine personnel. “Utilisation of RemoteCare
by a mine in Peru resulted in Modular’s
identification of numerous engine event trends.
The mine was able to take corrective action
before catastrophic failure occurred resulting in
decreased maintenance costs and increased
diesel engine availability.” Modular technologies

also play a key role in Komatsu’s FrontRunner®
system, the industry’s first commerciallyavailable autonomous haulage system (AHS). The
DISPATCH system integrates with the
FrontRunner system to optimise driverless haul
truck operation.

The complete open pit offering
Hexagon Mining says the group “unites a
formidable arsenal of technology suites under a
banner of smart change. Integration of these
solutions is central to the company’s mission of
helping mines become safer and more
productive. Safer, more cohesive fleet
management and better slope stability
monitoring are just two of the areas where
Hexagon Mining is making a difference thanks to
integration between three of those technologies:
MineSight for mine planning, Jigsaw for mine
operations, and SAFEmine for collision avoidance.”
Among the key planning data being shared are
grade control digblock designs, supplied by
MineSight Planner, to digging and dispatch
trucks overseen by Jigsaw. Excavator operators
can see the digblocks on their screens, so trucks
are dispatched to the correct destinations based
on the material being mined.
Integration between MineSight and Jigsaw, is
taking shape in the solution delivered by HxM
Blast. “Since its release in April 2015, HxM Blast
has continued to receive significant functionality
improvements. Version 2.00 includes the addition
of the much-anticipated charge and tie-in
functionality. This will allow you to take designed
drill patterns and convert them into workable
blast designs.”  
Hexagon Mining also says it is creating an
industry first by seamlessly integrating planning
and operational products. One product handles a
previously complex multi-department process.
Data is effortlessly transitioned through owners
while still retaining integrity. “By connecting

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