By: Lydia Snow
Source: Elko Daily Free Press, Nev. (TNS)
ELKO—The “Driving Change: Transformations in Mining Equipment” panel at the Elko Mining Expo on Thursday gathered together mining executives to discuss what automation means for the future of the industry.
Kylie Scott, general manager of mining technology for Empire Southwest, said she thinks the idea that technology means fewer jobs in mining is a myth. “One of our technicians calls it ‘job transformation.’ That’s really what we’re doing in the mining industry, is adding in more exciting, more advanced jobs,” she said.
“In the past, we’ve seen mines with 20-, 30-, 60-plus trucks going autonomous. But right now, in the United States and the markets that we serve at Empire Southwest, we’re really seeing that number drop, because miners are looking for a smaller-scale mine site with less trucks that they can automate, to manage their risk, manage their cost, to learn as they grow,” Scott explained.
“Mines in the U.S. are becoming a little bit harder to access and a little bit harder to recruit individuals. We’re having to come up with housing solutions. We’re having to commute longer distances,” Scott said.
“On average throughout our territory, we’re seeing 30% turnover rates. In one case, 56% turnover rates for operators. It becomes very challenging to manage and plan your mine when you have that massive turnover.”
But automation is changing that.
“With every automation project that we have in this territory—which is several—we’ve had zero drop-offs,” Scott said. “So, we either moved a haul truck operator to be a water truck operator, we’ve moved them to be a loader operator, maybe a dozer. We’ve upskilled them,” she said.
“I think that’s also something exciting about this, from a people standpoint, is that we’re really advancing the mining industry and the skills that our people have.”
Also, she added, taking some people out of trucks means reducing safety hazards.
Scott said autonomy is important to staying eco-friendly as well.
When it comes to charging batteries, such as for EVs, automation can help with planning how to charge.
Scott Hawke, senior application specialist at Sandvik, pointed to his company’s underground top hammer production drill rig as an efficient, safe and sustainable use of automation.
“It uses an advanced drilling control system, so that’s constantly monitoring and adjusting parameters based on real-time feedback,” he said. “The drill also has the ability to digitally upload plans. So, it requires minimal input from the operator. The plans are uploaded, then it can carry on that drill sequence. That also opens up opportunities for operations.”
Another new tech feature “enables the drills to navigate from side to side or ring to ring without the need for anyone being underground at the time,” he said.
The access protection system constantly monitors the area around the drill, shutting the drill off if anyone gets too close.
“Also from the safety side of things, less noise, less dust and zero emissions,” Hawke added.
Braden Weisheit, senior vice president of Komatsu, said automation “isn’t necessarily about removing individuals from the mine site. It’s, how do we operate more efficiently? How do we get the most out of our money operation? How do we do that safer? And how do we put people in the right place to then run that operation?” Mines can accomplish that through clear communication with employees, he explained.
“This industry has been around since the beginning of time. From a mining standpoint, the habits and the routines that are built in operations today did not develop over one month, one year, one training class,” he said.
“Part of the Komatsu family is a company called Immersive Technologies. It’s built around tailor-driven training for that change that you’re trying to make. I think that’s one of our big push points right now, is it’s not just about teaching the one person how they’re supposed to use the technology. It’s having a curriculum built around the entire operation of how everybody’s going to enter and exit an area—or how my job will specifically change in terms of the way I receive reporting or data.”
Chuck Tollman, business development manager at Epiroc, said “the ability to connect people and machines and systems in real time is what provides and enables the ability for these technologies to actually perform. Honestly, that’s where we see a lot of operations struggle. They’re not struggling because the technology isn’t available. They’re actually struggling because the infrastructure either isn’t there, the infrastructure itself is improperly designed or, in a lot of cases, the infrastructure is actually in disrepair.”
The panelists discussed what mining technologies they thought would evolve over the next five years.
Weisheit said he thinks reliance on high-precision GPS will change as mining machines gain more computing power. Scott said she thinks operator displays in equipment will change. Tollman noted how diagnostic processes which identify issues with the equipment are being built into equipment.
Mining employees need to pay attention to the technical aspects of their industry, Bardo said.
“Just because you do load and haul and you drive a haul truck, doesn’t mean you can’t understand more about how the total operation works and get the details. Just because you’re working in gold mining, there’s no reason why you can’t learn about copper,” Bardo said.
“I’ve had a long career working with a lot of folks with specialized, tribal knowledge at times. One of the things that I found really worked well—and I’ve done this myself for a lot of folks—is mentorship programs, where we give people the time and younger, newer folks time to spend with someone who’s had the experience,” Bardo said.
“With the new generation coming in, we have to adapt. We have to build. We have to change. There’s definitely the people aspect—but we have to add process to it and we have to have a plan, because the amount of retirements is absolutely through the roof right now,” Scott said. “Build digital libraries. Find a way to integrate technology to make it better for the people to come after you. It’s all about stewardship.”
“When you go autonomous, the entire line has to be pulling the rope in the exact same direction, or else you’re going to fail. That’s just the truth. So, that collaboration, that change management, the culture bringing the team together, is such a big benefit that’s unseen,” Scott said.
“I just think that people, as they think about technology, it’s going to be a journey. We’re all going to have to go on it together—patience and just sticking with it,” Lerner said.
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