Schauenburg Systems, a South African original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for mine/industry safety and productivity solutions, has partnered with the Sibanye Stillwater/WITS Mining Institute DigiMine laboratory.
Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater and Manuel Pereira, Sales Executive at Schauenburg Systems at the launch of the DigiMine laboratory at Wits Mining Institute.
Almost two years ago, under the initiative of Professor Frederick Cawood of the WITS Mining Institute, a one-of-a-kind simulated mining operation facility was implemented at the Chamber of Mines building on the West Campus of the University. The simulation comprises a mine surface area (on the roof of the building), a vertical shaft (using a stairwell), and a mock up underground mine and control room in the basement.
The lab is equipped with digital systems to enable research for the “Mine of the future”. The objective is to transfer surface digital technologies into the underground environment, enabling a mine to automatically and remotely observe, evaluate and take action by using technology to enhance protection of mine workers against the typical risks that they are exposed to on a daily basis.
Schauenburg Systems focuses on using the latest digital technologies to set standards in health, safety and productivity applications suitable for underground and surface operations. “Our mission is to enhance safety and productivity in the mining and industrial markets through innovation and excellent services for the benefit of all stakeholders,” says Ettiene Pretorius, Business Manager at Schauenburg.
The Schauenburg Systems “digital system” implemented for research at WITS Mining Institute, exclusively for the DigiMine Laboratory, is the Mine Wide Integrated Monitoring and Control System (MIMACS) product. Schauenburg’s MIMACS solution addresses multiple safety and productivity concerns within the underground and surface mining discipline.
Modules of MIMACS system implemented at WITS Mining Institute’s DigiMine Lab are:
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New generation caplamps (PTC Safelite) including wireless and digital communication
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Portable gas detection instruments (GDI Sentinel) with real time digital data downloading capabilities
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Lamproom and Asset Management System
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Real time personnel location monitoring
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Fixed environmental monitoring.
Upgrades and new features to the system are continuously implemented, and students are trained to monitor and maintain the system under the guidance and supervision of post graduate researchers, Mosima Matlhwana and Faiq Javaid.
“We believe that tertiary education is the key to a better and more sustainable future for mining in South Africa. As a stakeholder of this initiative, Schauenburg Systems will strive to continue developing new innovative solutions that will, through digitalisation, enhance health, safety and productivity at our mines. The co-operation will further expand and entrench the very good operational partnership already established with Sibanye-Stillwater,” concludes Lewis Mathieson, MD of Schauenburg System.
