The CAT Command for Dozer automation technology is MRN's new bet to bring more safety to its mining plants in the state of Pará and, with it, the operator will have more efficiency in controlling the crawler tractor

Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) started its pilot project to implement the CAT Command for Dozer automation technology in its operations bauxite mining in Oriximiná, in the state of Pará. Thus, the company highlighted last Wednesday, (25/05), that the main objective of the project is to guarantee more safety for the operators and enable a much more effective control of the bulldozer in the exploration of the ore. 

MRN's pilot project to implement automation technology in a crawler tractor starts at the bauxite mining plant in Oriximiná 

MRN announced new investments in improving the operation of bauxite mining in the state of Pará and started its pilot project to implement the CAT Command for Dozer technology at the Oriximiná plant. Thus, the company intends to guarantee more control of the crawler tractor to the worker and, with that, provide much more safety throughout the production chain of ore exploration in the company's operations. region.

CAT Command for Dozer is a technology aimed at automating the crawler tractor and allows direct integration with the electronic systems of the equipment, indicating the state and condition of the machine, completely remotely.

In addition, the tractor operator will be able to control the engine, implements, transmission, auxiliary functions and remote actuation of the fire suppressor only with remote technology. This will bring much greater control over the entire bauxite production process in the state of Pará and will also ensure greater efficiency for MRN. 

This technology also allows the operator to perform all these functions on the crawler tractor at a distance of up to 400 meters, enough to avoid any accident during ore production. MRN stated that this is the most viable way to ensure not only more safety for workers, but also greater efficiency in production, as processes will be carried out much faster with technology. Furthermore, it expects to implement this initiative in other exploration plants in the coming years.

Initial phases of the implementation of the pilot project of the CAT Command for Dozer technology in the operation of the crawler tractor is focused on training workers

MRN highlighted another benefit of installing this automation technology in addition to safety for workers in bauxite mining, the low need for state-of-the-art infrastructure. This is because the teleoperation mode can be performed through a remote control or an Operation Station and the use of the control does not require a large infrastructure on site. Thus, the company installed peripherals such as antennas on the tractor to make control even easier. 

In addition, the company is now investing in training workers to ensure safety in the operation and Igor Ribeiro, Mine Operation engineer, commented on the initial phase of the project, stating that “We chose professionals who were more experienced in tractors and who had already worked in the service fronts. The training has a workload of 120 hours and is supervised by the instructor and specialists. The training covers operators, engineers, instructors and technical managers”.

Finally, MRN announced that it intends to move on to the second phase of the technology implementation project in 2024, with the installation of a much more advanced Operations Center. Until then, it seeks to gradually invest in safety at the bauxite exploration plant.