The big data analysis services will seek to make use of the global network of physical objects and machines embedded with electronics, software, sensors and connectivity, commonly referred to as the “internet of things” (IoT).
The companies have been making use of this data for some time, with GE constantly monitoring critical equipment such as aircraft engines and gas turbines, and Komatsu keeping track of the position and status of its mining and construction machinery using its Komtrax offerings.
Extending the data analysis to mining industry customers is expected to help boost productivity and efficiency onsite, applying to things such as optimal truck routes and positioning and speed and braking requirements based on terrain and site conditions.
“We want to start offering data analysis services to mining and resources companies in the near future, including iron ore and coal mines in Australia as well as other mining regions,” Komatsu Australia managing director Sean Taylor said.
“With the current downward pressures on commodity prices, mining companies are looking for innovative ways to reduce their operating and running costs, while optimising productivity and machine performance.
“Over the past 90 years, our approach to engineering has delivered a range of breakthrough technologies and this latest collaboration between Komatsu and GE will bring breakthrough benefits to the mining sector as a whole.”
The partnership follows an earlier agreement between the two companies, which created a joint venture called Komatsu GE Mining Systems in February last year to develop a new generation of underground mining equipment.
Under the latest development in its relationship with GE, Komatsu will send operational data collected from sensors attached to its mining dump trucks to a GE data centre in the US, making use of the latter party’s big data analysis capabilities.
GE’s analysis of the data could help Komatsu more than double the fuel efficiency of its trucks.
“Existing data analysis capabilities already available through Komatsu allow fuel efficiency to be improved by 5% through more efficient truck scheduling and haul road management,” Taylor said.
“Now by harnessing IoT technology, combined with GE’s big data analysis capabilities, we can lift that figure to significantly greater than 10%, potentially saving millions of dollars a year per mine in fuel and other costs.
“There will also be flow-on benefits in terms of optimising production, reducing equipment wear and tear, and maximising machine uptime.
“By giving our mining customers access to such detailed operating information, Komatsu and GE together will provide opportunities for customers to reduce fuel and power usage, as well as optimising shipments between mines and ports.
“We believe we can also help lower costs by reducing the stockpile volumes and holding times.”
Komatsu is not the only mining vehicle manufacturer looking to embrace and utilise big data, with Caterpillar also pursuing its own partnership and business offering.
Cat bought a stake in Illinois technology start-up Uptake in March to boost its data and software service offerings.
The technology and predictive analytics agreement between the two companies seeks to capitalise on Uptake’s dynamic analytics and insight platform, which it provides for a wide array of industries.
In order to further advance its interests in big data, Cat has now formed an analytics and innovation division to be led by the company’s vice president Greg Folley.
According to the equipment manufacturer, the division will bring together the people and resources to foster a culture with innovation as its focus, forming an analytics ecosystem which will also manage the relationship with Uptake.
Caterpillar employees will be co-located with the Uptake team in Chicago to accelerate the work needed to create a platform that takes big data and turns it into digestible information for customers.
Money has also been seeded into a venture capital fund to invest in emerging technologies to further enhance product development in the sector.
“A huge opportunity for competitive advantage lies in the analytics and innovation space, and we have a unique opportunity to connect data from the broadest product line that cuts across multiple industries,” Caterpillar group president customer and dealer support division Rob Charter said.
“We can transform the mountains of incoming data – from a single machine or engine, an entire job site, the supply chain, a shipping location and much more – into valuable information for our customers and suppliers more efficiently and effectively than anyone else.”
