Please provide an update on Hexagon’s operations?

Hexagon offers integrated solutions for all mining areas, such as planning, operations, safety, monitoring, and smart centers. Hexagon’s safety portfolio, which includes a collision avoidance system, fatigue and distraction monitoring, vehicle intervention, and teleoperation solutions, covers more than 85% of the market share worldwide. The market for our safety solutions is strong in Brazil. The major mining companies in Brazil are our clients, and over 6,000 pieces of equipment use our collision avoidance technology.   

Hexagon recently acquired HARD-LINE, a Canadian automation and remote-control technology company, which strengthens our life-of-mine technology stack providing the solutions that will support completely autonomous mine operations, complementing Hexagon’s fleet management technology by allowing the tele-remote operation of heavy machinery.  In terms of collision avoidance systems, our Vehicle Intervention System (VIS) offers level nine protection by stopping the vehicle if the operator doesn’t take action in time to avoid a collision.  This technology will be present in mines of two major Brazilian mining companies by the end of the year.  Some mining services suppliers for tailings dams decommissioning are already using vehicle intervention and remote operations.

We collect data and have AI solutions to interpret it. We also offer the tools that operations need to handle high-level data, which improves mine safety by allowing them to take data-based approaches to implementing changes in their planning and operations. 

In the journey from semi-autonomous to fully autonomous, we partnered with U&M, a major Brazilian contractor, to deploy an Autonomous Haulage System (AHS). By retrofitting their trucks with our drive-by-wire solutions, we are not only making the trucks autonomous, we are also enabling U&M to be more sustainable by using machinery that they already have and extending the life of the machines. 

What are the benefits of Hexagon’s collision avoidance systems?

Our Collision Avoidance System (CAS) offers 360-degree operator awareness via a single, non-intrusive cabin display. This provides operators with a complete suite of sensors, software and hardware that generates seamless integrated data. As our CAS is OEM agnostic, our solutions can be installed on a mine’s pre-existing equipment. Rather than having multiple computers, displays, antennas, and GNSS, we provide an integrated sensor ecosystem that optimizes data in a single platform. This minimizes the amount of maintenance needed and, therefore, the downtime. 

Hexagon also offers a solution that helps combat fatigue and distraction. Our Operator Alertness System (OAS) empowers operators to maintain the level of attention necessary to stay safe during mining operations and allows intervention if necessary.

How does Hexagon support tailings dam safety?

Hexagon offers geotechnical monitoring for tailings dams. 
We are looking to expand our offerings in tailings management. Government requirements prohibit workers from entering risk areas, so increasing the autonomous equipment used in those areas is essential.

How important is Brazil as a market for Hexagon?

Worldwide, Hexagon has experienced year-to-year growth of more than 35% in the last four years. Brazil is a key market in Hexagon’s operations, making up 30% of our Latin American revenue, second only to Chile’s 32%.  

Brazil can be challenging in terms of Wi-Fi and network connectivity, so we partner directly with providers to offer an integrated SAS solution. For instance, our smart antenna can seamlessly adapt to different network suppliers such as Wi-Fi, LTE and peer to peer communication. 

What are your primary goals for the next 24 months?

We have two main market demands. The first is providing an integrated solution for safety, and the second is tailings dams decommissioning (TDD).

To address the first demand, we are going to integrate fatigue, fleet management, and collision avoidance systems in a single platform.
For the second, we are providing a unique solution which includes state of the art products such as teleoperate, 3D mapping, CAS, task management, fleet management, network coverage, and total monitoring for slope stability, as well as potential autonomous operations that will increase productivity through increased truck speed and autonomous dozer activity. 

Our priority is developing our solutions and bringing our clients to a higher level of autonomy, which improves safety and productivity in their mines. We are focused on connecting the life-of-mine journey in Brazil, a country that is open to innovation. They appreciate the challenge, which is why Brazil’s DNA and Hexagon’s DNA match. We’re dedicated to bringing effective solutions to both the companies and the country.