A new simulator for training on Sandvik's DD220 drill rig has been sold by South African sim manufacturer Thoroughtec for training for the new Booysendal platinum mining project.

Northam Platinum, owner of the Booysendal Project on the Eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is investing heavily in the training of its future mechanised equipment operators, aiming at providing them with a far broader skills set than is often seen in South African mines. As part of this strategy, Northam has recently purchased a CYBERMINE Drill Rig Simulator from South African simulator manufacturer, Thoroughbred Technologies (Thoroughtec), modelled on the Sandvik DD220-L low-profile dual-boom drill rig, for the training of its operators of this equipment class.

Operators of modern day mechanised mining equipment are required to consistently achieve high production targets while maintaining exceptionally high levels of safety. Thoroughtec's CYBERMINE Simulators are specifically designed to address this need, providing training, development and evaluation of new and experienced operators in a controlled environment.

"Simulator training improves the skills of both new and experienced operators. Experienced operators can use the simulator to practice difficult manoeuvres, identify bad habits in operating procedures and exercise correct responses to safety critical situations. Rectifying incorrect operating procedures at the outset can save mining companies a fortune in machine maintenance bills which has a direct impact on a mine's profitability," said Justin Collins, ThoroughTec's Business Development Manager for Africa.

Northam Platinum's operators are currently receiving advanced training at Anglo Platinum's Waterval Training Centre, which already has an extensive fleet of CYBERMINE simulators in operation. The intention is that the new drill rig simulator will be temporarily based at the Waterval Training Centre before ultimately being moved to Booysendal's own training facility.

The drill rig simulator will replicate the actual Sandvik DD220-L low-profile dual-boom drill rig equipment, currently being manufactured in Europe and destined for use at Booysendal. "ThoroughTec will work closely with both the Sandvik engineers and Northam Platinum training personnel to ensure that all operator instruments and controls, as well as the advanced vehicle dynamics and drill physics are accurately replicated on the simulator system, performing exactly as they would on the real equipment, to provide the student operator with the most realistic and effective training experience currently available," says Collins.

The interchangeable simulator cab is mounted on a motion platform and surrounded by a wide angle, high- resolution projection display system coupled with surround sound audio delivering unparalleled visual, audio and motion perception cues. Control of all training aspects is exercised in real time from a feature rich instructor station situated next to the simulator cab for optimal student/ instructor interaction. The entire system is housed in a well-appointed, self-contained ISO container, which also facilitates ease of transport.

According to Collins, operators that have been trained on CYBERMINE simulators are safer when operating heavy machinery because they have been subjected to a wide range of emergency situations, including engine fires, hydraulic failures and runaways, all of which would be impossible to experience during training without the simulator. Based on this experience, operators will more easily identify dangerous situations and react to emergency situations quicker, resulting in safer operations.

As simulators are available for training 24/7, operators are able to hone their skills in correct operational procedures without removing productive machinery from operations for training purposes. Pulling productive machinery out of operations for training purposes is costly in terms of production losses and the inevitable increase in wear and tear, as inexperienced operators attempt to master these complicated, expensive pieces of equipment. In addition, the benefits of more proficient operators are directly transferred to a mine's bottom line, as they increase their daily production quota due to increased operator performance, lower accident rates and lower maintenance costs. Users of the CYBERMINE simulator system report that the cost of the simulator system is more than covered by improved operator performance and subsequent reduction of operational damage to equipment.

The CYBERMINE Simulator range includes simulator models for all major equipment manufacturers for both underground and surface mines:

Surface operations: Haul Trucks, Articulated Dump Trucks, TLBs, Shovels, Excavators, Bulldozers, Loaders, Draglines, Graders and Surface Blast-hole Drill Rigs.

Underground operations: Loaders, Drill Rigs, Bolters, Articulated Dump Trucks, Production Drill Rigs, Scalers, Locomotives and Low Profile Dozers