Global refined copper surplus swells in first half of 2024 — report
New data from the ICSG indicated a preliminary surplus of about 488,000 tonnes, which is significantly higher than the 115,000 tonnes for H1 2023.
MineWare’s Argus Shovel Monitor delivers productivity gains of up to 16 per cent.
MineWare has extended its presence into South America, landing the global mining technology leader its first two Argus system sales with its partner Haultrax Chile—a global mining consultancy in automation, productivity and technology.
MineWare Global Sales Director Roy Pater said international mines want shovel monitoring systems that deliver real-time actionable information that will consistently improve operator performance, mine compliance, production, maintenance and safety—while reducing the overall running costs and have a proven payback of 6 months or less.
“Initially, Haultrax demonstrated the benefits of having a real-time payload and mine compliance system by installing an Argus Shovel Monitoring system and measuring the payback based on the payload improvement gained,” he said.
“They were able to demonstrate an 8.4% improvement in production by accurately providing the operator in real-time what target payload they should load into each truck. This translated to a payback of less than 5 months.”
Pater attributes MineWare’s success into new markets to finding and developing strong local partnerships and understanding the unique challenges and support needs of each country and adapting to their requirements.
In Chile, MineWare’s partner Haultrax consults with and advises mining companies on how to solve their payload and fleet management challenges, so they have a deep understanding and knowledge of what their customers need.
Haultrax Director Carlos Erazo said they want proven systems that can deliver accurate and sustainable long term productivity gains for their customers.
“We chose to partner with MineWare because the Argus Shovel Monitor is a reliable and accurate system with a proven payback.
“More importantly, any performance and productivity gains must be sustainable for our customers in the long term.
“Argus has clearly demonstrated this which is why these initial systems were embraced by two of Chile’s largest copper mines.”
Erazo said payload optimisation and mine plan compliance remain two of the primary issues for mine sites, with real-time technology having a key role to play in improving the performance of both.
“In a recent installation, undertaken by our Western Australian office, we were asked to improve a customer’s per truck payload by five tonnes,” he said.
“Over the initial 6 month period, Argus consistently attained a 5.7 ton improvement per truckload and over 12 months, the site is sustaining eight tonnes per truckload improvement.”
Echoing Erazo’s comments, Pater said he is confident that MineWare’s Argus system can deliver what their customers need in terms of accuracy and productivity gains.
“In Australia, Canada, USA and South Africa we are seeing a 3 to 16 percent improvement in production performance with a payback anywhere between three to six months,”he said.
“Double digit performance improvements have been achieved by identifying and addressing multiple issues such as availability, utilization, digability and dig rate and working with the operators to improve these.”
About MineWare
MineWare supports more than 120 surface mining operations around the world with actionable information to improve operator performance, mine compliance, production, maintenance and safety. Delivering productivity gains of up to16 per cent, while reducing cost, MineWare’s monitoring systems provide mine sites with independent machine guidance and payload monitoring information for their large ground engaging machinery in real time.
Intuitive, easy-to-use and fully interoperable with most fleet management systems, MineWare’s world-leading Argus shovel system and Pegasys dragline system improve operator technique and performance with real-time feedback, in-seat coaching and peer benchmarking.
With pinpoint accuracy, Argus and Pegasys empower operators make fast, confident and correct decisions on a range of production, mine planning, truck loading and maintenance tasks safely— in one integrated system available for all models of draglines, electric shovels,hydraulic excavators and front end loaders.
MineWare consistently provides the highest level of global service and support, on-the-ground, in-the-field, to assist with system adoption, operations and continual improvement, and via their dedicated, 24/7 remote support team.
Australia| Indonesia | Mongolia | USA | Canada | Chile |South Africa | Europe & Middle East
AboutHaultrax
Haultrax is an application engineering firm focused on the implementation of surface mining automation technologies. Haultrax assists mining companies to understand and prepare for the people and process changes required in the successful implementation of autonomous systems. Through direct operational experience, Haultrax provides services in the feasibility, selection, operational readiness and deployment of automation.
Haultrax’ personnel have extensive experience in surface mining automation project, having planned, procured,deployed, managed and operated autonomous haulage and autonomous drilling operations for large-scale mining companies since 2008.
