Komatsu, a global mining equipment and technology provider, and Vale, one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore and nickel, are working together ‘to advance the future of underground hard-rock excavation’ by collaborating to optimise use of Komatsu’s DynaCut mechanical cutting technology.

The companies will start trialling DynaCut’s capabilities on Komatsu’s new MC51 machine at Vale’s Garson Mine in Sudbury, Ontario (Canada), working together to increase the pace at which the technology will be available to the larger market.

Through more than 10 years of research and development, Komatsu has determined how to break rock continuously and precisely through a fully electric system that outputs zero emissions.

By automating and controlling processes so the machine can be operated remotely via line of site, Komatsu customers have the opportunity to move their operators further from the cutting face and from harm’s way by leveraging DynaCut technology and the MC51 machine.

Rudie Boshoff, Komatsu’s director of hard-rock cutting systems, said: “We are excited to be trialling this new machine and technology because it offers the potential to really change the way our customers mine.

“Not only does the DynaCut technology provide a very controllable way of cutting rock — within 50mm accuracy to plan — the machine is designed to advance more sustainable mining methods by reducing the amount of equipment required to get to the ore body.”