Liebherr launched at MINExpo IoMine, the updated and expanded technology portfolio featuring cutting-edge technology designed to optimize all aspects of daily mining operations. As the new technology portfolio is intended to support customers as more and more companies adopt an integrated operations approach to mining, Liebherr wanted to emphasize this in its choice of name.
"An integrated operations approach uses a connected ecosystem of technologies to optimize the loading and transport cycle. Improving these processes improves both productivity and safety, two vital criteria for our customers," explains Tristan Malec, general manager of digital technology products at Liebherr-Mining Equipment SAS. "We want customers to know from the outset that our products will support them in these tasks."
The expanded IoMine portfolio offers new command and control capabilities, data integration and remote support services, all of which enable customers to use the integrated operations approach to their advantage. Each product in the three distinct product families is designed to improve the safety, efficiency and profitability of customers' mining operations.
Operate
The IoMine Operate family of products is designed to optimize and streamline daily mining operations by collecting, analyzing and leveraging data from connected machines to efficiently manage fleet activities, monitor performance and improve real-time decision making. Key products in the Operate family are Liebherr's fleet management and machine guidance systems, range of data services and excavator fleet support systems that provide operators with additional operational information.
The fleet management system (FMS) integrates mining operations to increase productivity, optimize haul assignments and maximize fleet utilization, all of which help reduce non-productive time throughout the load-haul-unload value chain. The FMS is also OEM-independent and offers real-time end-to-end monitoring for all connected assets to provide a strategic overview of on-site activities. Its integrated optimization engine eliminates uncertainty and variation, enabling automated reallocation and communication that keeps mining operations running smoothly and on-site personnel informed.
The Machine Guidance System (MGS) can be integrated with the FMS or stand-alone conveying solution and will be offered as a stand-alone product. It provides critical material information to minimize ore variability and dilution, improving overall performance. Designed for flexibility, the MGS can be installed on multiple brands of loading and pushing machines and offers high accuracy as well as real-time material tracking.
"Our machine guidance system offers position control with a high level of precision," says Malec. "This means that operators can distinguish between different grades and types of material with pinpoint accuracy."
Liebherr Data Services, another feature of the Operate product family, provides adaptable solutions that enable the integration of data into customers' on-site ecosystems to improve operations and processes.
Automate
IoMine's Automate product family offers customers both semi-autonomous and fully autonomous solutions for their fleets, responding to the growing demand for automation in the mining industry. The Autonomous Haulage Solution (AHS) is included in this product family along with Liebherr's teleoperation system for its Generation 8 mining excavator range, LiReCon. Liebherr has also expanded its wide range of semi-autonomous assistance systems for its excavators and bulldozers.
The AHS is transforming mining operations by combining advanced automation with real-time data information to improve productivity, safety and efficiency. The system enables fully autonomous operation of Liebherr haul trucks, enabling intelligent route optimization and reliable, uninterrupted performance without manual intervention. Designed for future sustainability, the AHS is compatible with diesel-electric and zero-emission power systems, and integrates with the FMS to manage power replenishment for zero-emission trucks.
Liebherr Remote Control, better known as LiReCon, is also part of the Automate product family. This teleoperations system allows operators to control Liebherr Generation 8 excavators from a safe distance outside the mine, reducing their exposure to potential hazards on site, particularly when an excavator is working in particularly difficult conditions. The latest update to LiReCon, which was launched for this year's MINExpo, makes the teleoperation station more compact and easier to transport. This means that LiReCon can now be more easily integrated into a variety of site infrastructure, including construction containers, mobile deployment vehicles and office applications.
Maintain
In conjunction with the launch of IoMine, Liebherr has also introduced Remote Service, a suite of digital tools within the IoMine Maintain product family designed to streamline the troubleshooting process for on-site personnel. Remote Service is comprised of three different tools: Troubleshoot Advisor, Content Delivery Portal and XpertAssist, each of which addresses different stages of troubleshooting. Troubleshoot Advisor is a powerful diagnostic tool that guides technicians through a detailed, step-by-step problem identification process that can help speed problem resolution. Content Delivery Portal houses all of Liebherr's technical documentation for its machines, which operators can navigate with the app's easy-to-use search function, allowing them to easily find information relevant to their situation. And when more expertise is required, XpertAssist connects technicians with Liebherr experts for real-time assistance through live video support and other dynamic features available within the app for seamless conversations.
"We developed Remote Service after noticing that about half of the technical inquiries we received from customers could be resolved remotely," says Malec. "By offering a product that would allow us to resolve issues remotely, we can save our customers a considerable amount of time and money by allowing their technicians to resolve issues directly, which reduces downtime."
