Australian miners are embracing technology, utilising digital tools to boost productivity, safety and sustainability amid rising operational pressures.
In underground mining, productivity and safety depend on the reliability of the fleet. For a ground support leader like Jetcrete, every hour a machine spends in the workshop disrupts the site’s operational ecosystem.
By integrating the Elphinstone E15 series, Jetcrete is shifting its maintenance focus to an engineering standard that provides digital foresight into machine operational performance and maintenance planning.
This move marked a new chapter in a partnership that proved its worth under pressure. The collaboration between Jetcrete and Elphinstone was formalised in 2018, when a zinc-copper-lead project in Tasmania required a high-capacity agitator.
Elphinstone’s ability to deliver a local purpose-built solution for challenging conditions made them the obvious choice for Jetcrete.
The E15 is not a single-purpose machine but a modular platform. While Jetcrete has focused on the 7m³ agitator to support its shotcreting operations, the platform’s versatility is becoming a key selling point for the industry.
The E15 Delivery model, for example, offers a payload of up to 17,200kg and can be configured with a high-capacity crane to move heavy equipment underground.
Most recently, the introduction of the new E15 Tilt Tray has allowed sites to replace standard highway-style trucks with a rugged, purpose-built solution. This flexibility helps to ensure that as a mine evolves, the E15 fleet can be reconfigured to meet new operational demands.
A key advantage for Jetcrete is the E15’s Caterpillar C7.1 engine, drivetrain and genuine Cat parts and components.
Approximately 75 per cent of the machine shares DNA with proven Caterpillar products and applications, which simplifies procurement and logistics.
“The cab chassis is common to all E15 models and can be easily configured to suit your mine site application requirements,” Elphinstone global sales and marketing manager Tim Mitchell said.
“The high number of common configurable parts and components allows for reduced part stocking, plus simplified maintenance and operation.”
The component commonality across all E15 models is designed to provide the highest level of reliability, durability and parts availability through the worldwide Caterpillar dealer network, reducing operating costs and preventing weeks of downtime if a component fails.
The E15 series leads a digital shift in mining. Instead of waiting for a component to fail, maintenance teams can use the machine’s internal diagnostics to identify any issues early.
Central to this is a 300mm (12in) onboard touchscreen.
“The touchscreen operator display provides vital machine status information,” Mitchell said.
“Real-time data includes engine coolant and transmission oil temperature, pitch and roll indicators, engine oil pressure, engine speed, an integrated camera system, and vehicle speed and fuel level.”
To prevent human error or equipment damage, the system uses a three-tier warning strategy with shutdown functionality.
“The operator’s dash includes a user-friendly troubleshooting section for rapid fault identification, increasing the availability and productivity of the machine,” Mitchell said.
This allows the machine to automatically limit its functions if it detects an abnormality, effectively protecting the E15 from any failure.
While the digital features are impressive, the E15’s design resonates most with crews on the ground, who appreciate the class-leading operator experience. The ROPS/FOPS-certified cabin is built to accommodate three people, which directly impacts operational efficiency.
Allowing the entire crew to travel together reduces the number of light vehicles in the tunnel, lowering traffic congestion and improving site safety.
Visibility is another critical factor. The central driving position offers a 180° field of view that remains clear, even with passengers present. This is vital when navigating narrow, often wet declines of underground mines. To ensure a smooth ride, the E15 features an oscillating hitch and front suspension, keeping all four wheels on the ground in rough terrain.
From a maintenance perspective, the E15 was designed with the understanding that if a component is difficult to access, it risks being overlooked during routine servicing. To eliminate this hurdle, Elphinstone engineers moved all critical service points to ground level with easy access, ensuring daily inspections are thorough and safe.
“Downtime during service and maintenance is reduced markedly on the E15 due to clever engineering and design features, incorporated with service personnel in mind,” Mitchell said.
This approach includes a centralised onboard service centre with fluid-sample points for analysis, as well as engine and machine-isolation functions on a single panel accessible from the left-hand side.
Quick-change air filters and 500-hour oil service intervals boost productivity. By incorporating optional systems such as auto-lube, fast fill and fast evacuation, the E15 ensures a seamless transition from the workshop back to operation.
The ground-level access is a big plus for operations and maintenance teams. The once-present risks of slips, trips and falls have been eliminated on the Elphinstone E15 and teams can now conduct all inspections and work from ground level.
Elements of the Elphinstone E15’s design date back to 1975, when Dale Elphinstone began modifying Caterpillar equipment in his father’s shed in Burnie.
That small-town operation has since grown into a global force, yet it retains a distinct company culture.
Founder and chief executive Dale Elphinstone attributes this 50-year trajectory to a team that continues to push boundaries.
“One person doesn’t do very much,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of things because we didn’t know we couldn’t, and that’s because we have a great team of people with a lot of ‘yagottawanna’.”
This philosophy of relentless improvement led to Dale’s induction into the National Mining Hall of Fame, the first person outside the US to receive the honour.
As the industry looks toward a net-zero future, the partnership between Jetcrete and Elphinstone is already eyeing the next technological leap. Reducing diesel emissions, heat and noise in underground environments is becoming a priority for miners.
The transition to electrification solutions is a major focus for future underground operations and Elphinstone’s future product development, according to Mitchell.
This forward-looking approach ensures that the engineering excellence that started in a Tasmanian shed 50 years ago will continue to drive the future of Australian mining, making operations safer, more sustainable and more productive.
This feature appeared in the March edition of the Mining magazine.
