Designer and manufacturer of simulators Thoroughbred Technologies has supplied its ThoroughTec Simulation division’s fourth-generation CYBERMINE⁴ simulator, becoming the US’s first advanced underground mine training simulator to be acquired by a university.

The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), in the city and borough at Juneau, aims is to develop a world-class training centre that meets the workforce training needs of the mining industry, by providing high-quality, accessible training for both new and experienced miners. The simulator will be housed at the UAS Center for Mine Training, located in the UAS Technical Education Center and will have the ability to train students in modules fully representing an articulated haul truck (CAT ADT 45B), a load-haul dump truck (Atlas Copco ST14) and an automatic bolter (Atlas Copco Boltec MC).

The timing of the new acquisition will coincide with the ramping up of Kensington mine and other mines. “This was the missing element for training miners in Alaska to be productive and safe from the first day on the job,” says the university’s Mining and Petroleum Training Services director, Dennis Steffy.

The simulation will vastly improve the opportunities of students for mining employment. More than 700 students are currently enrolled in mining classes at UAS, while the Kensington gold mine employs 60 UAS-trained miners.

Funds for the acquisition were announced in March, through the support from the legislative office of representative Cath Munoz and other members of Southeast Alaska’s legislative delegation. “Putting Alaskans to work in Alaska mines is a top priority. Along with the Juneau delegation, I will continue to advocate in the legislature for expansion of this significant program,” says Munoz.

“From start to finish, ThoroughTec’s professionalism has been a treat, not to mention that they had all the underground equipment that each mine required,” says Steffy.

“We are pleased to see the superiority of our simulators are being well recognised in North America. This follows recent expansion of our presence in the region, with the Yukon Mine Training Association (YMTA) also acquiring an additional six machine simulator cabs to support both surface and underground machine training,” says ThoroughTec Simulation executive director of mining and construction Mark Walker.

“ThoroughTec offers high levels of customer service,” notes YMTA training manager Jennifer Russell.

ThoroughTec Simulation’s CYBERMINE⁴ is the industry’s only dual-role simulator, as it is interchangeable between surface and underground scenarios. It is upgraded to include a number of new features, including a full 360° panoramic display, enhanced reporting software and two high-definition instructor screens in an enlarged classroom environment.