ABB has established a strategic partnership with Point Laz, a leading developer of mine shaft monitoring technologies, in a joint effort to support and improve the safety and operational efficiency of underground mining operations. The two companies will explore an integrated service offering which incorporates Point Laz’s Lazaruss solution into ABB’s mine hoist portfolio.
Under the agreement, ABB intends to integrate the Lazaruss
3D scanner into its updated ABB Ability Smart Hoisting solution 4.0, a scalable digital suite of applications designed to support mine hoist optimisation services for enhanced operational performance and reliability. The 3D scanner solution is expected to be available to customers as part of the ABB portfolio, either as a standalone service or to be part of ABB Care service agreement plan.
Point Laz’s 3D scanner technology is designed to optimise shaft maintenance, standardise inspections to meet the highest international benchmarks, and significantly reduce mine shaft downtime.
Mine hoist inspections have long relied upon manual data collection processes. Beyond the health and safety risks posed to mine shaft inspectors when completing these checks, ABB argues that manual data collection can leave room for intermittent issues to remain undetected or surface only once they have escalated. Additionally, the labour-intensive nature of manual data processing diverts subject matter experts’ attention from strategic performance management tasks, impeding operational efficiency and delaying proactive measures.
As part of the ABB Ability Smart Hoisting solution, the Lazaruss 3D scanner will help customers to complete mine hoist inspections in a safe environment, where the technology generates a digital copy of the shaft and provides a remote visualisation tool enabling automated mine shaft inspections. It will also provide information through regular scans that may support earlier identification of potential issues, enabling customers to take proactive action.
“We have made it our mission to drive performance standards and improve safety within the mining industry,” said Alexandre Grenier, CEO, Point Laz. “Combining our technology with ABB’s solutions and expertise contributes to safer mining environments and improved operational efficiency.”
“The new features adding on to our ABB Ability Smart Hoisting solution provide a significant advancement in ABB’s offering, bringing important benefits to the industry,” said John Manuell, Global Business Unit Manager for Hoisting at ABB. “With the addition of the Lazaruss 3D scanner to our portfolio, we will be able to offer a new, innovative way for mining customers to continuously and proactively identify shaft issues, addressing any concerns before they escalate.”
ABB says it draws on its history of more than 135 years’ experience in mining to develop solutions for the industry leading to a more productive and sustainable future. “In hoisting, ABB boasts extensive expertise in the design and manufacturing of both mechanical and electrical systems tailored to diverse hoist types, designed to align with customer specifications and regulatory requirements.”
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