Industrial Computer Hardware


Improving mining efficiency with wireless telemetry

February 2025 Industrial Computer Hardware

Wireless telemetry systems are a valuable tool in the mining industry to facilitate automation, data collection, communication, and remote monitoring and control in challenging environments. This is increasingly important as mine operators struggle to keep up with soaring operating and maintenance costs and declining ore quality, which are drastically reducing industry-wide efficiency. Ian Loudon, international marketing manager at wireless telemetry specialist, Omniflex explains how wireless telemetry systems can automate water pump monitoring and control in the mining sector.

Telemetry systems can be used in mining environments to provide continuous monitoring and real-time transmission of critical parameters such as temperature, humidity and gas levels, and resource extraction metrics. They also allow mine operators to track worker locations and monitor hazardous environment conditions, like toxic gases or unstable ground levels to enhance safety protocols.

Furthermore, these systems are increasingly important from an environmental compliance perspective. For example, they can monitor factors such as dust levels, groundwater contamination and noise pollution to ensure adherence to regulatory standards set by South Africa’s Department of Water Affairs or the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

By staying up to date with all the relevant regulations set by these bodies and more, mine operators can ensure they remain compliant, safe and environmentally responsible. Failure to do so can lead to expensive fines and costly disruptions to operations.


Managing district mines

Regulations set by South Africa’s Department of Water Affairs are particularly important for the nation’s district mines, which are generally located in remote, arid areas and rely on pumps at boreholes to draw groundwater and supply on-site water tanks. District mine operators are often limited on the amount of hours a day they can pump water as the resource must be carefully managed to allow the ground water sufficient recovery time in-between uses.

Another common challenge in these environments is that mines often experience power outages due to the damage of power lines or scheduled loadshedding from the national grid. This means that all equipment must be robust and come with contingency plans in case of an outage.

Another issue in these environments is that operators typically rely on aging infrastructure and outdated equipment, leading to higher operating and maintenance costs, making regulatory compliance more difficult to manage. These problems combined mean that mine operators are now increasingly on the hunt for ways to improve on-site efficiency and increase profitability.


Automating borehole pump management

We recently delivered a project to a large district mine in South Africa where we were tasked with automating the borehole pump management system, based on the monitored tank levels. This meant that whenever the tank level got low, the borehole pump would automatically switch on, and once tank levels reached acceptable levels switch itself back off.

We provided the mine with a Teleterm M3 module in a box, installed at the water tank. The module was DC-powered, and monitored water levels from sensors located inside the tank. These sensors communicated wirelessly with the module placed at the borehole. We provided an Ethernet connection from the M3 to the mine’s scada system, enabling operators to monitor and control the system from the central room and read all relevant system data from there.

This enhanced oversight was particularly beneficial in terms of data reporting and resource allocation, also improving compliance with Department of Water Affairs’ regulations.

The module supplied for the borehole site was one of our Teleterm D3s. This device features a built-in display showing the water tank level, giving engineers at the borehole an accurate indication of system readings. This meant operators could trust that the borehole pump was automatically switching on and off as intended. The D3 is AC-powered, offering built-in battery backups, and in the event of a power failure, can report using the wireless link.

Omniflex has over 60 years experience in providing telemetry solutions for mining operations globally, and is well placed to assist with any challenge you face with the collection and management key operational data.


Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Omniflex through the decades
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists News
As Omniflex celebrates 60 years of engineering excellence, we take a look back at the decade that saw us really kick in and deliver major engineering projects – the 1970s.

Read more...
Remote monitoring in remote and harsh environments
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
For power grids, water supply networks and many industrial facilities, managing infrastructure in remote locations is a significant challenge. Omniflex discusses the requirements for remote monitoring equipment deployed in remote and harsh environments, and shares an example from the company’s work with a South African electricity supply company.

Read more...
Plant to control room visibility
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
When Sasol’s Secunda power plant in South Africa was looking for ways to improve productivity and maintenance responsiveness, it approached remote monitoring experts, Omniflex for real-time monitoring of its electrostatic precipitators across 17 substations.

Read more...
Upgrading Australia’s first switch-mode CP installation
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
Omniflex has completed a system upgrade for the switch-mode cathodic protection system installation protecting a premium residential precinct in Melbourne, upgrading its remote monitoring with 4G connectivity

Read more...
Novel closed-loop CP technology wins innovation award
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
Researchers at Deakin University have won the Corrosion Innovation of the Year Award at this year’s AMPP Annual Conference and Expo in Nashville, USA. The award recognised the development of a novel closed-loop cathodic protection system for localised corrosion control in challenging industrial environments, which Omniflex helped with as a technology partner.

Read more...
Improved networking technology for fire and gas detection
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Critical alarm and event management technology supplier, Omniflex has worked with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation to upgrade equipment providing digital and analogue signals for its safety critical fire and gas alarm systems.

Read more...
Novel closed-loop CP technology for corrosion control
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
Cathodic protection specialist, Omniflex has collaborated with researchers at Deakin University to develop corrosion monitoring electronics for a novel closed-loop cathodic protection system for localised corrosion control in challenging industrial environments.

Read more...
How industrial network design impacts ESG commitments
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
In safety-critical industries like nuclear, petrochemical and oil and gas, installing a new industrial cable network is an extremely complicated task. Gary Bradshaw, a director of industrial network specialist, Omniflex explains why this is often unnecessary as plants are likely to have existing cabling capable of being used to create new industrial networks.

Read more...
How CP system design can support ESG commitments
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Industrial Wireless
Major infrastructure like wharves, bridges, pipelines and tanks are under constant threat of corrosion, which can render them unsafe. David Celine, managing director of cathodic protection specialist, Omniflex explains how CP system design can support ESG commitments while simultaneously lowering costs and improving maintenance capabilities.

Read more...
BVS camera and ident sensor
Industrial Computer Hardware
The Balluff BVS Smart Camera and Ident Sensor delivers high-performance machine vision for industrial automation. It provides precise object detection, barcode reading and quality inspection in real time.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved