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42 E&MJ; • OCTOBER 2017 www.e-mj.com NORDIC TECHNOLOGY 2017 Steeped in tradition, Nordic mining suppliers provide some of best and most advanced equipment for demanding applications. Their ability to drill through hard-rock formations have earned them a great deal of respect, and they continue to improve with time. Following the digitalization trends, it seems the focus has turned to autonomy and data analysis to improve safety and pro- ductivity, and lower operating costs. What sets these suppliers apart is their experience and an understanding of the cyclic nature of the mining business. The brand names are recognized by miners worldwide. They have many years of experience and they will still be here tomorrow. What follows is a collection of important introductions vari- ous suppliers from the region have made this year. The common thread is the use of technology to assist the operator, but not necessarily replace the operator. Another common denominator is the attention toward improved maintenance and empowering miners (or other suppliers or distributors) to provide solutions for themselves, which is important considering the remoteness of many mining operations. Sandvik Offers Intelligent Loading and Bolting Solutions At a gathering in Tampere, Finland, during September, Sandvik introduced a Tele-Remote for underground loaders and an im- proved cable bolter. The Tele-Remote system, according to the company, is a new, smart, entry-level addition to its AutoMine product family. The system provides an easy way to start explor- ing the full potential of equipment automation while improving productivity, safety and cost efficiency in mining operations. The new Tele-Remote provides functionality for smart teleop- eration and monitoring of a single loader from the safety of a remote location. It is easy to set up, operate and maintain without a need for advanced technical skills. Designed specifically for quick production area deployment, AutoMine Tele-Remote is par- ticularly suitable for continuously changing mining environments, such as applications with small stopes or mine development. "AutoMine Tele-Remote makes remote loader operating sim- ple thanks to a number of smart system functionalities assist- ing the operator," said Jarkko Ruokojärvi, product line manager automation at Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology. "The ad- vanced features — such as automatic steering and predictive wall collision avoidance — ensure easy and smooth operation of the loader, reducing strain on the operator." As the intelligent operator-assisting system automatically steers the loader in environments previously unknown to it, load- ing can start immediately after site installation without a need for area definitions. In addition, the solution enables additional productive hours each day by allowing continued remote opera- tion of the loader during blast clearance times. Equipment utilization is also increased as operators can hand over between shifts much faster, without the need to locate and travel to the equipment. The intelligent features of the system assisting the operator also help to avoid wall collision damage that would otherwise lead to expensive downtime for repairs and maintenance. This translates into cost savings and higher pro- ductivity. The system's compact onboard package is integrated into the intelligent control system of Sandvik loaders, allowing full monitoring and control functionality as well as straightfor- ward retrofit installations. Combining more than three decades of mechanized cable bolting engineering expertise, Sandvik's DS422i cable bolter is designed to enable better process control through assistive and automatic technologies and connectivity. Sandvik DS422i is built on the same platform as the award-winning Sandvik DD422i, providing lower total cost of ownership through parts commonality, easy serviceability and high productivity. The DS422i is engineered for intelligent rock reinforcement, providing seamless integration with other key underground mine systems. The cable bolter is a converging point for multiple lo- gistics chains. To efficiently perform its duty it needs to be in the right place at the right time with the right consumables and correct operator information on board. Sandvik DS422i provides the ideal solution for all of these challenges. Ground support is a quality-focused, statistics-driven and operations-critical process in a mine. The common denomina- tor, which almost all cable bolter users share, is a desire for information: exactly how and where bolts were installed, how much grout was pumped, the mixing ratio of the grout used and other key details of the mechanized bolt install process. Sandvik DS422i can provide this information, store it and pass it on to a mine's systems for analysis through its intelligent control system and connectivity. "Our customers are constantly asking us for solutions giving them documented 'as planned' and 'as installed' data from the Nordic Suppliers Make Smarter Machines New ideas empower miners to develop custom solutions to site-specific needs By Steve Fiscor, Editor Sandvik's Tele-Remote offers an easy way for miners to start exploring the full potential of equipment automation.