Mining original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Bucyrus Australia has signed a non-exclusive global licensing agreement to access CSIRO’s proprietary LASC longwall automation technology, making it the last major OEM to use the technology in its equipment.
CSIRO developed the technology with funding from the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) to locate and guide coal cutting equipment in underground longwall mines.
Bucyrus was the first longwall OEM to collaborate with CSIRO in the development of the technology at BMA’s Broadmeadow, Xstrata’s Beltana and Anglo’s Grasstree mines.
Now with this license agreement in place, Bucyrus becomes the last major OEM to include the technology in its equipment.
CSIRO business unit leader – exploration and mining, Dr Mike McWilliams, said he was impressed with the broad availability of LASC automation through major manufacturers.
“It is important to the industry that all miners have access to the technology, whatever their supplier of choice,” he said.
ACARP executive director Mark Bennetts said it was exciting to have met a major objective of the research program.
“The goal was to make the benefits of improved productivity and the movement of people away from hazardous working environments of the automated systems universally available to industry,” he said.
”Now, with the signing of Bucyrus, every major manufacturer around the world can include LASC technology in its longwall equipment.”