Copper miner ASARCO just lately paved the best way for the way forward for mining at its Ray copper mine in Arizona with the launch of its new autonomous haulage system, including 11 new 327 ton payload Cat 794 diesel-electric drive autonomous haul vehicles to the fleet.
In an announcement shared in Could with Arizona’s CopperArea.com, ASARCO mentioned that along with Caterpillar and its seller, Empire Cat, it’s proud to be embarking on a transformative journey at its Ray Mine operations with the introduction of Caterpillar’s autonomous haulage system (AHS), Cat® MineStar™ Command for hauling.
It’s making historical past as one of many first mines within the US to be totally autonomous utilizing MineStar™ Command for hauling after Freeport’s Bagdad copper operation, which started the conversion of its Cat 256 ton payload mechanical drive 793D vehicles to autonomy in January with haul truck 230, with the primary rollout having began in March. It’s also working with Empire Cat and expects to have its total fleet of 33 haul vehicles driverless by the top of 2025, which shall be answerable for greater than 95% of Bagdad’s complete haulage wants.
There, 4 autonomous vehicles had been initially operated in a pushback devoted to autonomous haulage solely, adopted by a bigger pushback being devoted to autonomous haulage. In Could, a brand new autonomous command centre began operating, working 24/7 to offer real-time visibility and management that enhances security, effectivity and communication. Additionally by Could, the autonomous fleet had expanded to fifteen vehicles and moved greater than 3 Mt of fabric.
Again to ASARCO’s Ray mine: “This groundbreaking initiative marks one other milestone in our journey in the direction of safer, extra environment friendly, and sustainable mining operations. By embracing innovation, we’re setting new requirements for the trade whereas creating worthwhile alternatives for our workforce,” mentioned Michelle Lammers, ASARCO Operations Director in assertion.
It added that this vital technological funding shall be integrating 11 new Cat 794 autonomous haul vehicles into one of many USA’s largest copper mining operations, charting a pathway to a protected and sustainable future for the Ray mine. As copper stays a crucial mineral for the US, this deployment “positions ASARCO forward of the curve in modernisation.” It additionally aligns with the corporate’s long-term imaginative and prescient to double its capability, an ambition that reinforces ASARCO’s strategic progress and its important position in securing the nation’s mineral provide.
The AHS undertaking “demonstrates ASARCO’s imaginative and prescient for the way forward for mining and our dedication to future proofing our workforce – one which embraces expertise to enhance productiveness whereas additional creating the distinctive expertise inside our organisation.”
The deployment of round the clock autonomous haulage expertise is anticipated to allow manufacturing effectivity, gear utilisation and operational reliability. Most significantly, it would improve office security, making a safer operation for ASARCO’s valued workforce. “Remodeling our operation creates compelling profession development alternatives for all our present group members for creating experience in digital methods and autonomous expertise – positioning ASARCO as a lovely vacation spot for digitally expert professionals seeking to construct careers on the intersection of expertise and mining innovation.”
“We’re proud to assist ASARCO’s journey with the combination of Cat MineStar Command for hauling at Ray Mine. This highlights our collaboration and ASARCO’s dedication to leveraging superior expertise to optimise mining processes for operational excellence,” shared Marc Cameron, Senior Vice President of Gross sales, Providers & Know-how at Caterpillar.
