Immersive Technologies said it was selected as a workforce development partner by PGM and chrome concentrate producer Tharisa Minerals as it adds a new core component to its operator training program at its mine in South Africa.
The operator has added a PRO4-B to its simulator fleet, which will use new equipment conversion kits from Immersive that include the Caterpillar 24M grader and D11T dozer as well as a face-shovel kit for a Caterpillar 6050.
In addition to this new hardware, Tharisa also has acquired Immersive’s Operator Performance Analytics (OPA) platform; it can be used alongside any Immersive Technologies simulators to gain insights into fleet operational data and help it to further target its operator training.
“Tharisa Minerals have already focused significant investment on their people through specialized training programs,” Immersive said of the open-pit client, which is located in the Rustenburg region outside of Pretoria.
“Recently the haul-truck workforce underwent targeted training on correct brake application and gear selection via the Immersive Technology simulators onsite. This process led to significant improvements, with a 23% reduction in transmission related expenditure and a 64% reduction in overspeed warnings translating into a safer work environment and lower costs,” Immersive said.
Gibb Motlou, HRD manager for Tharisa Minerals, added that high knowledge and competency by its operators is a key part in its mission to become a world-class miner.
“It gives us a high degree of comfort and safe-assurance to be able to use the latest technology and methodologies to track, monitor and pre-determine where possible loss or damage to machinery is likely to come from, and devise proactive means to eliminate that,” Motlou said.Source: Immersive Technologies