Case Studies
CASE YARA FINLAND: CAN#VAS KOLIBRIO
– 4 MONTHS FROM IDEA TO PRODUCTION
AGILE FIT-FOR-PURPOSE SOLUTION CREATION
Yara Finland presented Millisecond team with a typical challenge in mining – and was positively surprised: “We were happy to see that with the help of an innovative team it was possible to get concrete solutions to our specific problem very quickly and efficiently without having to invest in a massive project that cost millions”, explains Sakari Mononen, Mine Manager at Yara Siilinjärvi mine.
Millisecond´s Matti Volotinen says: “We were offered the opportunity to look into something that had been bothering Yara for quite a while, and to come up with a solution. The task given was to replace the current manual transfer of the drill data via USB sticks with an automated wireless transfer solution. We were told that if we would be able to create a solution for both of the drill rigs in use: Sandvik and Atlas Copco, it would remarkably simplify the existing procedures, improve quality and boost efficiency in the daily operations.
Within a few weeks a development project kick-off meeting with relevant specialists from both teams to make a thorough assessment of the task at hand was arranged. Millisecond jumped right in and started scoping alternative solutions. A Proof of Concept was finalized in just over two months, after which a few testing sessions were executed. The pilot and delivery agreement was signed, and the system was up and running only four months after the first meeting. The end result of the project was a working solution for the customer’s problem: A new product called CAN#VAS Kolibri/o. Today several additional mines benefit from the solution.
THE MILLISECOND FORMULA
“A key element in our philosophy is to approach our mining customers in a “down-to-earth way”, says Matti Volotinen. “We are not mining specialists so our aim is to truly listen to our customers’ needs to understand their daily operational requirements and key challenges. Our goal is to pinpoint the processes that create problems or (operational) inefficiencies and come up with agile and innovative solutions with the help of modern technology and digitalization. These solutions do not have to be overly complex or expensive. Transparency in collaboration results in products that are truly fit-for-purpose and meet customer requirements to the point.”
According to Yara’s Sakari Mononen, the project went surprisingly smoothly. “Millisecond worked in a humble manner and really listened to us, collaborating seamlessly with both us and with our mining operator E. Hartikainen Oy. The on-site testing of the Millisecond’s solution in cooperation with us was a key element of the process and really highlighted the vendor’s professionalism” Sakari continues. “I’m really pleased with how Millisecond handled it. This way customers are directly involved in product development and can make sure that it will really meet the needs. We hope to have the opportunity to work with Millisecond also in the future”, Sakari concludes.
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CAN#VAS hooks into differnet vehicles and machinery in the various phases of the mining process and integrates the data on specific Millisecond Data Integration Platform, a cloud based integration and processing layer to merge all relevant signals from the field and join those to become meaningful indicators of process fluency.
CASE 2: CAN#VAS DIGITALIZING UNDERGROUND MINING
Discussions with a Finnish underground mining operator made it clear that the field is ripe for digitalization opportunities. Big vehicle fleet operating underground, invisible to management with expensive equipment and labor-heavy operations are mostly managed in a very traditional way. Millisecond digital device seemed like a natural fit for hauling trucks. The underground conditions presented special requirements regarding fault tolerance and connectivity which were quite easily solved by CAN#VAS. Hooking the hauling trucks to the system presented interested data that helped optimizing the process, e.g. the utilization rate, speed, efficiency and cycle rotation of the vehicles. In addition to logistical data we also took a look at the drilling systems and their data. Major vendors in the mining industry already have solutions for gathering data but left un-analyzed the data has low value. Motivated by this untapped potential we began to prepare our data model to support these external data sources. This is now supported by Millisecond Data Integration Platform – cloud based, highly scalable, flexible and agile set of integration and processing tools for analyzing data from multiple sources.
More data points were identified as we gained better understanding of the full operational cycle. Millisecond automation processes include extracting loading figures from scales and associating them with the respective vehicles as well as the accurate measurement of hauled tons. Aiming to cover the process end to end gives us the feeling that we have only scratched the surface of mining and drilling digitalization. The promising results of these first steps are an excellent prove of the value of our solution. The generated operational efficiency and cost-savings are mind-blowing.
TURN THE LIGHTS ON
Not sure what is going on in your underground mines? Curious or worried about the efficiency of your fleet and equipment investment? CAN#VAS for Mining is a one-stop-solution that turns the lights on inside the mine and delivers relevant reports and signals for efficient operations.No need for you to tackle the buzz around Internet of Things, Industrial Internet, Digitalization and whatelse. Name your KPIs and we’ll ensure that you have your gauges to run the show – without any hassle.
CASE 3: CAN#VAS FLOW IN SMART TRAFFIC
Millisecond CAN#VAS has also been implemented in several other interesting pilot cases in the areas of smart traffic and harbours:
HIGH CAPACITY TRANSPORT (HTC) PILOT
Millisecond CAN#VAS Flow data collection system is installed to an extra long extra heavy payload (33m/90t) transportation HCT truck in Finland. CAN#VAS Flow connected to the CAN bus of the truck is capable providing detailed valuable data from the truck e.g. actual payload per axels, location, speed, outside temperature etc. Data can be monitored in a real time on the dashboard supplied by Millisecond.
CENTRIA BILINE EU PROGRAM IN KOKKOLA HARBOUR FINLAND
Another CAN#VAS Flow pilot implementation is ongoing with the Centria Biline EU program in Kokkola Finland.
