Global mining services provider Thiess recently achieved the major milestone of safely moving more than 10 million banked cubic metres semi-autonomously since launching its fleet of six Cat® D11 dozers with the semi-autonomous tractor system (SATS) three years ago at Lake Vermont mine in Queensland.
Original equipment manufacturer Caterpillar and Cat dealer Hastings Deering also attended the celebration event onsite.
Thiess Group Executive Chair and CEO Michael Wright said: “Our strong relationships with original equipment manufacturers like Caterpillar enable Thiess to provide our clients with cutting-edge technology to meet and surpass their operational and sustainability targets.
“Thiess has one of the world’s largest active deployments of SATS technology. Since introducing this technology at Lake Vermont in 2020, we’ve seen a 10% reduction in unit cost and 25% improvement in dozer utilisation.”
The Cat® D11 dozers on site are equipped with Cat® MineStarTM Command for dozing, enabling the machine to perform repeatable processes, such as loading the blade, pushing, dumping and grade control with consistent accuracy each time.
Thiess Group Head of Autonomy and Operations Technology Trent Smith said: “Ten million banked cubic metres is equivalent in volume to 4,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools – moving this amount without an operator in the machine is a significant milestone.”
“It reflects Thiess’ ongoing commitment to linking people and technology to deliver safety and operational efficiency outcomes. With this technology, a single operator can quickly and easily control multiple dozers from the comfort and safety of a remote operating station, significantly improving production output and reducing fatigue.”
Caterpillar Senior Vice President Marc Cameron reinforced: “10 million banked cubic metres moved by Cat semi-autonomous dozers is an outstanding milestone. We are proud to collaborate with Thiess as they leverage our technology and deliver demonstrated results in productivity and cost improvement at site.”
Hastings Deering Resource Industries Business Manager Brad Scholz said: “We are excited to celebrate this milestone with our valued client, Thiess. This achievement highlights our strong relationship and commitment to delivering innovative solutions in the mining industry.”
Thiess is also implementing Cat® MineStarTM Command for dozing technology within a rehabilitation application in Queensland.
ENDS
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Issued by Thiess Pty Ltd ABN 87 010 221 486 https://thiess.com/
About us:
About Thiess
Thiess partners with its clients to deliver sustainable solutions in open cut and underground mining in Australia, Asia and the Americas. For almost 90 years, Thiess has operated across diverse commodities, geologies, environments and cultures.
As a global services provider, Thiess is uniquely placed to make a significant contribution to responsible, sustainable mining and a low-carbon future by working with our clients, suppliers and the industry to enable the global energy transition. Thiess is committed to harnessing the power of its people and technology to drive sustainable change
About Caterpillar
With 2022 sales and revenues of $59.4 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html.
About Hastings Deering (Australia) Ltd.
Headquartered in Brisbane, Hastings Deering is the market leader in construction and mining equipment, having exclusive distribution rights for the sale and rental of Caterpillar heavy equipment, parts and service support in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Solomon Islands. Employing approximately 3,000 people, Hastings Deering operates through a network of 23 business centres. www.HastingsDeering.com.au
Contact details:
Thiess: Vivian Lim, Group Manager Marketing & Communication – vlim@thiess.com +61 434 306 131
Caterpillar: Kate Kenny, Caterpillar Corporate Trade Press Relations – Kenny_kate@cat.com
Hastings Deering: Katrina Shaw, Executive Manager – Governance & Corporate Communications, kat.shaw@hastingsdeering.com.au 0438 764 211
