Development work and marketing of the mining automation technologies of Noranda Minerals will be undertaken by Societe des Technologies Appliquees du Saguenay (STAS).
Noranda says its agreement with STAS will enable it to more readily transfer this technology to its operations and ultimately to develop a global marketing strategy.
New technologies created by researchers at the Noranda Technology Centre at Pointe Claire, Que., during the past six years include an automatic mine vehicle guidance system. This integrated mining automation system (IMAS) allows operators to control several pieces of underground mine equipment from a work station that could eventually be situated on the surface. IMAS combines four primary technologies that will provide underground operations with automatic guidance, teleoperation, telecommunications and automatic loading systems. Experts envisage that mining automation will eventually cover several other activities, such as drilling, blasting, backfilling and rock bolting.
STAS comprises more than 50 engineers and technicians specializing in the development and manufacture of new equipment.
Under the agreement, Noranda will continue to carry out prototype research and development while STAS will be responsible for development of commercial products and their applications.
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