Vermeer Terrain Leveler Surface Excavation Machines are designed to deliver more power availability per kW and thus being fuel efficient.

Tarique Salman
Segment Manager – Specialty Excavation, Vermeer India

What are the current trends in the mining equipment market that you believe are shaping the industry?

The mining industry faces continuous challenges to meet and to fulfill the sustainability requirements imposed by policymakers. This has created a demand for technologies such as industrial automation and control systems, simulator-training, equipment control and guidance, advanced mine-surveying technologies, underground mining and surface drilling technologies, and machine guidance and control systems, which are compatible with enterprise resource planning software solutions.

Automation or remote-controlled machinery is the need of activating the construction industry. This trend will continue, assets are becoming increasingly automated to make them safer and more productive through technologies such as autonomous trucks, drones and remote monitoring systems.

The industry is increasingly seeking to develop solutions capable of electrifying mining equipment to eliminate diesel from its power source mix, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The convergence of IoT and advanced data analytics help in corroborating predictive maintenance, operational optimization, high equipment efficiency. People are looking for solutions which enables them to get Real time data for Decision-making and improving the efficiency of work.

Companies are also beginning to demand reduced adverse effects of mining operations on the environment. This is achieved, for instance, by the constant development of equipment that reduce waste and increase energy efficiency as well as minimally disrupt ecosystems.

Increased capabilities such as collision avoidance and enhanced monitoring are becoming standard to aid in protecting workers and equipment.

How does your company differentiate itself from competitors in the mining and machinery sector?

The latest evolution of Vermeer’s Terrain Leveler range, T1255SSDD (Single-Side Direct Drive) continuous surface miner, has been developed to meet the unique needs civil, quarry and mining industries. The machine is ideal for hard rock excavation, road building and tunnelling applications to increase productivity and reduce overhead costs.

The equipment offers reduced fuel consumption, emissions and labor costs when compared to conventional methods. The machine comes with intelligent technology, SmartTEC© electronic control system, helps maximize machine performance, allowing operators to adjust machine controls where needed, as well as monitoring and recording machine performance. They can then easily analyze and adjust controls helping operators optimize productivity with real-time machine control prompts. Vermeer Telematics is an online tool for tracking machine productivity and jobsite management on Telematics-enabled equipment.

Vermeer T1255III Terrain Leveler SEM features GPS technology that can also be used to create a mine-by-line plan. Machine steering is controlled by the GPS technology, helping remove human error for cutting head overlap and maximizing efficiency of the machine. This feature allows the operator to cut to the mine plan — producing a flat, almost road-smooth surface; a grade for drainage; or a sloped haul road.

In what ways do your products address environmental concerns and sustainability during mining operations?

In addition to being safe and efficient, Vermeer surface miners are helping miners create better sustainability practices. Major environmental concerns are the noise levels, air quality, traffic congestion and the impact a major construction or mining project would have on the neighborhood. Traditional excavation methods like rock breakers, excavators, as well as drilling and blasting methods, could create too much disturbance to surrounding ecosystem, hence one must utilize innovative equipment for excavation.

The Vermeer Terrain Leveler SEM can be the right machine for these jobs as it is a precision rock excavating machine that is much quieter and produces less vibration than other methods.

On many mine sites, dust is a challenge due to urban encroachment and air quality concerns. The dust suppression system on the Vermeer Terrain Leveler SEM features an enclosed cutting head with two large vacuums pulling dust from the enclosed cutting head into baghouses. The collected dust is dropped beneath the machine, helping to reduce the amount of dust entering the air. This also diminishes the need to source water to control dust during the mining process.

A trend in mining technology has also been towards addressing the concerns of climate change and hence, reducing carbon footprints. The usage of more energy efficient equipment and reduction in fuel consumption are attempts in the right direction towards achieving reduced carbon footprints. Vermeer Terrain Leveler® Surface Excavation Machines are designed to deliver more power availability per kW and thus being fuel efficient.

These attributes, along with the reduction of the dust and vibration created by explosives makes surface excavation equipment more sustainable and environmentally friendly than drilling and blasting.

What future trends do you foresee in mining, and how is your company preparing for these changes?

Growing emphasis on sustainability presents opportunities for companies to lead in developing green technologies and practices. The future will likely see more advanced AI applications in predictive maintenance, operational efficiency, and safety. Companies are preparing by investing in these technologies and integrating them into their equipment. Vermeer machine comes with intelligent technology, SmartTEC© electronic control system, which helps maximize machine performance, allowing operators to adjust machine controls where needed, as well as monitoring and recording machine performance.

As the push for sustainability grows, further advancements in electrification of mining equipment are expected. Vermeer already has an electric engine option for one of its products and is likely to develop the same for most of its product range.