Drill & Blast, News

Orica keeps quarries moving with fragmentation monitoring

Orica

Orica has expanded on the fragmentation monitoring methods offered by the company, to include real-time oversize product detection for quarries utilising blast technology.

Orica announced in October the release of the company’s most recent fragmentation monitoring solution to date, the FRAGTrack Gantry.

Labelling the technology as ‘a market-first’, the haul truck measurement solution combines real-time oversize detection alerts and accurate particle size distribution (PSD) of fragmentation on all models and sizes of haul trucks.

Mounted above haul roads, the FRAGTrack Gantry can accurately view and detect fragmentation within haul trucks and identify material that is too large for crushing applications.

Combining the success of the existing suite of automated post-blast fragmentation monitoring solutions and the feedback from customers that had experienced loss of production due to crusher blockage, Orica has developed the FRAGTrack Gantry to addresses those problems.

This pioneering technology uses advanced machine vision and machine learning technologies to enable autonomous triggering and processing, without interfering with the haulage operation.

The FRAGTrack Gantry leverages real-time oversized detection through artificial intelligence (AI).  This unique machine learning capability is applied to real-time detection accomplished within seconds and alerts sent via fleet management systems (FMS), email, or SMS for the re-routing of trucks. Operators can also predetermine customisable oversize limits, enabling a reduction in crusher blockage and or damage frequency due to oversize material.

Speaking on the innovations the company has made with relation to this technology, vice president of digital solutions for Orica, Raj Mathiravedu, said that the changes increase the productivity of operations and help to increase value to customers.

”The full adoption of AI technology into our architecture, coupled with our strategic partnership with Microsoft, allows us to expedite the delivery of capabilities that were not previously possible,” Mathiravedu said, “FRAGTrack Gantry is another example of how we are leveraging AI to help deliver intelligence and value to our customers.”

The reliable and accurate fragmentation information from FRAGTrack Gantry enables customers to optimise their drill and blast operations for downstream processes without impacting the haul circuit operation. The addition of a Gantry option complements the suite of FRAGTrack measurement systems currently available for shovel, crusher and conveyor mounted configurations.

For more information on FRAGTrack, contact an Orica representative or visit orica.com/FRAGTrack

Send this to a friend