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Motion Metrics featured on the cover of Resource Engineering and Maintenance Magazine
The Fall 2011 issue of REM Resource Engineering and Maintenance Magazine featuring Motion Metrics' solutions
Excerpt from the article:
For many modern open-pit mines, shovels are one of the most critical components in the production process. These multi-million-dollar machines are the first to handle the material before transporting and processing begins. Because of this, the shovel must be closely monitored to avoid any unnecessary downtime and to ensure it is in peak operating condition. Any unnecessary downtime can cost a mine thousands of dollars per hour in lost production time. Read more...
Posted on 14 December 2011
How monitoring shovel tooth wear can improve productivity - World Coal Magazine August 2011
The August 2011 issue of World Coal Magazine featuring the WearMetrics tooth wear monitoring system
Excerpt from the article:
Operating a mining shovel with worn teeth reduces digging performance, increases energy usage, and increases the likelihood of breaking bucket teeth and adapters. In order to maintain peak performance and reduce shovel downtime, it is important to carefully monitor the wear of the teeth on the shovel bucket. Read more...
Posted on 14 December 2011
XXIX International Mining Convention - Expomineria 2011 - Acapulco, Mexico
The President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, at the Motion Metrics booth in Mexico.
Earlier this year, Motion Metrics commissioned the first system in Mexico, at a Grupo Mexico copper mine. The success of the installation made it clear that Mexico is a key emerging player in the global mining market.
To build on earlier success, Motion Metrics participated in the XXIX International Mining Convention - Expomineria 2011 in Acapulco, Mexico. Motion Metrics was an exhibitor for the first time at this exhibition as part of the Canadian pavilion where we were able to introduce our monitoring solutions to the mining industry in Mexico.
Our solutions received a lot of interest and we were also lucky enough to welcome the current President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, at our booth during his tour of the exhibition. Overall, we were very pleased with the outcome of the exhibition and see many opportunities in Mexico.
Pictures from XXIX International Mining Convention 2011:
Posted on 3 November 2011
EXPOSIBRAM 2011 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil
In late September, Motion Metrics visited the beautiful country of Brazil once again for the EXPOSIBRAM 2011 International Mining Exhibition, which was held in Belo Horizonte. As Brazil is one of the key players in iron ore mining, it was important for Motion Metrics to show a strong presence at Exposibram.
Motion Metrics had two separate booths; one as part of the Canadian pavilion, and one as part of the P&H MinePro Alliance. This double appearance allowed our representatives to meet with a record number of visitors and increase our exposure in the Brazilian market.
After speaking with representatives from some of Brazil's largest mining companies including Vale, CSN, Usiminas, and Bahia Mineração, it was clear that missing shovel teeth are a major problem in Brazil. We learned that in some Brazilian mines, it is not uncommon for a broken shovel tooth to cause crusher downtime at least once a month because of the hardness of the iron ore. When we explained our solution for missing shovel teeth, many of them saw our ToothMetrics™ system as a "must-have" for their mines.
Pictures from EXPOSIBRAM 2011:
Posted on 3 November 2011
EXTEMIN 2011 – Arequipa, Peru
In Peru's second-largest city, Arequipa, Motion Metrics took part in the 30th Perumin/Extemin Mining Convention as an exhibitor in the Canadian Pavilion. As one of the largest mining exhibitions in Latin America, Extemin saw over 33,000 visitors from around the world gather in Peru to see the latest technology and products for mining.
With over half-a-dozen systems already in operation there, Motion Metrics is no stranger to Peru. Motion Metrics has been working closely with their exclusive agent in Peru, TTM Peru, to address the increasing demand for solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and productivity in mining.
Pictures from EXTEMIN 2011:
Posted on 3 November 2011
AIMEX 2011 – Sydney, Australia
Motion Metrics was recently in Sydney, Australia, for Asia-Pacific's International Mining Exhibition - AIMEX 2011. The exhibition, which occurs only once every 4 years, attracted more than 17,000 visitors over four days.
Motion Metrics exhibited at AIMEX as part of the Canadian Pavilion, where we demonstrated our missing tooth detection, collision avoidance, and bucket-based rock fragmentation analysis solutions first-hand. As our first time exhibiting at AIMEX, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality and relevance of visitors, and we are already making plans for the next edition in 2015.
During this trip, we were able to meet with many of our long-time customers, as well as many potential new customers. We also met with a number of Australian suppliers interested in providing local sales and support for our products. To improve support for our valued customers in Australia, we will be announcing our exclusive partnership with a local Australian supplier shortly.
Pictures from AIMEX 2011:
Posted on 3 November 2011
Motion Metrics, a Platinum sponsor at PersMine 2011
Motion Metrics was a Platinum sponsor at this year's PerMine 2011 conference, which was hosted by the non-profit association, the Society of Iranian-Canadian Professionals of British Columbia (SiCAP).
The PersMine event is designed to bring "Mining Industry leaders, executives and professionals together for a unique evening of knowledge sharing and networking." Professionals from diverse areas of mining including mechanical, civil, electrical, structural, and chemical engineering were amongst the notable attendees.
Representatives of Motion Metrics were also in attendance to explain the common problems in open-pit mining, and how our solutions address them.
For more information about SiCAP, please visit their website at: http://www.sicap.ca
Pictures from PersMine 2011:
Posted on 1 November 2011
More South American mines purchase systems
A BHP Billiton mine and an Anglo American mine in Chile have both decided to install Motion Metrics systems on the remainder of their shovel fleet. The mines were impressed with the systems they had purchased a year earlier and realized the value of this investment.
Following a successful system installation in an Argentinian Barrick mine, other Barrick mines in South America are catching on and have placed orders for ToothMetrics™ and FragMetrics™ systems.
Posted on 12 September 2011
Better ToothMetrics™ performance with LED lighting upgrade
After several months of research and development, Motion Metrics has made the leap to the latest Light-Emitting Diode (LED) technology for their bucket lighting. The advanced industrial LED solution replaces the High-Intensity Discharge (HID) alternative.
Initial field trials have demonstrated a world of difference in the night-time performance of ToothMetrics™ systems. Over a period of a month, a system with the new LED bucket light installed saw an increase of over 200% in the response time, which means missing or broken teeth/adapters can be detected even quicker.
The improved lighting permits ToothMetrics™ to capture higher quality images at night, providing greater contrast between the teeth and the background, to improve the accuracy and response time of the system. From the two night bucket images above, it is clear that the new LED bucket light upgrade demonstrates a significant lighting improvement over the existing HID bucket light. Examining the specifications, it is apparent why the new LED bucket light is superior:
- 2 times brighter: Light intensity output rating of 6300 lumens vs. 3200 lumens
- Lasts 16 times longer: Lifetime rating of 50,000 hours vs. 3,000 hours
- Closer resemblance to sunlight (5500K): Output color temperature of 5000K vs. 4250K
- Better ingress protection: IP68 vs. IP65
- More rugged: Bullet-proof glass lens
Contact our sales team to find out how you can upgrade to the new LED bucket light.
Posted on 9 September 2011
Warning Lights for RadarMetrics™ now available
New for 2011 is the addition of Warning Lights for RadarMetrics™. The optional warning lights extend the effectiveness of the RadarMetrics™ solution beyond just the shovel operator by installing a series of wide-angle, high-intensity amber LED warning lights around the perimeter of the shovel.
When nearby equipment or personnel enter the collision path of the shovel, the shovel operator is notified through the RadarMetrics™ user interface and a beeping sound produced by the system. With the additional warning lights, nearby equipment are also alerted by the wide-angle amber LED warning lights which flash with a distinct pattern.
The specifically engineered warning lights are able to cover a 180-degree horizontal angle to ensure maximum coverage. Industrial LEDs are used to maximize longevity and reduce energy consumption, while still providing exceptional performance.
For more information visit: www.motionmetrics.com/products/radarmetrics
Posted on 9 September 2011
ToothMetrics™ in Australia
The ToothMetrics™ system detects a missing tooth on a Bucyrus rope shovel in Western Australia.
In early May, Motion Metrics visited an Australian mine for a maintenance service trip. The Western Australian gold mine has ToothMetrics™ and FragMetrics™ installed on four of their shovels (three Bucyrus shovels and one Terex RH340 shovel).
During the maintenance trip, all four shovels were upgraded to the latest "Precision Release" of ToothMetrics™. A significant improvement in the response time and the accuracy of the system was immediately noticed by the mine technician. Reviewing the log data from the system over the past couple of months showed that the system had detected a number of missing shovel teeth.
Satisfied with the performance of the system, the mine is planning to install the WearMetrics™ tooth-wear monitoring system on their shovels. Since the mine spends millions of dollars on new shovel teeth each month, they will use WearMetrics™ to compare different makes and models, and to optimize their tooth change-outs.
For more information visit: www.motionmetrics.com/products/toothmetrics
Posted on 9 September 2011
EXPONOR 2011 - Antofagasta, Chile
Motion Metrics was in Antofagasta, Chile, exhibiting at the 14th International Exhibition for Latin America Mining, EXPONOR 2011, as part of the Canadian Pavilion. The exhibition provided a good opportunity for Motion Metrics to connect with its well-established customer base in Chile.
At EXPONOR CHILE 2011, Motion Metrics' exclusive agent in Chile, TTM Chile, was also an exhibitor.
Click here to download the latest Spanish General Brochure
Picture updates from EXPONOR 2011:
Posted on 2 June 2011
Issue 5 - August 2011 of the MMI Newsletter now available!
Click here to download it now
In This Issue
- Better ToothMetrics™ performance with LED lighting upgrade
- Warning Lights for RadarMetrics™ now available
- ToothMetrics™ in Australia
- Recent Events:
- Haulage and Loading 2011 - USA
- EXPONOR 2011 - Chile
- ARMINERA 2011 - Argentina
- CIM Montreal 2011 - Canada
- Company News
- More South American mines purchase systems
- Motion Metrics in Australia
- Upcoming events
Subscribe to receive the latest MMI Newsletters.
Posted on 10 August 2011
Motion Metrics at CIM Montreal 2011
After a strong presence at CIM 2010 in Vancouver last year, Motion Metrics returned to this year's CIM 2011 Exhibition and Conference in the wonderful city of Montreal, Canada.
At this year's CIM 2011, Motion Metrics unveiled its patent-pending Arm Geometry System (AGS) for rope shovels. This latest innovation from Motion Metrics provides accurate dipper positioning information in real-time for better productivity.
In addition to exhibiting, Motion Metrics also made two presentations, "Automated Shovel Tooth Wear Monitoring with Machine Vision" and "Application of Shovel Bucket Blast Fragmentation Analysis".
Picture updates from CIM Montreal 2011:
Posted on 3 June 2011
Presenting RadarMetrics™ at Haulage and Loading 2011
Motion Metrics made a strong first impression at this year's Haulage and Loading Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, where the Product Manager for RadarMetrics™, Nima Nabavi, made his presentation titled, "The Application of Intelligent Collision Avoidance for Mining Shovels".
The well received presentation focused on the patent pending collision avoidance technology developed by Motion Metrics, that intelligently accounts for the shovel swing action when alerting the operator. The innovative solution is capable of detecting single or double truck loading patterns to reduce false warnings during normal loading procedures.
In addition, Motion Metrics was also an exhibitor where they had a functional demo system to allow attendees to test the RadarMetrics™ collision avoidance system first hand.
If you were unable to attend this year's Haulage and Loading Conference, please feel free to contact us for a copy of Nima's paper and presentation. For more information visit: www.motionmetrics.com/products/radarmetrics
Picture updates from Haulage and Loading 2011:
Posted on 3 June 2011
Arminera 2011 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Motion Metrics was recently in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, exhibiting at the 8th International Mining Exhibition - ARMINERA 2011, as part of the Canadian Pavilion. As the largest mining exhibition in the country, this was a good opportunity for Motion Metrics to strengthen its presence in Argentina.
From just two mines in the 1980's, to twelve metal mines in operation today, (not to mention a handful of mining projects in the advanced stages of development) Argentina has attracted a lot of attention from the mining industry in recent years.
If you were unable to attend this year's ARMINERA, be sure to visit Motion Metrics at one of the other exhibitions we will be participating in South America later this year.
Picture updates from ARMINERA 2011:
Posted on 2 June 2011
Motion Metrics at CIM Montreal 2011 - May 22nd to 25th
After a strong showing at CIM 2010 in Vancouver last year, Motion Metrics returns at this year 's CIM 2011 Exhibition and Conference in the wonderful city of Montreal,
Canada from May 22nd to 25th.
In addition to exhibiting, Motion Metrics will also be making two presentations, "Automated Shovel Tooth Wear Monitoring with Machine Vision" and "Application of
Shovel Bucket Blast Fragmentation Analysis".
If you will be attending this event, be sure to drop by our booth (#1219) to see our
latest solutions, including the all new Warning Lights for RadarMetrics™, in action.
Maintenance & Reliability – “Automated Shovel Tooth Wear Monitoring with Machine Vision”
Time: Tuesday May 24, 2011 - 11:20am Room: 515BC
Innovations in Rock Engineering III – “Application of Shovel Bucket Blast Fragmentation Analysis”
Time: Wednesday May 25, 2011 - 11:45am Room: 513EF
Exhibition Details:
| Event Name: | CIM Conference and Exhibition 2011 |
| Date: | May 22 ~ 25, 2011 |
| Venue: | Palais des congrès de Montrèal, Montrèal, Quebec, Canada |
| Booth #: | 1219 |
| Website: | www.cim.org/montreal2011/ |
Abstract
Automated Shovel Tooth Wear Monitoring with Machine Vision
Tooth wear on mining shovels presents a challenge for productivity. A shovel with worn teeth suffers from increased digging forces, longer fill times, and an increased likelihood of lost or broken teeth and adapters. Efficient maintenance planning relies on knowledge of tooth decay rates and patterns. A fully automated wear monitoring system can record detailed logs of tooth wear, permitting G.E.T. personnel to optimize maintenance scheduling. Studies have demonstrated that planned tooth change-outs result in significantly reduced costs as compared to unplanned maintenance.
A machine-vision based tooth-wear monitoring method is introduced. A rugged camera is installed on the boom of cable shovels, such as those made by Bucyrus or P&H, or on the stick of hydraulic shovels such as those by Komatsu or Liebherr. The images are processed using a photogrammetric algorithm to determine the individual tooth lengths. Tooth length data is collected at intervals during shovel operations, forming a profile of the current wear state and speed of decay, wear pattern, and expected lifespan of teeth.
Armed with this kind of data, mine personnel can reduce the cost and lost time due to unplanned maintenance, and observe the effects of mine conditions and operator behaviour on tooth wear.
Application of Shovel Bucket Blast Fragmentation Analysis
Shovel bucket blast fragmentation analysis is an alternative way to assess blast performance and its effects on downstream mining processes. A camera is installed on the boom of cable shovels, and the stick of hydraulic shovels. Images are captured automatically as the shovel digs, and are processed to acquire rock size information. The automatic data acquisition makes this method safe to use with minimal manual labour. It also allows for a large set of sample data to be captured from both the surface and the interior of a bench face.
The system has been deployed in several mines to provide an objective assessment of blasting performance. Images are captured from their cable or hydraulic shovels. The images are grouped into sets based on the shovel location and time to match the fragmentation to specific blasts. Blast fragmentation reports are created for each blast after reviewing the results.
Measuring blast fragmentation from the shovel bucket proves to be an effective alternative for blast performance assessment with unique advantages. The blast fragmentation information has been valuable to the mines, and the mines have begun adopting it into their operations.
Motion Metrics to present at the upcoming Haulage and Loading 2011 in Phoenix
Motion Metrics will be presenting their intelligent collision avoidance system, RadarMetrics™, for mining shovels at the upcoming Haulage and Loading 2011 conference in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. The conference runs from May 16th to 18th at the Wigwam Resort (for more information, please visit www.haulageandloading.com).
The product manager for RadarMetrics™, Nima Nabavi, will be making his presentation titled "The Application of Intelligent Collision Avoidance for Mining Shovels". Motion Metrics will also have an exhibitor booth at the conference where attendees can see the RadarMetrics™ system in action.
Abstract
The Application of Intelligent Collision Avoidance for Mining Shovels
A common concern in open-pit shovel operations is the risk of collision with other equipment working in close proximity with the shovel. An intelligent radar and camera based proximity detection system can improve safety and operator awareness of shovel based mining operations. The system involves installing a strategically-placed array of heavy-duty radar sensors and surveillance cameras around the body of the shovel to provide a comprehensive view of the shovel's surroundings. The success of a number of different field installations of the system on a variety of shovel models and mining environments have been analyzed.
Posted on 12 April 2011
The 'Precision Release': More precision where it matters
After a year of development since the 'Olympic Release', Motion Metrics is now ready to release the revolutionary 'Precision Release' of the ToothMetrics™ and WearMetrics™ shovel monitoring solutions. The 'Precision Release' makes great strides in improvement in both the precision and accuracy of the image analysis system.
The enhanced ToothMetrics™ image analysis system in the 'Precision Release' can now analyze the status of the shovel dipper's teeth with greater precision than ever before. The enhanced level of precision allows the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions and differentiate between levels of tooth-wear with WearMetrics™.
The 'Precision Release' also introduces the addition of the 'Smart Filter' to the ToothMetrics™ image selection algorithm, which significantly reduces the number of false alarms in conditions with poor visibility. The 'Smart Filter' intelligently discards images which are considered to be of poor quality, such as images with excessive dust, poor lighting, or obstructions.
Contact our sales department to find out how you can upgrade to the new 'Precision Release'.
Tooth-wear monitoring with the 'Precision Release'
Posted on 22 February 2011
High precision shovel GPS with Wenco and Motion Metrics
Motion Metrics recently collaborated with fleet management systems provider, Wenco International Mining Systems, to enhance their BenchManager High Precision GPS system for an oil-sands mine. With the integration of Motion Metrics' Arm Geometry System (AGS), Wenco's BenchManager system is capable of providing the precise GPS position of a shovel's bucket with up to centimeter accuracy.
According to Wenco, this robust combination works to eliminate staking and ribbon boundaries, calculate load grade on the trucks, automatically record shovel progress, and maintain smooth benches according to design. For more information visit: www.motionmetrics.com/products/ags
The AGS shovel arm geometry user interface
Posted on 22 February 2011
Multilingual support now available
In response to requests by our customers, multilingual support has now been integrated in the new "Precision Release" of the Motion Metrics suite of solutions. The language of all system menus and dialogs can now be changed according to the preference of the user. For users who are not fluent in English, the system becomes more natural and intuitive, thereby allowing all users to take full advantage of the system.
A Spanish language version of this release is now available, with more languages on the way. Contact our sales department to find out how you can upgrade your existing systems.
The ToothMetrics™/ViewMetrics™ main user interface in Spanish
Posted on 22 February 2011
Motion Metrics expands its R&D
Motion Metrics' new research and development facility
Motion Metrics has recently acquired a new research and development facility and has expanded its workforce. This bold initiative is aimed at accommodating the development of a number of exciting new solutions, which Motion Metrics will be unveiling later this year.
Posted on 22 February 2011
Chilean copper mega-pit sees the delivery of 13 systems
One of the world's largest copper mines in Chile recently received their purchase of 13 Motion Metrics systems, which included ToothMetrics™, WearMetrics™, and FragMetrics™.The systems are to be installed on Bucyrus 495, P&H 4100, and Komatsu PC5500 series shovels in the coming months.
In addition to the new systems, they have also decided to upgrade their existing five systems, which are on Bucyrus 495 series shovels, to the latest 'Precision Release'. The installation and commissioning of these systems will be managed in collaboration with our exclusive agent in Chile, TTM Chile (www.ttm-chile.cl).
Posted on 22 February 2011
Canadian copper mine upgrades to RadarMetrics™
After a successful trial installation and the growing importance of safety in the mine, a Canadian copper mine has decided to upgrade their existing Motion Metrics systems to include the RadarMetrics™ collision avoidance system for all their mining shovels.
A total of seven shovels, including five P&H 2800 and two Bucyrus 495 series shovels, will now have the added confidence of one of the most advanced collision avoidance systems available for mining shovels.
Posted on 22 February 2011
Presenting FragMetrics™ at the 37th ISEE Conference
At this year's 37th Annual Conference on Explosive & Blasting Technique presented by the International Society of Explosive Engineers (ISEE), Motion Metrics' FragMetrics™ Product Engineering Manager, Edmond Chow, presented his paper titled, "Measuring Blast Fragmentation by Analyzing Shovel Bucket Contents."
In this enticing talk, the FragMetrics™ shovel-bucket-based automatic rock fragmentation collection and analysis system was introduced to an audience of explosives engineering experts. The talk emphasized the importance of sensing the rock sizes in the shovel bucket, before they are dumped onto the haul truck and passed through crushers and conveyors.
The advantage of this unique approach is that the rock sizes are analyzed very close to the blasting area, prior to the breakdown of the rocks due to handling. To optimize their blast designs, blast engineers require fragmentation data with minimal breakdown in order to obtain a precise relationship between blasting and rock fragmentation.
The talk was well-received and several attendees visited Motion Metrics' booth at the conference to learn more about FragMetrics™.
Picture updates from the 37th ISEE Conference:
Posted on 22 February 2011