News

Cat MineStar Fleet system at Bingham Canyon Mine

Caterpillar Inc and Wheeler Machinery recently completed installation of a Cat MineStar Fleet management system at the Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine, located just outside of Salt Lake City in Utah, USA. Rather than upgrading the mine’s previous fleet management system, Kennecott, a Rio Tinto Company, chose to deploy MineStar Fleet. This has optimised the mine site’s equipment tracking, production recording, material management and truck assignment, and it has further expanded the technology relationship between Caterpillar and Rio Tinto.

Even though it wasn’t the easiest route for the mine, the cost-benefit analysis showed significant benefits long-term using MineStar Fleet, including seamless integration with MineStar Terrain currently used by the mine. An incremental approach was devised to minimise the system installation loss-time impact on mining operations for bringing nearly 100 trucks plus more than 40 supporting dozers, shovels and drills online with MineStar Fleet. Caterpillar and Wheeler worked together to provide a quick turn-around time with best-in-class implementation.

Cat MineStar Fleet automatically records and tracks data up and down a mine’s value chain, providing insights that help miners identify what is working and fix what is not to meet production targets. Fleet allows miners to view the entire operation at a glance on a computer and gain insights into key cost drivers – such as fuel, tyres, service parts, and idle time – and improve haul fleet production and shovel utilisation.

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