WHAT GOING DEEPER MEANS

As mining moves deeper underground to access new deposits, operations are becoming more complex. Underground depths introduce greater challenges around energy efficiency, thermal management, safety, and system reliability. Yet this evolution also presents opportunity.

In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott speaks to John Manuell, Global Business Unit Manager for Hoisting, Process Industries division, ABB. They discuss how depth changes the rules of engineering, what this means for energy and system design, and why technologies such as electrification, integrated power systems and automation are becoming essential to maintaining safe, consistent, and efficient operations underground. We also hear from Gary Poxleitner, Mining Engineer at SRK on what going deeper means in practice: the operational challenges, and how mines are adapting their systems to work reliably and safely at greater depths.

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Remote industrial operations – beyond distance

Many industrial facilities like mines, wind farms or marine vessels are located in remote areas. Operating far from other infrastructure has its challenges, such as dealing with harsh weather conditions and ensuring that a qualified workforce is available at the right spot and time.

Remote, however, doesn’t always mean far away: crane operators at container terminals can work from a control room rather than high up in a crane, and in mines, blasting can be managed from a safe distance.

How can automation and digital technologies help address challenges in industrial sites that are hard to reach? And how can technology enhance safety and even open up opportunities for a more diverse workforce?