The team heading automation developments at Newcrest Mining's Cadia gold and copper mine has moved into full operation, Plant & Equipment News reports.
The mine is currently operating a semi-autonomous integrated production level. The automation team has also developed technology to integrate automation into all third-party mobile equipment at the production level.
Newcrest is working with Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc to achieve greater automation at the Australian mine.
Automation is also being applied to safety equipment.
"We are constantly looking at ways to improve our operations," Cadia General Manager Aaron Brannigan said, adding that bringing support equipment to a semi-autonomous status.
Implementing the autonomous technology has reduced major hazard exposure rates of manual operators on the production level, Epiroc's Rohan Anderson, who manages the regional application centre, said.
"The autonomous system is now capable of full 24/7 production across seven drives of a whole panel cave," he said.
Newcrest and Epiroc are planning further expansions to other parts of the mine, as well as integrating additional third-party equipment and further development of the system, Rohan said.
