Position Partners will have solutions on show at IMARC to enable proactive and informed decisions through meaningful data insights.
When the 2023 iteration of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) kicks off in Sydney at the end of October, Position Partners, a premier provider of intelligent positioning and automation solutions, will be on the ground.
“IMARC is a great opportunity for delegates to learn about the latest developments in technology and how they can make tangible improvements to operational performance on a mine site,” Position Partners executive manager of mining Andrew Granger told Australian Mining.
“Our team also benefits from the event because it gives us insights into industry trends, and into what mine owners and contractors are looking for in terms of operational technology.”
A presence at IMARC helps Position Partners identify needs in the market, which in turn steers its innovation.
“Safety has always been a major theme at IMARC, but what’s gaining recent traction is how technology can improve safety and increase operational performance simultaneously on mine sites,” Granger said.
Position Partners is highlighting a handful of its safety technology solutions, including collision awareness, fleet management, and its next generation automation solution, SafeAI.
“Autonomy has been around in the mining industry for a little while now, but what we’re looking at is autonomy 2.0, introducing new technologies to add an artificial intelligence (AI) element to these very successful fleets,” Granger said.
“With SafeAI, we’re looking at making sure that these autonomous systems are able to adapt with changes on a mine site in order to keep these machines going.
“Think of it like adding that extra layer of intelligence to prevent the downtime.”
SafeAI can be retrofitted to vehicles from different manufacturers, which Granger said was an essential quality-of-life feature for mining contractors, who often employ varied fleets.
The technology is currently in a proof-of-concept stage with a major contracting group in WA, with work underway to fit autonomy to a mixed fleet of 100 mining trucks..
Position Partners is also focused on listening to feedback on core technology platforms and potential for further industry improvements. Operating as the conduit between site operations and technology suppliers, Position Partners works to provide solutions that are fit for purpose and continuously improving to meet customer needs.
“Our clients value the collaborative approach we take to deploying operational solutions, really understanding the specific challenges and working with our supplier partners to integrate feedback into system development,” Granger said.
Recent examples Position Partners will demonstrate at IMARC include shift scheduling and machine abuse metrics as additional modules to the iVolve fleet management solution.
“Getting the best outcomes from machines and the people that operate them is critical to safe, productive mine site operations,” Granger said.
“The ability to schedule shifts helps managers coordinate the team and ensure people are allocated jobs as efficiently as possible.”
To reduce maintenance and machine abuse, iVolve fleet management technology can now alert operations managers to metrics like speeding, overloading or excessive braking to enable proactive decision-making.
“This feature is another example of continuous improvement to core technology, giving managers data that helps predict a potential outcome before it becomes a real problem,” Granger said.
“At IMARC, we want to engage with customers to see how we can enhance the solutions that are already on-site and integrate with existing workflows, evolving rather than overhauling.”
Position Partners knows the value of engaging with its industry. Granger said customising and making safety technologies viable for mine sites is driven by the miners.
“Sometimes the technology can be developed in a lab a long way away from site, but we’ve got to make it applicable to the real world, which is something we’re good at,” he said.
“The exciting part of IMARC is that you have genuine mining organisations coming and looking for new technologies and seeking innovation.”
This feature appeared in the October 2023 issue of Australian Mining.