The global demand for commodities is rising due to the drive towards clean energy and net zero carbon emission targets. As a result, the minerals and mining industry is under enormous pressure to expand production and increase efficiencies and sustainability while maintaining safe and reliable operations.
Minerals and mining businesses need the right partners for equipment, technology and service solutions that help them achieve these goals. But what are the key characteristics to look for in a partner, and how can they positively impact your mining operations?
Mining industry operations cover stretching from extraction to the processing of raw materials, incl. the necessary logistics and transportation of bulk material between the individual process steps and the related import and export. Raw materials and products need to be stockpiled to provide adequate buffers and reserves for the processing and logistical process. Depending on the project specific and local requirements, different transportation and conveying solutions are possible, and various terminal options for ships, trains or trucks need to be considered. While each process step and function may operate autonomously, they are all highly interdependent.
In order to optimise this process chain in its entirety and to develop the best solution for the individual project, a holistic approach and perspective are essential. Partners that supply equipment and technology across the entire value chain, serving as a comprehensive one-stop solution provider, offer far more value to minerals and mining businesses in their pursuit of operational excellence across their entire operation compared to equipment suppliers who are specialised only on specific products.
The last few years have highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains to global events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mining companies found themselves cut off from suppliers of spare parts and technical expertise and services. This kind of disruption has the potential to severely hamper a mine’s performance and production capability.
In addition, the planning and realisation of larger projects requires detailed knowledge of local regulations and standards as well as the use of the local supply chain and the involvement of local subcontractors for a successful and efficient project execution in view of cost and time. Therefore, mining corporations and mineral producers should seek technical partners with a global presence in all the major mining markets, including Americas, Australia, Africa, and India.
This ensures that local requirements and regulations are properly addressed, access to a local supply chain, including spares and technical services, is guaranteed even if borders close suddenly, as they did during unforeseen events like COVID-19 or supply chains are disrupted by regional conflicts. Other incidents like a single container ship stuck in the Suez Canal serve as a reminder of how quickly the supply chain can be disrupted on a worldwide scale. Uncertainties like these and resulting problems can be best mitigated by establishing partnerships with service providers capable of offering assistance and resources across multiple regions. This proactive approach can ensure smoother operations even in challenging circumstances.
Reliability, availability and stability of production processes over the entire life cycle of systems are essential for efficient and successful mining operations. Therefore, customer support should serve these goals and strategies. Equipment downtime has to be avoided or must be reduced to the minimum possible.
Service providers that understand these objectives tend to value the art of listening to customer individual needs in order to gain the depth of insight necessary to provide effective support and tailormade solutions. Additionally, they provide ongoing assistance over the entire lifetime of the systems. An ideal partner will offer flexible options for customer support, including:
Due to its ambitious goals and targets in terms of growth, efficiency and sustainability, the mining industry is constantly on the lookout for new solutions to help to achieve these goals. The ideal partner for mining companies has years of experience in the industry’s processes and operations and knows its specifics, along with a deep commitment to innovation and digitalisation, while also offering proactive support on mitigating risks.
These organisations spend a proportion of their annual turnover on Research and Development. They use new technology, such as drones and modern software tools, to find optimum conveyor routes to replace expensive truck and shovel operations with their high CO2 emissions. In-Pit Crushing and Conveying Systems can also help lower operating costs and reduce environmental emissions. The ideal partner supports mining companies to meet the self-imposed targets as well as the intensifying government regulations.
Digitalisation is a buzzword for many industries due to the proliferation of smart sensors, cloud-based systems, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, digitalisation is only effective when the solutions deployed use the data to improve operational safety, efficiency, and costs.
One example in the minerals and mining industry is the anti-collision systems that protect machines that are operated simultaneously in one system, whether manual or fully automatic. Also, Stockyard Management Systems (SMS) enable operators to improve performance by scheduling, controlling, monitoring and documenting materials handling and storage. The system can monitor multiple flows while displaying and managing complex patterns. Another key application for digitalisation is in predictive maintenance. Monitoring systems can display activities on dashboards and trigger alarms based on condition monitoring sensors. This allows operators to predict maintenance requirements, ensure the availability of spare parts, and avoid downtime.
Mineral producers and mining corporations need a partner that understands digital technology and how to apply it in the industry.
The high capital investment in the minerals and mining sector makes long-term reliability and success a priority rather than short-term gains. At the same time, mining equipment is exposed to harsh conditions and must meet highest quality standards to maximise availability and service life and minimise the total cost of ownership (TCO). All this must be achieved without compromising on the safety of workers and the protection of the environment.
The ideal partner for minerals and mining companies is aligned with these values. They can be trusted to accompany them through the entire lifecycle of the project, to handle challenges as they arise, and to be available for after sales service and advice. This partner should have safety and sustainability as core values, along with an unwavering commitment to delivering long-term solutions for their customers.
Minerals and mining businesses must expand production and improve efficiencies and sustainability to meet the growing market demand for commodities and self-imposed internal targets as well as governmental regulations and environmental legislations. Only a partner that covers the entire value chain, is close to mining operations anywhere in the world, and has a track record of innovation can help companies achieve long-term success in the industry.
