What is the leading driver of innovation in the sector?

9 September 2022

The International Mining and Resources Conference & Expo (IMARC) is fast approaching, being held in Sydney at the International Convention Centre from 2-4 November 2022. IMARC 2022 provides an opportunity for the Australian mining and resources sector to host a global discussion about the important role we play in delivering a strong and sustainable future.

Our recent interview with Austmine Member and IMARC Exhibitor, S5 System, provides METS and mining companies with an understanding of their product and their thoughts about innovation and mining challenges in the sector.

1. What does S5 System do and what problem does it solve for miners?
We are industrial IoT Solutions integration experts and designers and manufacturers of implantable sensors to promote Industry 4.0 and provide a wide range of IoT services to the mining industry.

Working for over two decades in embedded systems development, safety-related systems, industrial control system, and process automation, S5 System Pty Ltd is a Premier, Full Service IoT integration Group with a special focus on Security, Scale, and Performance across all IoT landscapes. S5 system is apt at early adoption of new technologies for its’ clients to always stay ahead of the curve in their technological strategy.

At S5 system we are all about saving mining companies money, making their workplace safer and their operations more efficient by providing them with real-time data of the condition of their assets. We own the unique technology of making tiny, cost-effective, long-life battery-powered industrial wireless sensors and actuators.

2. Your three main products for mining industry are:

GETsmart: A wireless battery powered Ground Engaging tool dislodgment detection system.

When a GET falls into a truck load of ore and is tipped into the crusher it can jam and signiﬁcantly damage the crusher or dislodged and cause injury to the onsite personnel. Extraction of a GET from a crusher is exceptionally dangerous and the repair of damaged equipment may result in a few days of downtime. To address this problem, S5 System has developed GETsmart, a highly robust non-invasive, real-time, wireless GET Sensor and components. Our innovative solution is real-time maintenance-free, hermetically sealed sensors with protection from extreme temperatures, pressure, shock, water, dirt ingress and vibrations and designed to suite wide range of GET including teeth and adapters. The GETsmart solution includes sensors inserted into diggers’ ground engaging tools and shrouds, and the in-cab monitor actively scans all GET sensors and as soon as a tooth breaks oﬀ, a real-time audio-visual alarm notiﬁes the operator and the operation and maintenance team of the missing GET part and can optionally remotely stop the downstream crusher.

BoltTight: A wireless battery powered smart washer that monitors the compression force between nuts and bolts.

Operational environmental factors including vibration, severe loading, temperature cycling, fatigue, external forces (wind, thermal expansion, earthquakes), erosion, and corrosion are typical causes of the bolted joints failure in structures, piping, machinery, wind turbines, and applications using bolted joining. Thanks to the advancement in low power micro-scale electronics and connectivity and our proprietary technology of precision clamping force measurement, S5 System has developed a completely non-invasive, wireless intelligent real-time monitoring of tightness and tension of critical bolted joints using Smart washers with minimal extra footprint. BoltTight washers precisely measure and send the compression and clamping forces in a bolted joint to the monitoring system for real-time and historical data logging, preventive and condition-based maintenance, and reliability analysis to ensure the integrity of the joints is not compromised.

WearMon: A wireless battery powered wear plate thickness monitoring system.

Wear liners need maintenance and replacement frequently. The inspection and replacement process are quite expensive. The Inspection is a manual process and requires rope access or working at height and heavily relies on the individual’s experience to estimate the wear and forecast the change-out time. There are down-time, safety risks, inaccuracy in shut down and warehouse inventory planning. S5 System has developed a non-invasive online condition monitoring system for wear liners which can directly be installed on any type of mining plant liner material including rubber, metallic, ceramic, polyurethan, and polyethylene. The solution oﬀers accurate real-time and historical wear data, machine learning, predictive condition-based maintenance, suggested shut down planning info, accurate required inventory, shutdown period, and next service forecast.

3. What are some of the major challenges facing the mining industry today?

Lack of access to meaningful and usable data from parts of the operation and machinery.

Sliding productivity due to unpredicted costs and unpredicted downtimes.

New regulations in regards to environmental monitoring and management.

4. How is the industry going about addressing those challenges?

Mining businesses are continuously adopting new technologies and following new measures to increase efficiency and profitability. The number of applications for the mining industry supported by the Internet of Things is growing, ranging from digital twinning to augmented reality to automation and robots.

5. What is the leading driver of innovation in the sector?

The fact that mining is a conventional, risk- and change-averse industry that forbids investment in potentially "risky" technologies is just one of several organisational impediments that still stand in the way of cutting-edge ideas and technologies. However, due to rapid change in global market and increase in global competition, miners are forced to use new technologies to get ahead of the game, realizing that adaptation of these technologies could make their mining operations safer, more productive and more cost-efficient.

6. How can we get more of our innovation to market faster, to keep up and stay ahead of the challenges that face the sector?

Entry to market is the biggest challenge for innovative solutions and ideas. Most businesses cannot afford, and some would not accept the risk when implementing new solutions.

We believe Mining businesses must be more open towards new ideas and innovations and take measured risks when it comes to utilization of new technologies.

Further from that, government should support innovation and investors should start looking more towards potentials in smaller businesses with great ideas.

7. What are you most looking forward to at the 2022 International Mining & Resources Conference?

Australia is a beautiful country with spectacular landscapes, dynamic cities, vibrant regional centres, an inclusive professional culture and most importantly a land with immeasurable natural resources. We are hoping to see more innovative solutions and new technologies introduced to the industry to sustainably maintain and protect this beautiful land that we call home.

Not yet registered to attend IMARC, book your delegate tickets here: https://imarcglobal.com/

If you are a member attending IMARC, Austmine is pleased to invite you to our VIP Networking Drinks on Tuesday 1 November. To learn more or register, click here.