ThoroughTec to Demonstrate Advanced Continuous Miner and Dragline Simulators at Electra 2014

ZAMBIAN MINING MAGAZINE – JULY 2014

Global advanced training simulator provider ThoroughTec Simulation will be demonstrating their new CYBERMINE continuous miner and dragline simulators at Electra Mining Africa 2014 between 15-19 September. Both of these simulators were designed and built at ThoroughTec’s state-of-the-art facility in Umhlanga Ridge, Durban.

The CYBERMINE continuous miner, based on a Joy Global CM12HM31-B, is one of the latest offerings from the firm and is part of their new soft rock simulator range, which also includes a shuttle car, LHD and bolter. Predominantly aimed at the coal market, these high-fidelity simulators are designed to improve safety and productivity levels. “Operating a CYBERMINE continuous miner is like operating the real vehicle underground, but without the high costs and inherent risks,” says Greg Lew, ThoroughTec’s Executive Vice President of Global Business Development.

BHP Billiton’s Khutala Colliery in Mpumalanga will be the first customer to receive the continuous miner simulator. It accurately simulates propelling, sumping, shearing, brow- and under-cutting, trimming and loading of the artificially intelligent shuttle car. These highly realistic replications of the original vehicle can include customised procedural and operational features specific to a mine site. ThoroughTec is number one worldwide in underground mining simulation.

“Operating a CYBERMINE continuous miner is like operating the real vehicle underground, but without the high costs and inherent risks.”

Heading from underground to surface mining, a dragline is one of the biggest and most expensive pieces of mining equipment there is and one of the most difficult to simulate accurately. ThoroughTec has delivered their CYBERMINE dragline simulator to customers in Australia and South Africa, with the most recent being Wesfarmers Curragh coal mine in Queensland, Australia. They received the latest fourth-generation CYBERMINE simulator and a virtual Curragh mine world in a collaborative effort with ThoroughTec. This meant the dragline simulator, based on a Bucyrus-Erie 1570-W, was customised specifically to Curragh’s site and operating procedures. “We wanted to fine tune the dragline simulator to not only train new recruits, but also get that extra percentage out of experienced operators,” says Richard Bellengere, Vice President of R&D.

ThoroughTec is able to simulate any machine from any OEM in the industry, surface or underground, and has the largest development pipeline. It’s able to customise on every build, going beyond OEM spec to deliver the exact operating procedure the customer requires.
Potential customers will be able to experience these high-tech simulators hands-on at Nasrec, Johannesburg between 15-19 September in Hall 5, Stand D1. For a personal demonstration contact cybermine@thoroughtec.com