Vermeer surface miners are helping miners create better sustainability practices.

Tarique Salman
Segment Manager – Speciality Excavation, Vermeer Equipment India

How are mining equipment and technologies evolving to support the growing mining activities in India?

The mining industry faces continuous challenges to meet and to fulfill the sustainability requirements imposed by policymakers. This has created a demand for technologies such as industrial automation and control systems, simulator-training, equipment control and guidance, advanced mine-surveying technologies, underground mining and surface drilling technologies, and machine guidance and control systems, which are compatible with enterprise resource planning software solutions.

A trend in mining technology has also been towards addressing the concerns of climate change and hence, reducing carbon footprints.

Mining industry, recently, has started to make use of drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Drones, when set to perform operational tasks, improve the industry by providing the following services:

•    Site mapping

•    Safety and surveillance in hazardous areas

•    Equipment & Workforce Monitoring

•    Measuring stockpile inventory

•    Infrastructure upkeep and inspection

Internet of Things (IoT), an emerging network technology, can potentially transform the mining industry by creating new ways of maintaining mine safety and productivity. The convergence of IoT and advanced data analytics help in corroborating predictive maintenance, operational optimization, high equipment efficiency. People are looking for solutions which enables them to get real time data for decision-making and improving the efficiency of work.

The application of robotic technology powered by artificial intelligence can perform a range of tasks including drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, bolting mine roofs as well as ore sampling and rescuing trapped miners.

What are the latest equipment and solutions offered by the company for mining applications?

The latest evolution of Vermeer’s Terrain Leveler range, T1255SSDD (single-side direct drive) continuous surface miner, has been developed to meet the unique needs civil, quarry and mining industries. The machine is ideal for hard rock excavation, road building and tunnelling applications to increase productivity and reduce overhead costs.

The equipment offers reduced fuel consumption, emissions and labour costs when compared to conventional methods.

How are your equipment/technologies making mining activities cleaner and greener?

In addition to being safe and efficient, Vermeer surface miners are helping miners create better sustainability practices. Major environmental concerns are the noise levels, air quality, traffic congestion and the impact a major construction or mining project would have on the neighbourhood. Traditional excavation methods like rock breakers, excavators, as well as drilling and blasting methods, could create too much disturbance to surrounding ecosystem, hence one must utilize innovative equipment for excavation.

The Vermeer Terrain Leveler SEM can be the right machine for these jobs as it is a precision rock excavating machine that is much quieter and produces less vibration than other methods.

On many mine sites, dust is a challenge due to urban encroachment and air quality concerns. The dust suppression system on the Vermeer Terrain Leveler SEM features an enclosed cutting head with two large vacuums pulling dust from the enclosed cutting head into baghouses. The collected dust is dropped beneath the machine, helping to reduce the amount of dust entering the air. This also diminishes the need to source water to control dust during the mining process.

A trend in mining technology has also been towards addressing the concerns of climate change and hence, reducing carbon footprints. The usage of more energy efficient equipment and reduction in fuel consumption are attempts in the right direction towards achieving reduced carbon footprints. Vermeer Terrain Leveler^® surface excavation machines are designed to deliver more power availability per kW and thus being fuel efficient.

These attributes, along with the reduction of the dust and vibration created by explosives makes surface excavation equipment more sustainable and environmentally friendly than drilling and blasting.

How are smart features evolving in mining equipment?   

Vermeer T1255III Terrain Leveler SEM features GPS technology that can also be used to create a mine-by-line plan. Machine steering is controlled by the GPS technology, helping remove human error for cutting head overlap and maximizing efficiency of the machine. This feature allows the operator to cut to the mine plan — producing a flat, almost road-smooth surface; a grade for drainage; or a sloped
haul road.

The machine comes with intelligent technology, SmartTEC^© electronic control system, helps maximize machine performance, allowing operators to adjust machine controls where needed, as well as monitor and record machine performance. They can then easily analyze and adjust controls helping operators optimize productivity with real-time machine control prompts. Vermeer Telematics is an online tool for tracking machine productivity and jobsite management on Telematics-enabled equipment.

What kind of equipment and technologies will drive the demand for smart mining in future?

Growing emphasis on sustainability presents opportunities for companies to lead in developing green technologies and practices. The future will likely see more advanced AI applications in predictive maintenance, operational efficiency, and safety. Companies are preparing by investing in these technologies and integrating them into their equipment.

As the push for sustainability grows, further advancements in electrification of mining equipment are expected.

How do you visualise the mining equipment industry growth in the coming years?

The mining equipment industry is likely to experience robust growth, driven by technological integration, sustainability initiatives, and expansion into new markets. This trend in future will present both challenges and opportunities for stakeholders across the industry.

As mining companies increasingly prioritize sustainability, there will be a growing market for eco-friendly equipment, including electric and hybrid vehicles, which will drive innovation and investment in the sector. Growth in emerging markets, particularly in Asia and Africa, will expand the global footprint of the mining equipment industry, leading to increased competition and innovation. Vermeer strives to integrate Lean principles into every aspect of the business — quality, cost, delivery, safety and morale. The company is committed to improved production efficiency and enhanced product quality and reliability, and continually evaluates all processes to identify opportunities to improve efficiency. Reducing waste and using energy more efficiently could significantly lower utility costs and keep the company competitive in foreign markets. Vermeer has been recycling manufacturing waste to improve overall efficiency and make its products more environment friendly.