The future of mining is digital

The aim of predictive maintenance is to provide employees with the information they need to monitor all production-critical systems in such a way that malfunctions can be predicted and measures planned. While all maintenance processes from the past are fed into a central IT system, sensors detect the actual status of the machines. Algorithms for pattern recognition are generated from the combination of both, on the basis of which malfunctions can be reliably avoided.

Virtual Reality (VR) stands for the goal of making it possible to experience a reality that does not even exist. In maintenance, VR is used to carry out training on machines that do not have to be taken out of production - or to train while the machine is still being built. All you need is a laptop, 3D glasses and a motion sensor with which you can not only see the VR environment, but also interact with it.

With the aid of a hand-held scanner, the maintenance technician is able to record the 3D dimensions of machine parts to be replaced. This makes it easier to reproduce parts that must fit perfectly and of which there are no technical drawings. The big advantage: Downtimes are reduced because the previously often necessary, often time-consuming reworking of spare parts is no longer necessary.

How can digital applications help with shift change? Or: How can the underground material extraction process be integrated into the maintenance app? These are just two of the many questions that arise in everyday digital maintenance. The best answers come from daily work. This is why users from different sites meet in regular workshops to develop practical solutions.