Last year, Glencore’s George Fisher mine, part of its Mount Isa Mines complex, received three automated Toro TH663i trucks equipped with AutoMine by Sandvik, following the successful implementation of an automated loader fleet with the AutoMine system in 2020.
The automated loaders and trucks are now successfully utilised around the clock on separate levels of George Fisher, with major benefits for safety and efficiency.
“Safety is paramount to us,” said Manfred Drutschmann, George Fisher production superintendent. “With Sandvik AutoMine, we not only remove people from high-risk underground environments but also unlock new levels of efficiency and consistency in our operations. The automated trucks allow us to haul more material faster, without shift change delays, helping us optimize our overall production. That’s a major win.”
The success George Fisher is enjoying with AutoMine is triggering widespread interest in automation technologies across the wider industry, according to Sandvik Technical Support Manager for Automation Tommi Rautio. “This is the first time a Sandvik automated trucking solution has been implemented in a mine in Australia, and other mining operations have been watching closely,” he said. “Now that they are seeing what automation can do, I expect a surge in interest.”
Rautio said there also remains plenty of scope for Sandvik and the George Fisher mine to explore new opportunities. Sandvik’s Fleet licence, for example, could empower the operation to operate automated trucks and loaders in proximity on the same level, thanks to advanced traffic management.
The deployment of the autonomous underground trucking solution supports Sandvik’s wider supply of drills, loaders and trucks for Glencore’s metalliferous mines in Mount Isa, Queensland.
Source: Sandvik