Increased Demand for Simulators in Australia

MINING WEEKLY – AUGUST 2013

Specialist simulator manufacturer ThoroughTec Simulation will use the Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (Aimex) 2013, which will run from August 20 to 23 at Sydney’s Olympic Park, in Australia, as a platform to build the ThoroughTec brand in Australia and as a means of exposure to potential customers.

The biennial trade fair provides a platform for Australian and international suppliers of mining technology, equipment and services to come together with mining industry buyers and specifiers from the Asia-Pacific region to explore mutually beneficial business opportunities, exchange technical information and network in an interactive business environment.

Aimex 2013 will feature an inaugural industry dinner, which will be opened with a panel discussion and provide an opportunity for delegates to network in a relaxed environment. The trade fair will also have days dedicated to women in mining, safety and productivity.

“ThoroughTec enjoys a significant advantage in the underground mining simulation market in Australia.”

While ThoroughTec enjoys a significant advantage in the underground mining simulation market in Australia, the company is increasing its market share at an impressive rate in surface-mining simulation.

ThoroughTec Simulation has noted that the greatest demand from the Australian mining industry is for its underground mining simulators, but the company recently registered an increase in demand for surface-vehicle simulator units, with clients requesting that a wider range of vehicles be developed specifically for their individual needs.

ThoroughTec Simulation global business development executive VP Gregory Lew notes that demand for the company’s CYBERMINE simulators is increasing in Australia, as mine managers and training managers start to realise the benefits of simulation training.

This demand has also subsequently led to ThoroughTec Simulation developing the complete CYBERMINE Training Solution, which is a blended learning model including e-learning modules, mine visualisation trainers and high-fidelity mining simulator systems.

Although development on the CYBERMINE Training Solution began in 2011, development and customisation of the solution for specific customer requirements continue each new sale. “With tough times currently being experienced by all mining industry role-players, initiatives that can make training more efficient and improve safety and productivity, mitigate the environmental impact and lower costs are more critical now than ever before,” highlights Lew.

He adds that ThoroughTec Simulation’s fourth-generation CYBERMINE advanced mining simulators achieve exactly this when integrated into a mine site’s training programme.

The shortage of skilled vehicle operators has also prompted mines to increase their own training capabilities, which has further contributed to the increase in demand for ThoroughTec Simulation’s products in Australia.

As one of the world’s major mining regions, Australia is key to ThoroughTec Simulation’s continued global expansion and the company, therefore, also established offices in Perth in 2008 and in Brisbane last year, for sales and the support of its clients.

Exhibiting at Aimex will provide ThoroughTec Simulation with a good opportunity to expose training managers and decision-makers to the benefits of simulation in general and to the benefits of CYBERMINE’s high- fidelity training simulator systems and its full training solution in particular.

ThoroughTec Simulation will offer an interactive test-drive experience of its new-generation and best-selling CYBERMINE advanced simulator systems and its accurate simulation of complex surface and underground mining equipment to extremely high levels of fidelity.

All delegates will have an opportunity to test a CYBERMINE base unit and interchangeable vehicle simulator cabs, highlighting ThoroughTec Simulation’s ability to replicate all vehicle systems – from simple load and haul vehicles to the more complex ancillary vehicles. “It is vital to offer these demonstrations at industry events [so that attendees can] fully comprehend the functionality and benefits of a simulator system,” notes Lew.

ThoroughTec Simulation has a range of mining simulators that are built to exacting military and ISO: 9001 standards. The range is comprehensive enough to simulate a mine’s entire fleet. For example, the company released a comprehensive range of underground soft-rock mining simulators last year; it also updated the CYBERMINE dragline simulator late last year and developed a range of underground drill rig simulators this year which can replicate scaling, bolting and mesh-handling functions.

The company has also this year released CYBERMINE’s first shotcrete sprayer and expanded its offering of Caterpillar products to include the AD30, AD45 and AD55 articulated dump truck. Its range also includes the Sandvik LH514 load-haul dumper and several new Komatsu haul trucks, including the HD785.

ThoroughTec Simulation has supplied simulators to several mining companies, training institutions and vehicle original-equipment manufacturers, in Australia, including diversified mining giant Rio Tinto, mining contractor Ngarda, diversified corporation Wesfarmers, mining equipment and service provider Sandvik, and Curtin University’s West Australian School of Mines.

ThoroughTec Simulation has expanded the traditional base it has had in South Africa, having moved from its smaller facility in Durban to new headquarters with research and development (R&D) and production facilities in Umhlanga, late last year.

The purpose-built facility, designed and commissioned to deal with the significant growth ThoroughTec has experienced over the past two years, was completed in October 2012, with the largest part of the move having been undertaken in early November.

With 3 000 m2 under cover, the new production facility enables the company to significantly ramp up production to meet the growing demand for CYBERMINE products.

The R&D department has also grown significantly in terms of hardware and software and enables ThoroughTec to expand even further in the future. This will also enable the company to maintain its advantage in having the broadest and fastest-expanding range of mining simulators on the market.

Most recently, ThoroughTec Simulation expanded its interest in Indonesia and in South and Central Asia. It has also established offices in South America and North America.