Technology
Interoperability is the new norm
Equipment, service and technology providers benefit from Brazil's broad industrial base, which sets it apart from the other major Latin American mining markets. This industrial history and skilled workforce are crucial, enabling the application of technology developed in other sectors, which, in turn, benefits from the existence of technology clusters in the country. Guillaume Barrault, CEO of Dynamox, a market leader in wireless condition monitoring solutions in Latin America, said: "Building a company in Brazil presents unique challenges due to the demanding business environment. However, we benefit from access to highly skilled engineers and a rich talent pool."
The mining industry is trending towards increasingly automated and remote-controlled operations. In a country like Brazil, where mining operations can be found in remote and hard to reach locations, the introduction of automated tools is very significant. The sector, which is also experiencing a labor shortage, will be able to attract a newer generation of workers into the industry. A number of multinational and homegrown Brazilian companies are spearheading this effort, which includes innovative digital management systems for mining operations, to reduce down-time, increase efficiency, and deliver on ESG targets. Reducing human exposure in mines will also deliver safety benefits.
Hexagon, which offers integrated technological solutions to the mining industry, is at the forefront of companies introducing digital autonomous technologies for the mining sector. As companies in the industry seek to drive productivity, increase efficiency, and meet sustainability targets across their ESG commitments, data-driven solutions are being implemented. Rodrigo Couto, president Latam of Hexagon, said: “Major players like Vale are now seeking technology integrators who can deliver comprehensive solutions across various platforms, increasing productivity and efficiency rather than relying on single OEM suppliers.”
The need for agnostic solutions is paramount as companies seek to unify their operations across the board, regardless of the legacy physical equipment on site. Hexagon's integrated approach, called the 'Power of One', seeks to deliver this. Rodrigo Couto continued: “One significant advantage of this work is the retrofitting of older trucks with our autonomous and semi-autonomous solutions. Our agnostic approach allows us to extend the life of existing assets, reducing the need for clients to purchase new trucks.”
“We are investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, particularly in crucial historical data areas. We are also focusing on remote training tools to help raise the level of expertise among our clients.”
João Paulo Rodrigues de Magalhaes, Business Manager Brazil, Groundprobe
A significant development in the technology sector for the mining industry has been the integration of Modular Mining Systems into Komatsu, which now operates as a vertically integrated business unit within Komatsu. Modular Mining Systems' principal efforts are focused on the rollout and application of their Intellimine Synergy platform, Komatsu's flagship agnostic solutions product. The company is working closely with various partners, including collision avoidance systems providers, to enhance their product offering. Jose Airton Sena, general manager of Komatsu- Modular Mining Systems Brazil, said: “Our open platform addresses the need for interoperability, allowing different systems to work seamlessly. This platform integrates various applications into a unified layer for data exchange.”
One of the far-reaching implications of these technological solutions for the sector will be their impact on the nature of the mining workforce. Throughout GBR's conversations with mining industry leaders across the value chain, labor availability and skill gaps have been identified as common concerns, the result of a red hot labor market, decreasing appetite from younger generations to work in remote mining operations, and the ageing profile of much of the mining workforce. Sena from Komatsu- Modular Mining Systems Brazil, argued: “Attracting people to work in remote locations like Carajás is increasingly difficult. Our solutions help address this issue by reducing the need for on-site labor through automation… Remote operation, like our T-Remote dozer system, allows operators to work from cities, making it more attractive to potential employees.”
Productivity and efficiency gains lie at the core of any technological solution for the mining sector. The size of the Brazilian market made it an attractive destination for indurad, a German company specializing in machine vision through radar technology. As pioneers in the use of non-intrusive radars to monitor and optimize mining processes, the Brazilian market is highly significant for the company. Like many newcomers, indurad's first contract in Brazil was with Vale at the Carajás complex, but it has expanded nationally since then into non-mining related markets, too, as their technology can be applied in any material handling, such as sugar cane. Bruno Costa, executive director of Indurad, discussed how harsh operating environments in parts of Brazil have made their products highly competitive, but challenges to technological adoption in the sector remain: “The mining industry is generally conservative, which is even more pronounced in Greenfield projects. There is a reluctance to adopt new technologies during the early stages of project development.”
“We integrate various sensors, whether wired or wireless, and we have developed a thermographic camera compatible with our gateways. This allows clients using our vibration solutions to integrate additional sensors seamlessly, enhancing their monitoring capabilities.”
Guillaume Barrault, CEO, Dynamox
In the radar monitoring space, GroundProbe, an Australian company that is part of the Orica group, has grown exponentially in Brazil as its radar applications for geotechnical monitoring came to focus following the Mariana and Brumadinho dam disasters. The company's headcount has grown tenfold since Brumadinho, and its integration with Orica has allowed it to expand its product portfolio to inclinometers, piezometers and more geotechnical surveillance instruments. These incidents triggered a revolution in Brazil's mining sector, as increased regulatory and social pressure drove mining companies to seek advanced technologies. João Paulo Rodrigues de Magalhaes, business manager Brazil for GroundProbe, explained how the company is now doubling down on its efforts to provide best-in-class technological solutions: “We are investing heavily in AI and machine learning, particularly in crucial historical data areas. We are also focusing on remote training tools to help raise the level of expertise among our clients. We have started discussing blockchain technology and how it can be integrated into our services.”
Digital practices are penetrating further into the mining value chain. Once the preserve of multinational majors, the democratization of agile digital systems for mine management and monitorization is in full swing, spearheaded in Brazil by homegrown companies. One such is Fast2 Mine, a homegrown provider of digital fleet management solutions, which has experienced rapid growth over the last decade and now commands an impressive market lead in its market. The company's operational management system covers the entire spectrum of mining operations. Eder Griebeler, CEO of Fast2 Mine, explained how the company's platform involved the entire mine system, from supervisors, operators, control room, and mine planning, acting as the beating heart of mine management.
The company is now beginning to replicate its impressive growth at home, where its systems are used to manage over 60 mines, in foreign markets, including Mexico, Argentina and the US. Griebeler discussed how the transition from analogue to digital mine management solutions is taking place as the economics and complexity of mining operations render them impossible for analogue solutions.
“Our open platform addresses the need for interoperability, allowing different systems to work seamlessly. This platform integrates various applications into a unified layer for data exchange.”
Jose Airton Sena, General Manager, Komatsu - Modular Mining Systems Brasil
Another homegrown Brazilian software company, Minerion, which provides a digital management package for mine operations, has observed the reluctance or lack of capacity from smaller mining operations to embrace digital solutions. Minerion, which recently underwent a brand transformation after 27 years’ operating as Delphi, is targeting the smaller mining and aggregate markets as well as international expansion, as Ivan Pereira, CEO of Minerion, explained: “Technology is advancing across all sectors, and mining is no exception. For instance, you can now set up an automated limestone plant with 10% of the investment it would have required 20 years ago.”
Brazilian entrepreneurs, with a long history in the mining industry, are turning to tech to optimize processes that they observed when in the industry. In the case of Manding Tech, the focus is on leveraging software, remote sensing and data to improve exploration and asset valuation processes. Manuel Corrêa, CEO, said: “There is much talk about the value of mining, but there needs to be more discussion on how to accurately value assets, particularly in determining the worth of a deposit. We combine basic geology and exploration techniques like mapping, drilling, and resource estimation with financial decisions related to the development of these projects.”
Article header image courtesy of Hexagon