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SHOVELS & EXCAVATORS 48 E&MJ; • MAY 2018 www.e-mj.com Improving the Excavation Load Cycle The excavation load cycle plays a critical role in the surface mining production pro- cess, making it an ideal target for optimi- zation. In addition to the potential overall production increases, improving the load cycle also enables mines to: • Minimize shovel hang time; • Optimize shovel swing angle; • Maximize trucking capacity; and • Increase compliance to plan. Achieving this ideal load cycle is often more easily said than done, however; haul truck maneuvering efficiency at shovels, crushers, and dumps can vary dramatical- ly with operator skill. This variability has led mines to employ standard operating procedures geared toward the site's low- est capability level to ensure a safer pro- duction. While such traditional practices as bucket spotting and single-side loading can help reduce the risk of truck-shovel impacts, they often do so at the cost of productivity. As the shovel hang time that results from these traditional practices increases, the productivity of both the shovel and truck decreases. Operator-assist Technologies for Load Cycle Optimization Operator-assist technologies can help opti- mize the load cycle to significantly improve the productivity of both shovels and trucks by efficiently guiding haul truck operators as they reverse toward the shovel loading position, without guidance from the shovel operator. The Guided Spotting system, part of Modular's ProVision Machine Guidance solution, is one such technology, and can help optimize the excavation load cycle by potentially equalizing the performance of all operators to a capability close to (or even beyond) that of the most experienced operator. The system's high-precision guid- ance and real-time communication and in- tegration between the shovel and truck en- able precise guidance to a predetermined loading point, governed by the shovel. The Guided Spotting system is designed to improve both shovel productivity and operator safety awareness during the truck spotting and loading process, and utilizes visual displays mounted near-side mirrors to leverage existing practices, rather than seeking to replace those practices with technology. The symbology utilized on the visual displays is operator-friendly and easy to interpret from the peripheral line of sight, helping even the least-skilled operator to potentially perform as efficiently as the most-skilled. In addition, the Guided Spot- ting system provides the truck operator with real-time feedback regarding his exact loca- tion, relative to the desired spotting point. The system allows the shovel operator to specify his desired loading point(s) for both single- and dual-sided loading and integration between the ProVision solution and Modular's DISPATCH Fleet Manage- ment System facilitates optimization of the next available truck assignment to further decrease the excavation load cycle time and increase fleet production capacity. The shovel operator can also update or change the loading points without assistance from the central office or survey team. After extensive successful field trials at a large mine in North America, the sys- TAILINGS FLOTATION CELLS THICKENER UNDERFLOW CONCENTRATORS CENTRIFUGE AND CYCLONE FEED Series 5200 Control Pinch Valve Series D Slurry Knife Gate Valve Series DX Slurry Knife Gate Valve Series 75 Manual Pinch Valve Red Valve www.redvalve.com | 412.279.0044 The Best Choice for the Toughest Mining Applications. Since 1953, Red Valve Company has been the world's leading manufacturer of slurry valves for the mining industry. Built to last, Red Valve products are the industry's first choice for isolation and modulating valves througout a mining operation. Our global representative network stands ready to work with you.