Komatsu will deploy 41 new model Komatsu 930E-5 ultra-class haul trucks, made autonomous ready, at BHP’s new South Flank iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Ahead of the deployment, commencing in October, Sean Taylor, Komatsu Australia’s CEO and Managing Director, commented: “People-powered technology is our central philosophy at Komatsu, and it’s this people first approach to technology that we feel we share with BHP.
“Komatsu focuses on autonomous technology-driven job creation, with a focus on safety, diversity, upskilling and an innovative flexible workforce that marries our people’s needs with business goals. This is our blueprint for the future.”
Komatsu prides itself on its ground-breaking contributions to autonomous technology solutions in the industry. Leo Kaloglou, Komatsu Australia’s Executive General Manager – Mining, said: “It was Komatsu Australia who 20 years ago spearheaded the world first automation of mining equipment, which is now known to the industry as Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS). Komatsu’s brand of AHS is FrontRunner – the name speaks for itself.”
Komatsu has 250 AHS trucks deployed and 180 operating globally across three continents, across nine mine sites, and recently became the first autonomous truck qualified to operate on private long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband technology in commercial operations.
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Kaloglou added: “The operation of FrontRunner AHS technology has been tested across three different commodities in three of the harshest and most extreme environments in the world; in ambient temperatures of minus 45 degrees, in temperatures higher than 40 degrees and finally at extreme altitude. With over two billion tonnes of material moved autonomously- more than all other commercial mining autonomous haulage systems- with zero resulting injuries.”
With the launch of Komatsu’s new Centre of Excellence for Autonomous Haulage Systems in April 2019 in Tucson USA, Komatsu is committed to innovation, training and people power.
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