Australian mining technology companies Digital Terrain and Nautitech Mining Systems will work together on “last mile connectivity” in underground mines under a formal partnership.
Formed in 2000, Nautitech has forged a reputation as a manufacturer of electronic and electrical monitoring and communications equipment for underground coal mines.
Fellow Sydney-based firm Digital Terrain, launched in 2019, came out of a hard-rock underground mining background, via founder Andrew Rouse’s long-term connection with contract miner Pybar.
Digital Terrain’s flagship product is its Simbio mine operations management software “for smart mines”. It has been a distributor of Nautitech’s patented Spitfire broadband powerline modem.
“Last mile has always been a problem for smart mines,” Rouse says.
“We are excited to begin our collaboration with Nautitech to provide connectivity and visibility in situations that are hard to reach.”
In a joint statement the companies said they would work to integrate technologies from both companies to bring “access to real-time data, productivity analysis, voice and video in complex hard rock environments and tunnelling projects” in Australia and New Zealand.
Nautitech CEO Mac Powolny said substantial synergies and learnings could come from the collaboration.
“Successful collaboration is a win-win situation, and I am confident the teams at Nautitech and Digital Terrain will work together to solve many problems for our joint customer base,” he said.
As well as mine operators, Nautitech has long-term links with original equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar, General Electric, Sandvik and Komatsu.
