Wesfarmers Selects ThoroughTec for Curragh Ramp up

MINING MAGAZINE – SEPTEMBER 2011

Wesfarmers Curragh, one of Australia’s largest independent coal producers, has chosen to integrate ThoroughTec’s new CYBERMINE4 surface mining simulators into its training programs. Construction works are ongoing for the expansion of the mine up to 8.5Mt/y of export metallurgical coal capacity. Project completion is expected in the March quarter of 2012, with a drilling programme beginning in April.

Wesfarmers has purchased ThoroughTec Simulation’s 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) simulator base unit and interchangeable cabs for the Komatsu 730E truck, CAT D10T dozer and Bucyrus-Eyrie 1570-W dragline.

ThoroughTec will also develop customised CYBERMINE ‘own mine worlds’ to replicate the operating conditions of the mine in the simulators, increasing the effectiveness of the training experience. Student operators of each of the equipment variants will therefore be familiar with Curragh’s mining environment before entering the mine.

Mark Walker, ThoroughTec Simulation’s Executive Director of Mining and Construction, commented: “We are very pleased to have earned Wesfarmers trust in this important evolution of their operator training abilities. Their leadership and commitment to enhancing operator competency and safety is something we greatly admire. We are confident that CYBERMINE4 will be a powerful tool towards enabling this ambition.”

Extracts from Mining Magazine – September 2011