MacLean, a Collingwood-based underground mining equipment manufacturer, announced a new collaboration with Bell this week with the installation of a new private network at the Sudbury MacLean research and training facility.
The Bell Private Mobile Network will help improve communication at the research and training facility between mining vehicles, monitoring stations, and above-ground remote operators.
The network removes the lag that can sometimes come from operating a machine via a remote location far from the equipment. MacLean could use this technology toward the deployment of semi- or fully autonomous mining vehicles.
This means underground excavations could be done by operators who are safely above ground.
"What we're doing here at our research and training facility is quite literally building the mine of the future, now, leveraging Bell's leading-edge mobile network technology, so that we can accelerate the industry transition to mining in a way that maximizes the benefits from emerging automation and digitalization technologies," said David Jacques, vice-president of engineering at MacLean.
From its headquarters in Collingwood, MacLean designs, manufactures and supports engineered solutions across the mining, municipal, and waste management sectors. It also has its international distribution centre on Bayview Drive in south-end Barrie.
The company's mining division builds a comprehensive line of mobile equipment in the ground support, ore flow, and utility vehicle product categories.
The company celebrated its 50th year in business in 2023 and now has a continental manufacturing platform in North America, along with service and support branches across Canada as well as a global network of manufacturing facilities and branches in the United States, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and Australia.
For more information, visit the MacLean website by clicking here.
