In this industry, everyone is striving to improve efficiency, reliability and profitability.

We all share that struggle, but for those operating a room and pillar mine that relies on batch haulage (such as shuttle cars and battery haulers) things are especially tricky.

To make matters worse, up until recently the only information available for the entire system was coming from one machine: the continuous miner.

While those numbers are useful, they don't provide a complete picture of how the equipment interacts, making it difficult to identify the best ways to increase efficiency and productivity.

Seeing what's really going on

To combat this, the team at Komatsu created JoyConnect, which is a package of hardware and software that can be installed on most equipment you would find in an underground mine.

The package provides valuable insights into the complete value stream of the operation by recording voltages, currents, temperatures, pressures, flows and operational information.

Data from this system goes directly to the Smart Solutions Center, allowing the service group to utilize the information and deliver an enhanced service program, as well as understand the product's performance and its interaction with other equipment. This information can help savvy mine sites create a healthier bottom line

JoyConnect has been operating in South Africa on Joy shuttle cars, as well as on various roof bolters and feeder breakers since 2012, but one of the most interesting and innovative applications of JoyConnect is taking place in the Midwest region of the United States.

Four battery haulers have been equipped with the system and the information collected is being uploaded to the Komatsu Analytics Platform in order to it to create algorithms capable of producing key performance indicators (KPIs) to help mines gain a better understanding of their operations, enabling them to make informed decisions based on actual data.

The truth of the matter is you need a complete view of a fully connected mining unit to maximize productivity and produce at the lowest cost. JoyConnect provides you with the pertinent information you need to identify the dynamic nature of bottlenecks, some of which can change on an hourly basis. After all, the more knowledge you have, the more options you have to optimize your operation.

Conclusion

This innovative platform is something all mines utilizing batch haulage should consider.

Gaining access to this vast amount of information is an incredible advantage for operations that are looking to improve performance and use real-time data to make quick, game-changing decisions.

Implementing JoyConnect could be just the thing you need to drive results that lead to improved productivity and increased profitability.

Learn more at www.mining.komatsu