ACTIVEMINE producer Active Control Technologies has unveiled a partner certification program for its communications and tracking system to ensure network compatibility and continued compliance with US federal mandates.

Courtesy Active Control Technologies.

“Because ActiveMine is the first fully wireless broadband IP network for mines, a growing number of application providers recognise the advantages it offers in providing their technologies to mining customers,” said the company.

“By harnessing their applications to ActiveMine’s open-standards network, they no longer need to install another proprietary hard-wired network, at significant additional cost.”

Because operators will opt to add more operational efficiencies to its infrastructure, such as other data and video devices, the company said its aim is to keep federally regulated and all other applications working as intended and not negatively impact one another.

“No longer do multiple, separate networks have to be installed for voice, data, video, [carbon-monoxide] monitoring and belt monitoring,” said ACT president Steve Barrett.

“With ActiveMine, operators can install a single, robust wireless network to support all applications, and be fully confident they will operate compatibly,” Barett said, adding that with the ActiveMine system and its partners’ programs, mines can now use off-the-shelf Wi-Fi equipment.

The company also said that as products and applications to be used with ActiveMine will be tested rigorously, the system will provide significant financial and operational monitoring benefits for mines choosing to install it.

“We know from our customers that if you can monitor it, you can manage it,” Barrett said. “On the flip side, if you can’t measure it, then it is nearly impossible to manage.

“Our goal is to help mine operators move to a new level of operational efficiency by enabling rapid and easy adoption of new applications.”

Last month, just after ActiveMine received its federal approval from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration, ACT released its ActiveVision network operations service to the US market.

Featuring support and monitoring on a 24/7 basis by the company’s staff, the new release will facilitate diagnostics and troubleshooting at mines in real time while tracking and storing operational statistics.