KGHM Polska Miedź: Hundreds attended the 3rd International Copper Ore Mining Congress in Lublin

Innovation, cutting edge technology and advanced mine dimension – this is the image of copper mining presented during the 3rd International Copper Ore Mining Congress in Lublin, which between 16 and 18 September attended more than four hundred of practitioners and scientists – the recognized authorities in this sector.

LUBLIN, 23-9-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — The times, in which mining was perceived for the most in context of hard and physical work, have definitely ended. Today, the future of this key global economy sector depends primarily on the intellectual efforts. This is proved both by the successes of the global mining technique and technology presented on the recognized and popular exhibition as well as the leitmotivs of the lectures and presentations made during the two plenary sessions and fifteen thematic sessions.

– More than eighty lectures and presentations were submitted to the Congress, from among of which we have chosen seventy six – informs professor Monika Hardygóra, Head of the Programme Council. – We observe a noticeable change of topics comparing to the congress held three years ago. The focus is on automation, data transmission, application of 3D Canning and analysis of interdisciplinary wide data stream for optimum production management.

The progress rate in the mining technology has been emphasized by Paweł Markowski, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Congress.

– If five years ago someone said that introduction of machines controlled remotely from the surface to the underground mining is possible within such a short period of time – I wouldn’t believe that –  admits Paweł Markowski. – Today, such machines are already operating, however not in our mines. This means that we should make projections on the future based on our needs and far-reaching vision of their delivery rather than our beliefs on what is and what is not possible.  

The two key determinants of the progress direction in copper ore mining are safety and economy. The meeting point of the requirements in these areas is the smart mine.

– At the moment I prefer the term of smart production – says Herbert Wirth, President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and honorary patron of the Congress.  – In the near future, we aim at recalling the human resources from the most risky and dangerous parts of the mine and forming their skills and competences in a way enabling them successful managing the effective and efficient production at the depths exceeding 1200 m. Our focus is also on acquiring innovative and smart solutions from science and industry.  

These include the solutions effecting in self-learning machines adjusting their operations to the results of analysis of data collected by the machines themselves. Today, KGHM is the most advanced company in the Word in the area of delivery of the design of hard rock longwall mining automatic set. This, commonly called longwall cutting machine, has no operator cabin and is controlled from the distance of several hundred meters. The focus is not on controlling the machine from the surface, but its designing and constructing in a way enabling determination of deposit and selection of adequate operation by the machine itself. The machine will determine the number or rotations and pressure force of the operating part, spoil collection width, etc. It will notify on the quantity of processed ore and copper content in the spoil, not to mention adjustment of irregularities identified in the course of operation or warning on failure risk. Such ‘early warning’ systems have been currently present in many machines, also in the KGHM mines.

The change in perception of mining technique was noticed by Andrzej Kowal, Commissioner for exhibition of mining machines, devices and equipment.

– The exhibition was extremely popular, in particular among the youth, for the most from secondary upper schools and high schools. More than one thousand of students Saw the mining equipment presented by the largest global producers – lists Andrzej Kowal. –Not such a long time ago, the focus was for the most on the size of the machines, but today the most surprising thing is almost a cosmic interior of the operator’s cabin. In the opinion of the visitors, it resembles the cockpit of jumbo jet rather than of an advanced sports car.

Traditionally, in the course of the International Copper Ore Mining Congress, the Best technical solutions and lectures are awarded with the Gold Medals and additional prizes in several categories. The choice wasn’t easy since comparing to the previous Congress held in 2012, the number of exhibitors (21 in 2012 comparing to current 32) as well as presented lectures and presentations increased by more than a half.

The list of award winners is presented both to honour the laureates and to demonstrate the winning solutions.

Category Best Presentation

Gold Medal

Artur Adamek,  SKALA 3D;  Tomasz Lipiecki,  AGH University of Science and Technology

Development of the new methodology for monitoring the technical condition of mining shafts with the use of mobile laser scanning technology

Prizes

Maciej Madziarz,   KGHM Cuprum Sp. z o.o., Research and Development Center

Improvement of the excavation rockbolt support monitoring method in the conditions of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. mines

Marcin Szumny,  Wojciech Ostiadel   Orica Poland Sp. z o.o.

New solutions in rock shooting in the underground ore mines.

Category Special award of the President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź SA for the best lecture presented by the employee of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

Leszek Borkowski KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mining Plant Division

Analysis of interdisciplinary production data the way to the modern mining plant management

Category  Innovative Product 2015

Gold Medal

Mine Master Sp. z o.o.

Face Master 1.7 L self-propelled drilling machine with FGS drilling support system

Prizes

INOVA Centrum Innowacji Technicznych Sp. z .o.o.

SmartBox self-propelled mining equipment operation recorder

ARCHIMEDES  Sp. z o.o.

ROSTA engine supports

Category   Best exhibition stand

Gold Medal

Atlas Copco Polska Sp. z o.o.

Prizes

KGHM ZANAM S.A.

Mine Master Sp. z o.o.
The 3^rd International Copper Ore Mining Congress in Lubin was organized by the Association of Mining Engineers and Technicians District Office in Lubin and Employers’ Organization of Polska Miedź. The Congress was held under the honorary patronage of Herbert Wirth, President of the Management Board of KGHM  Polska  Miedź S.A.

SOURCE: KGHM