FERREXPO
“ We broke the project into two phases , the first is six trucks , the second is nine . We ’ re holding off the deployment of the further nine until we ’ ve operated the six for a significant period ,” he said . “ Transitioning from a manned operation to autonomous is not just a case of buying the technology , bolting it onto the truck and letting them go . It ’ s about learning to live with autonomy . The computer doesn ’ t have any judgement – it will only do what you tell it to do .”
Productivity is very important , and using robotics is going to play an increasingly key role . Jim says Ferrexpo is thinking about implementing robotics in its future mining labs .
“ As we expand our business , we need to add lab and analysis capacity ,
RISING TO EMISSIONS CHALLENGES
Currently , global steel production accounts for 7 % of global carbon emissions , representing more than all of the emissions from the world ’ s cars put together
• Ferrexpo ’ s iron ore pellets reduce carbon emissions by 40 % for every tonne of sinter fines replaced with pellets
• Ferrexpo has invested over US $ 2.9 billion in its operations in Ukraine since its IPO in 2007
• It invested $ 17 million in environmental projects in 2020 and robotics is well advanced in these areas .”
With pellets firing at 1,400 degrees , AI is also being courted to measure variability in off-gases to manage process variation .
“ That will be a significant advantage for us in future . AI can manage more variables than a traditional control room operator .”
He doesn ’ t envisage that jobs will go in the new digital age , more that skills will evolve .
“ A good example of this is we employ 12 surveyors who are ‘ autonomous road builders ’ mapping the routes – that ’ s a role that didn ’ t exist before autonomy . We also have more network engineers in our business now to manage the communication networks – and if you ’ d said to me 10 years ago we ’ d have a team of drone pilots today , I wouldn ’ t have believed you .”
“ I changed the leadership development programme , which was largely focused on hard skills , and now there ’ s a greater focus on cultural change ”
JIM NORTH CEO , FERREXPO aimagazine . com 145