Rio Tinto To Develop New Automation System

Global miner Rio Tinto has embarked on a "ground-breaking" programme to develop an automation system for its iron ore operations in Pilbara, Western Australia.

Tinto has teamed up with UK-based manufacturer Komatsu to develop and deploy autonomous haulage solutions to support its current operations, scheduled for 2008 with wider deployment in 2010.

"We are closely focussed on supporting our Pilbara iron ore expansion through the application of world-leading automation technologies," says Rio Tinto CEO Tom Albanese.

By staff writer