Becker Mining South Africa has unveiled Smartflow®, an innovative integrated platform that unifies hardware, communication, and operational data to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in mining operations worldwide.
Becker Mining South Africa has introduced Smartflow®, an advanced integrated software platform designed to unify diverse hardware systems, communication networks, and operational processes into one cohesive mine management solution. This innovat...
Continue Reading This Article
Enjoy this article as well as all of our content, including reports, news, tips and more.
By registering or signing into your SRM Today account, you agree to SRM Today's Terms of Use and consent to the processing of your personal information as described in our Privacy Policy.
ion represents a significant stride in digital transformation for the mining sector, particularly in enhancing underground and surface operational oversight through real-time data consolidation accessed via a 3D web-based interface.
The Smartflow platform’s core strength lies in its ability to merge IoT-enabled monitoring devices, safety systems, and production data to provide operators with a comprehensive and interactive view of mine activities. It tracks personnel, vehicles, energy usage, ventilation, and haulage, leveraging predictive analytics to support timely and informed decision-making. By creating a unified digital environment, the system aims to improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and enhance safety in mining environments.
A notable feature of Smartflow is its modular and interoperable design, which allows it to integrate with Becker Mining’s proprietary systems as well as certain third-party equipment. Modules span from location and tracking, collision awareness, and dispatch management to energy monitoring, ventilation control, and haulage optimisation. Each module functions independently or collectively within the platform, providing bespoke solutions tailored to specific mining conditions and operational priorities. For instance, the advanced engineering module supports mine design and future planning, making it a valuable tool for strategic development.
Incorporating sustainability and compliance with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, Smartflow includes an energy monitoring module that tracks power consumption at substations, generates efficiency reports, and supports measures to minimise waste. By controlling ventilation and haulage systems more effectively, the platform reduces unnecessary energy consumption and helps extend equipment lifespan. This focus on energy efficiency and predictive maintenance not only curbs operational costs but also contributes to the industry’s broader environmental objectives.
Worker well-being is central to the Smartflow system. Its telemetry module gathers data on equipment use and operator behaviour, detecting misuse, fatigue, and training needs. Integration with vital signs monitoring—tracking heart rate, oxygen levels, and fatigue indicators—serves to enhance worker safety by enabling rapid response to health incidents. Furthermore, the collision awareness system utilises Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology to identify personnel and vehicle locations, issuing early warnings to prevent accidents.
Emergency preparedness is strengthened through modules such as the Missing Person Locator, now enhanced for rapid underground emergency response. This system provides precise personnel tracking, historical data traceability, and automated evacuation protocols, features critical for improving safety standards in both surface and underground settings. This augmentation forms part of the broader Smartflow ecosystem, which includes evacuation management, bi-directional alarm notifications, access control, and RFID-based traceability for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), thereby improving compliance and asset management.
Connectivity within challenging underground environments is maintained by the Smart Edge network monitoring system. This ensures reliable high-bandwidth fibre links with redundancy, supporting integration with CCTV, Wi-Fi access points, and other smart devices essential for cohesive mine management.
Becker Mining provides customised solutions addressing energy, automation, communication, transportation, and infrastructure technologies adapted to the specific needs of mining operations. The company emphasises quality, safety, and comprehensive support services across Africa, offering technical advisory, repair, testing, and training facilities to maximise operational efficiency and worker safety. Products include intrinsically safe electrical reticulation equipment, fluid transfer systems, rigging solutions, steel arch tunnel supports, and chairlifts, all designed with future upgrades in mind.
Smartflow is currently operational at various underground and surface mining sites worldwide, with ongoing development aimed at expanding module offerings and deepening ESG-related capabilities. By integrating cutting-edge digital tools and safety features, Becker Mining’s platform underlines the mining industry’s shift towards sustainable, energy-efficient, and worker-focused practices, setting new benchmarks for mine management in the digital age.
Source: Noah Wire Services
