Ferreyros deploys first for Peru underground auto Cat LHD fleet for Volcan
A new milestone has been reached in Peruvian mining – Ferreyros, a leader in heavy machinery, along with the brand it represents, Caterpillar, and Volcan Compañía Minera, are deploying Peru’s first fleet of autonomous CAT R1600H low-profile loaders for underground mining. These machines, which have a 10.5-ton payload capacity, will begin production operations at the Romina zinc-lead-silver mining unit.
Equipped with Caterpillar’s MineStar Command for Underground technology, the units operate autonomously to haul and dump material, while loading is performed remotely – without line-of-sight – supported by an operator at a control station at the Romina operation. This autonomous solution represents the highest standard of Caterpillar technology for this model.
“The implementation of these autonomous CAT low-profile loaders, alongside our client Volcan and the manufacturer Caterpillar, marks a milestone for underground mining in Peru, setting a new standard for safety and productivity. This achievement reflects the innovative spirit of our mining industry, as well as Ferreyros’s leadership and transformative role in serving the sector,” noted Álvaro Vizcardo, Central Manager at Ferreyros.
For his part, Edgardo Zamora, Operations Manager for the Romina project at Volcan Compañía Minera, highlighted that this implementation is part of the operation’s innovation strategy. “With the deployment of this technology, we continue to advance our Mining 4.0 plan, fostering an operation that is safer, more efficient, and more sustainable,” he noted.
The adoption of this technology aligns with the development vision for the Romina Project, which utilises the sublevel stoping mining method and operates under a Mining 4.0 model based on real-time monitoring and control of production processes. This strategy enables higher levels of productivity, efficiency, and operational traceability, establishing the project as a benchmark for innovation in Peruvian underground mining.
Peru will become the only country in Latin America to operate autonomous CAT low-profile loaders using MineStar Command for Underground, joining a fleet of over 100 machines utilizing this technology across North America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa.
The system enables a single controller to manage the autonomous operation of up to three CAT loaders simultaneously. Using advanced algorithms, the technology analyzes real-time data from the machine’s cameras, radars, and sensors, alongside digital map information of the operating area. It autonomously handles the loader’s movement and turning, detects other equipment – enabling the machine to stop and resume travel – and controls bucket movement for unloading.
The solution also integrates a control center to enable remote operation, a local network for communication with the low-profile loaders, and an area isolation system to safely define their operating zones.
The equipment at the Romina operation is part of a leading fleet of low-profile CAT loaders in Peru. It is worth noting that Ferreyros is a pioneer in mining autonomy, having implemented the country’s first fleet of autonomous ultra-class mining trucks five years ago. Additionally, the company recently deployed autonomous CAT drills.
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