After decades perfecting digging and shipping, Australia’s resource sector has become a hotbed for innovative automation and robotics technologies. But a rapidly changing global economy means the local sector is under pressure to lower its own emissions and in some cases apply its innovations elsewhere.
Much of the technology is tied up in what is known as the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector. There is still potential to grow within the sector but to transfer METS innovations to other parts of the economy.
InnovationAus has shortlisted six companies leading in this expansion for its inaugural awards event. They range from emerging independents, multinational spinouts and a mining giant’s own Internet of Things (IoT) service.
The finalists in the METS category are:
The InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence will be presented at a gala black-tie dinner held on Wednesday, December 1, at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney. You can book your tickets at the Awards website. For further enquiries, please email Awards@InnovationAus.com
Behind the finalists:
Newcastle based e-mobility manufacturer 3ME Technology has quickly made a name for itself in the Australian mining sector, signing contracts with multiple mining vehicle original equipment manufacturers, suppliers and mining companies.
But its interoperable and customisable battery systems technology has applications across the economy, particularly in places where off the shelf products don’t quite hit the mark.
The company last year won its first Defence industry contract and has also been named as a finalist for InnovationAus’ Energy and Renewables award.
Cloud based software provider LAB3 has developed a data-driven, wireless monitoring solution which leverages cutting-edge IoT technology to revolutionise mining operations.
Again, a company with METS roots has expanded quickly, and now counts customers in the transport, agriculture and health sectors.
Newcastle based Pitcrew AI use thermal energy cameras and artificial intelligence technologies to inspect, in real-time, the condition of autonomous fleets, including high-value mining haul trucks.
Effectively replacing some of the lost driver functions of autonomous vehicles, Pitcrew AI solutions can monitor things like tyre temperature, brakes issues and load efficiency, prolonging the life of an asset and reducing carbon emissions.
Developed and funded by the world’s largest miner BHP, Dash Tools is putting sensors in place of humans for high-risk mining work. The mining giant’s dashboard connects IoT sensors to Microsoft cloud software, allowing remote or autonomous control of excavators, trucks and other heavy equipment.
Its first product, Dash Maintainer Tools, eliminates live work on mobile mining operations with high fatality risks.
MyPass is a workforce compliance management software that gives real-time assurance that the right workers with the right skills are performing their tasks on site. The platform hands control of verifiable credentials to workers through a digital skills passport.
Workers can share their information with employers, training institutions, site owners or industry bodies. MyPass is looking to become the industry standard for highly regulated sectors, including METS.
Artificial intelligence (AI) powered vision systems company Presien was spun out of construction and engineering giant Laing O’Rourke to create products that make construction, mining and other industrial worksites safer and more efficient.
Backed by Main Sequence, the company’s first product leverages vast AI-training data from worksites and purpose-built applications to identify and prevent dangerous incidents for workers and equipment. It can detect and alert potential accidents by automatically monitoring situations like blind spots on a worksite.
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