COMMENTARY — Advances in mining equipment

Canada’s mining equipment industry has demonstrated that it is competitive worldwide.

Most Canadian mines employ mature technology and acquire processes and equipment that have been developed and proven by others. Yet this country has developed some leading mining methods of its own (notably techniques to improve recovery from tar sands), although they are not used widely enough to affect equipment sales significantly.

The economic adjustments brought about by falling commodity prices in the early 1980s created a new generation of techniques, most notably underground bulk-mining and automated mining. . .

Limited use is now made of robotics and microelectronics in mobile mining equipment. Although automated haulage vehicles have been developed, they are not yet available commercially. Large, stationary, above-ground processes such as milling, concentrating and smelting are generally

computer-controlled, as are some stationary processes such as crushing, hoisting, circulation of mine air, water removal and recording of production. . .

Although the industry tailors its research and development to user requirements, few manufacturing companies use both computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to shorten their delivery time. CAD is increasing, however, and suitably equipped companies are using computer-controlled cutting and manufacturing. . .

Changes in mining practices are creating new equipment requirements, including the increased use of underground bulk-mining. Other technologies, such as remote-controlled equipment and computer-controlled processes, are being developed. These processes and the required equipment are available from Canadian sources.

In the export market, Canadian companies can also procure designs to manufacture equipment such as large power shovels which hold more than 11.5 cubic metres. Domestic opportunities include acquiring licences to manufacture hydraulic components such as drifter drills and breakers. Licences for developing new designs could also be obtained.

— From a recent Industry Profile issue of the federal government’s Industry, Science and Technology Canada.