#MemberSpotlight

Amira Global is celebrating its Members, new and old. Today we shine the spotlight on Axis House.

What would you like the Amira community to know about your business?

Along with the product range that covers multiple mineral processes, Axis House’s service offering includes technical problem-solving through laboratory and field testing. The development of products, as well as the application of the products on customer sites, are an essential part of the business. Axis House’s technical department continuously works on projects that cover general mineral processing issues as well as addressing specific processing problems of customers. Axis House aims to partner with customers and address the mineral processing problems they are facing, and the continuous product development continues after the first sales are made.

What is the problem that, if solved, would make the biggest difference to our industry?

The major problem can be grouped under selective flotation of minerals, which includes the selective recovery of specific minerals of value in a particular circuit, as well as the rejection of the unwanted minerals. Specific problems would include the rejection of iron sulphides, which are the major contaminant in sulphide mineral flotation. The efficient flotation of oxide minerals could also be classed under this topic and if all of this could be achieved with safe, economical, and customised collectors and/or depressants, it would have a big impact on the industry.

What to you think are the greatest challenges to successful collaboration and how can they be overcome?

The biggest challenge would be the differences in the individual’s philosophy towards product development, and which problems to address for specific operations of the industry. Collaboration with partners in the same field or another aspect of mineral processing needs to have aligned objectives to reach a common goal.

Innovation has its origins in addressing challenges or leveraging R&D. What are your success stories?

Axis House’s R&D is driven by addressing problems at specific customer sites. The technical staff has been involved in many projects at the Axis House Metallurgical laboratory and test work in the field to develop the current reagent range. Success stories include the development of flotation collectors, which showed significant improvements in selectivity and recovery in Copper sulphide operations, specifically in Zambia. Axis House’s Oxide collector range has also been widely implemented at oxide copper operations in the DRC. More recently, the development of products for the solid-liquid separation processes are showing to be very successful. These include a highly efficient flocculant range and crud mitigation reagents for the thickener and leaching applications.

Axis House has also been successful in developing collectors that can be used as alternatives to xanthates, improving the flotation performance while reducing the overall operating costs.

Amira Global is celebrating its Members, new and old. Today we shine the spotlight on TRE Altamira, speaking with Canadian based CEO Adrian Bohane.

Q1. What would you like the Amira community to know about your business?

With 20+ years’ experience, TRE Altamira is the most experienced operator in the world of satellite InSAR technology. We provide displacement measurements and mapping solutions that are largely used to mitigate risk, optimise operations and plan future activities at many mine sites worldwide, under contracts with many mining companies including several Amira members. TRE Altamira’s brand for its InSAR solutions is known as SqueeSAR®

Q2. What is the problem that, if solved, would make the biggest difference in our industry?

Implementing a risk management and mitigation program, including the prediction of the time of failure of slope instabilities and tactical monitoring of surface deformation, is a necessary way to ensure safe and profitable mining operations. InSAR has recently joined the portfolio of trusted monitoring solutions thanks to its capability of providing very fast response products for Tailings management as well as extending the monitoring scale to the entire mine site. We offer a synoptic view of deformation trends, including magnitude, over entire sites as well as single mine asset (pit, TSF, waste dumps and piles) analyses. Deformation is detected without the need for ground instrumentation at every new satellite acquisition. InSAR is excellent to monitor over slopes and surfaces where Health & Safety concerns also limit access for conventional surveying techniques. As satellite imagery is acquired steadily, multi-temporal back analysis of long data stacks to provide millimetre scale displacement is a common practice to understand subtle acceleration patterns and small – scale phenomena. SqueeSAR® extends the capacity of satellite InSAR to provide dense point cloud measurements with time series of displacement. SqueeSAR® is highly sensitive to very slow deformations (up to mm per year) and is an effective tool to measure displacement affecting waste piles and tailings dams, using time series analysis to identify acceleration patterns.

Q3. What do you think are the greatest challenges to successful collaboration and how can they be overcome?

Monitoring is a process involving many different people, with different skills, education and expertise. High levels of safety in mining operations can be reached only if we can help people work together, providing the right tools and timely information. Apart from the identification of the most suitable data sources, geotechnical teams need easy-to-use visualization and analysis platforms, where they can run data screening procedures, integrate in-situ observations with remote sensing data and other information layers. TRE Altamira data can be seamlessly imported into the main monitoring platforms used by the mining industry. Alternatively, TREmaps® is our web platform that can be used to visualize and interrogate InSAR data. A synergistic approach, where satellite data are effectively integrated with other information sources, is the way to go for improving the level of safety by designing effective early warning systems.

Q4. Innovation has its origins in addressing challenges or leveraging R&D – what are your success stories?

Innovation has been in our DNA since the beginning of our history, first as a spin-off company of Politecnico di Milano University and then as part of an international remote sensing group. Over the last two decades, we have invested heavily in the development of new algorithms for the processing of satellite radar data, offering our clients innovative, effective and easy-to-use solutions for monitoring many different assets from space. We have been the first company offering second-generation InSAR services, based on PSInSAR and the first to develop a cloud-based visualization platform specifically designed for multi-temporal InSAR data. Lately, we have developed a new concept for providing our clients with radar displacement time series over TSF based on high-resolution SAR sensors, constantly updating the information as soon as a new satellite acquisition becomes available.

Q5. From whom do you drawn your greatest inspiration?

For sure, if we look at the history of GPS, we see a technology that started as a sophisticated satellite system for military applications which eventually became a must-have technology in our every-day life. We are convinced InSAR will follow a similar path

Amira Global is celebrating its Members, new and old. Today we shine the spotlight on Rosor, speaking with COO and Co-founder John Balatbat in Toronto, Canada.

Q1. What would you like the Amira community to know about your business?

Rosor is a Canadian geophysical data provider, formed in late Spring 2020. Our company looks to innovate the acquisition, analysis, and access of geophysical data to optimize cost, quality, and turnaround times. To date, we’ve integrated unmanned aerial systems technology in data acquisition as an alternative to existing remote sensing practices, adding value in autonomous capabilities and capacity to scale. Operating beyond visual line of sight is a nearing milestone for our company and we look forward to its application within base/precious metals exploration. With our strategic partnerships in airborne geophysics and data processing, our company will be built into a quality source of information and intelligence, providing high resolution data with accurate sourcing of actionable insights in real time.

Q2. What is the problem that, if solved, would make the biggest difference in our industry?

As part of our strategic vision, our company addresses the following concerns in geophysical data: low quality and large datasets. Low quality data can present missing pieces, inconsistent formatting, and duplications which render extracted information as useless; large datasets can be difficult to process, wasting time and resources if not processed correctly. To mitigate these concerns, our company focuses on the development of each phase: data acquisition, analysis, and access. Successfully addressing these concerns in geophysical data optimizes the quality, cost, and turnaround time of the information extracted; providing base/precious metal exploration companies with greater accuracy in identifying ore deposits.

Q3. What do you think are the greatest challenges to successful collaboration and how can they be overcome?

Cross-pollination, the alignment of multiple disciplines to achieve breakthrough results is a challenge to which Rosor undertakes. Collaboration amongst diverse specializations can lead to extraordinary discoveries, it offers different perspectives to address a market gap and fosters innovation potentially exceeding status quo. However, this process is susceptible to producing insignificant results if not managed properly. As part of our innovation strategy, field concentration and balanced selection of disciplines are implemented to mitigate decline and promote successful collaboration

Q4. Innovation has its origins in addressing challenges or leveraging R&D – what are your success stories?

Rosor’s success in research and development stems from two main sources: our team and strategic partnerships. Our team has fully integrated unmanned aerial systems technology to airborne geophysics applications, completing full scale tests to mitigate technical errors and ensure successful acquisition of geophysical data. Our company is partnered with multiple research and development organizations that leverage initiatives in developing new technologies e.g. The Centre of Excellence in Mining Innovation, and The Ontario Centre for Innovation are two organizations that support our company in research and development.

Q5. From whom do you drawn your greatest inspiration?

Our company draws inspiration from our team: their potential and drive to bring change defines Rosor’s value. Their character, dedication, and experience are the foundation of the company, our solutions are reflective of this and we look forward to demonstrating this in years to come.

Amira Global is celebrating its Members, new and old. Today we shine the spotlight on Sentient, speaking with CEO Doug Bester in Perth, Australia.

Q1. What would you like the Amira community to know about your business?

Sentient is a software development company specialising in powerful and immersive virtual reality training, 3D visualisations, process control and automation solutions for the mining and resources sectors.

We have leveraged the rich environment of the gaming industry to create virtual interactive environments for complex and challenging assets. For example, we can help you solve an issue with a value on the flare stack of an oil platform from the office using gaming technology. The result – when you arrive on site you know where the issue is and how to fix it. Our service saves time and money and eliminates risk.

Our strengths are in collaboration and innovation. If the Amira Global community is looking to try something different or experiment with the technology with which we work, we are worth considering.

Q2. What is the problem that, if solved, would make the biggest difference in our industry?

We need a different type of worker. We are automating at pace and we need a to embrace the new generation coming through who do not want – or need to be – on site. They understand digital environments and data in a way we cannot, and we can empower, impact, and motivate that workforce.

Q3. What do you think are the greatest challenges to successful collaboration and how can they be overcome?

I think the greatest challenge to innovation is risk aversion and IP (intellectual property). IP can bring innovation, sharing and collaboration to a standstill. For successful collaboration, people need to be able to work around the constraints of the T&Cs in the supply chain.

To succeed, you also need to work in an agile environment. You must be able to pivot. In fact, the best results we have had were when our client let us explore discoveries during the development process.  Innovation does not work if you must deliver what you said you would deliver. It is hard to transform the way you work if you take that approach.

Q4. Innovation has its origins in addressing challenges or leveraging R&D – what are your success stories?

We have not leveraged R&D; our innovation has come from leveraging technology from different industries. For example, taking technology from the gaming space into the resource sector.

Our success stories? We have multi-million-dollar virtual training programs with Tier 1 companies, we employ over 40 people in Perth, and we are creating an environment to upskill a new generation. We also employ people well. Our working environment is a success story, with core hours between 10am and 3pm and a workforce comprising Gen Y, Millennials, and heavy-duty gamers. Our philosophy is that by creating an organisation where people enjoy coming to work, and are passionate about what they are doing, we are able to build better products for our customers.

Q5. From whom do you drawn your greatest inspiration?

My greatest inspiration as to how Sentient has evolved is from my children and my employees. They have said ‘it’s okay you can work differently’.

I find the younger generation inspirational; my son has questioned why he should take direction from me when our generation has a poor track record on environment and economic management, diversity, and gender equity. I think it is inspirational that the younger generation challenges the status quo and are not as deferential to authority and existing work methods as I am. I try to listen to them and give them the opportunity to improve on our legacy.

Amira Global is celebrating its Members, new and old. Today we shine the spotlight on Canary Systems.

Q1. What would you like the Amira community to know about your business?

Canary Systems has provided state-of-the-art data collection and integration systems all over the world for 23+ years to allow clients to extract value from their monitoring investment and better understand and manage geotechnical risks. This includes instrumentation, system architecture, hardware and software, and our web-based data suite, MLWeb.

Q2. What is the problem that, if solved, would make the biggest difference to our industry?

The ability to remove risk is the single greatest problem that we all face in the mining industry, whether it be associated with commodity costs, the stability of a tailings facility, or simply driving around a property. While it is not rational to completely be able to remove all risk, we as an industry can work towards understanding the conditions that affect these risks, and effectively mitigate and reduce them as much as possible through collaborative efforts between operators, suppliers, and research institutions, such as what we’re all doing here through Amira.

Q3. What do you think are the greatest challenges to successful collaboration and how can they be overcome?

Working through the challenges of COVID-19 are likely the greatest obstacles we face at the moment for a successful collaboration, whether it be travelling to gather field samples, meeting face-to-face, or the economic risks during these times. Technology and creativity will be the primary way we overcome these difficulties by coming up with alternative ways to work through everchanging healthcare regulations to still allow the building of relationships between sponsors and providers and the transfer of information that is required for any collaboration to be successful.

Q4. Innovation has its origins in addressing challenges or leveraging R&D – what are your success stories?

Canary Systems as a company has always worked to bridge voids and shortcomings in the geotechnical monitoring industry. As a provider of risk management systems, we have worked day in-and-out with clients’ input to provide products and services that effectively help manage properties more safely.

Recently, on the hardware side of our business, we developed our MLGPS platform for slope stability monitoring that is designed to run in offline mode, not requiring any active network. We also have a new product called MLRemote, which is a low-power distributed logging system with a long-distance radio capable of reading and storing data from most geotechnical sensors.

A couple of years ago, we released the 3D web-based component in our MLWeb platform which allows engineers a revolutionary way to visualize integrated geotechnical data, including radars, point instrumentation, microseismicity, borehole profiles, and nearly all other data types available around a mine. We continue to push the boundary in each of our new software milestone releases, adding tools and components into this 3D platform.

Q5. From whom do you drawn your greatest inspiration?

The canary bird. The small yellow-green bird native to the Canary Islands are known for their near constant melodious song. As an early means of monitoring for gases such as carbon monoxide and methane in coal mines, miners would bring the birds underground. When they stopped singing or collapsed, miners knew it was time to vacate the area.

#MemberSpotlight

Amira Global is celebrating its Members, new and old. This week we spoke to Dr Dave Lawie at IMDEX.

Q1. What would like the Amira community to know about your business?

I often say we are one of the largest mining tech companies that no-one has heard of. IMDEX has been operating in the market for 20 years, but we are best known for our brands AMC and Reflex.

IMDEX HQ is in Perth and we are an ASX 300-company looking to move to the ASX 200. We are truly global; where there is resource exploration and development activities our products are there. Approximately 70 percent of our business is exporting, with major markets in North America, Austpac, Africa, Europe and South America. We have 20 offices and distribution points around the world, which means that during COVID-19 we have not had to fly people across borders to assist with equipment deployment and training, although we are now looking at remote support options.  In a way, the COVID-19 experience has fast tracked many of our processes.

Q2. What is the problem that, if solved, would make the biggest difference to our industry?

As our technology is used from green field to in-mine environments, we see silos in both companies and production processes. It is trite to say but breaking down silos in workflows across the mining value chain would make a very large difference. I also believe the industry does not pay enough attention to infrequent, yet large negative outcomes, such as an abandoned deep diamond hole or a blocked ore pass.  It is easier to value an increase in productivity at the low percent level than value the prevention of a financially asymmetric downside risk.  

I also believe the standardisation of data, both the type and its collection, would be transformative. It is currently extremely difficult for the mining industry to leverage AI and machine learning due to the inconsistencies in data collection.

Q3. What do you think are the greatest challenges to successful collaboration and how can they be overcome?

There needs to be an element of mutual ‘back scratching’; it has to be a winning proposition for all involved. You also need a clear IP arrangement, a good potential commercial outcome, and the parties should not overlap in their core business.  

We take our partnering seriously, looking at synergies with other organisations. It is one of the main reasons we have come back to Amira Global.

Q4. Innovation has its origins in addressing challenges or leveraging R&D – what are your success stories?

IMDEX has been very good in taking tech to the origin of data. That is, we simplified complex technologies and put them in the hands of the user, eliminating the need for specialists on site.

Twenty years ago if you wanted to measure the trajectory of a drill hole you would have needed specialists onsite. We have taken sophisticated technology, improved it out-of-sight, and developed a robust and rugged product that is simple to use that feeds information to drill companies in real-time. This is not simple to do.  For two decades now we continue to put the power of quite complex analytics into the hands of the domain specialists via ioGAS.

We are also the only company in the world to bring a web-based hub environment (IMDEX HUB-IQ) that is able to collect, aggregate and quality check data from our field sensors in real time and make it available back in Head Office, or wherever you are.   We differentiate what we do from what people traditionally understand as the IoT (trucks, shovel monitoring etc) by calling it the IoG, the Internet of Geosensing.  That is our space and what we excel at. 

Q5. From whom do you drawn your greatest inspiration?

I respect and admire those entrepreneurs and innovation start-ups who have laid it all on the line to develop a product, whether successful or not. Talk is always cheap; I admire those who take a rational risk and go and do it. 

#MemberSpotlight