High-tech mining: MaxMine drives efficiency
Batchfire uses leading telematics and monitoring solutions to enhance productivity, reduce emissions and improve safety at Callide Mine, but just how widespread is the use of this technology?
Last year we renewed a multi-million dollar technology agreement with MaxMine for a further three years, in a commitment aimed at reducing emissions while keeping our workers safe.
The MaxMine suite of technology contributes greatly to our ESG goal of reducing our Scope 1 (mostly diesel related) emissions by 5 per cent per year, but it helps at every level of our operation.
We use six different MaxMine products, with no fewer than 120 devices installed across the mobile mining equipment at Callide Mine – with eight different types of devices, each suited to a unique application:
- MaxMine Pulse
- MaxMine Productivity
- MaxMine Safety
- MaxMine Coaching
- MaxMine Carbon
- myMaxMine
The comprehensive range of MaxMine products, including emissions-focused MaxMine Carbon.
Batchfire has worked closely with the MaxMine team for the past four years, and we were actually the foundation customer for the innovative Pulse and Carbon products.
Across the various cloud-based systems, Maxmine and Batchfire are able to collect and analyse vast amounts of data, providing simple, actionable analysis and trends, allowing us to better utilise our equipment and improve mining operations.
In fact, the systems together produce 20 reports each day that are provided to the Leadership team, drawing from 632 operator profiles that are monitored and tens of thousands of data points gathered every hour.
It all sounds very complex, but the systems allow us to carefully monitor our operations while also allowing workers to monitor their own performance. One worker that uses the systems on a daily basis, both as an Operator and Relief Mine Control Officer, is Kate Erwin.
“I really like MaxMine, as a truckie and also from a dispatch perspective, because there are so many people in the crew and it gives us all instant feedback,” Kate said.
“From an operator’s perspective it covers the compliance side, by giving you a measurement and numbers to support whether you’re operating safely and efficiently.
“But it’s also really helpful with things like locating trucks, monitoring behaviour, or seeing when something is down or needs to be improved as a dispatcher.”
Kate also works as a trainer at Callide Mine, and she tells us she urges all budding operators to use the MaxMine data to analyse and improve their performance.
“I encourage the trainees to look at their MaxMine data, their ramp speeds, cornering, all of those things, so they can constantly get that feedback and compete with themselves,” she said.
“If you care and want to be a good operator, you can monitor everything from your crib breaks to first and last load times and it’s all really great feedback.
“It’s about self-improvement and I always encourage my trainees to use the data to become better operators.”
So far, the MaxMine solutions have led to real-world improvements at the Callide Mine which include maximised payload, minimised cycle times, and reduced loading delays in waste and coal.
At Batchfire, we are committed to using the latest emerging technology to support our ESG goals and achieve a sustainable future as a leading transitional energy company.
To find out more about Batchfire you can connect with us on LinkedIn or contact us here.
