Automation and positioning specialist, Aptella, has signed a distribution agreement with TORSA to supply and support groundbreaking collision avoidance technology designed specifically for quarrying industries throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. This cutting edge system promises to elevate safety protocols to unprecedented levels, mitigating risks associated with vehicle collisions and enhancing overall site efficiency.
Thanks to the implementation of different technologies and its predictive algorithm, the new system is able to analyse interactions between vehicles and people with centimetre-level precision, guaranteeing the safety of workers during loading and approaching operations. By detecting potential objects and collisions in advance, the technology is able to prevent accidents before they occur, protecting the vehicle operator at all times by proactively and predictively assessing and alerting potential risks.
The high precision anti collision system works by centralising data on a single platform in order to provide relevant information to the different areas of the quarry operation. In this way, it is intended to cover the gap between the operational personnel in the field and the “decision makers” in the quarry operation.
“This is state of the art safety technology.” says Juan Raúl Santana, Torsa CEO. “This development will ultimately save lives because it enhances safety for all workers across almost all domains and enables people to quite simply avoid accidents on job sites. This system is the only one on the market that detects obstacles without the need for them to be metallic or have an identifier. Thanks to LIDAR technology, the system is capable of detecting rocks, quarrying fronts, berms or any obstacle that may be considered a risk. ”
“Prioritising safety is the lead value at Aptella and of equal importance to any customer that works with heavy machinery,” says Martin Nix, Aptella CEO. “As we continue to seek the best innovation from around the world, we are excited to bring this advanced solution from Torsa to our local customers. This system ultimately guarantees a level of safety we’ve never seen before on work sites and that’s something we always want to be a part of.”
One of the standout features of Torsa’s new technology is its adaptability to diverse operational environments. Whether navigating rugged terrain or managing complex site layouts, the system offers customisable alerts and adaptive responses tailored to specific conditions. This versatility not only enhances safety but also optimises operational workflows, contributing to increased productivity and savings for the quarry industry.
Torsa has collaborated with peak industry bodies to remain at the forefront of regulation and safety standards, including the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and its Innovation for Cleaner Safer Vehicles (ICSV) program. The ICSV program brings together 27 of the world’s leading mining companies, machine and technology manufacturers, to accelerate heavy machinery development in a non-competitive forum. This proactive approach not only fosters a culture of safety but also positions TORSA as a trusted partner in advancing industry wide safety initiatives.
The collision avoidance system is certified to levels seven, eight and nine, enabling full intervention control of a machine if required. Torsa’s solution is configurable to each site and customer’s requirements, and suitable for all asset types including draglines, dozers, haul trucks, and light vehicles.
“At Torsa, we believe in creating systems that can be used for all assets, on all sites, which is why we engaged at the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT) and with the ICMM,” says Mr Santana.
“With the ability to work across all makes, models and types of machinery, Aptella was a natural choice as our distribution partner in the region,” he added. “Our team looks forward to working together to enable advanced safety for Aptella’s customers.”
With locations throughout all States and Territories of Australia, in Southeast Asia and New Zealand, Aptella supports the quarrying and mining, civil construction, building, and geospatial industries with world-leading technology solutions. Aptella is majority owned by global business investment and development firm, Mitsui & Co. Under the distribution agreement with Torsa, Aptella will offer full sales, deployment, training and technical support to customers.
“Torsa’s collision avoidance system complements our safety portfolio and range of machine guidance and fleet management solutions for the quarrying sector,” says Andrew Granger, Executive Manager of Mining at Aptella. “With a large network of technical and application specialists, we offer customers full support from a local team.”
Mr Granger says the proximity detection systems (PDS) and collision avoidance systems (CAS) market is predicted to grow exponentially in the next decade, “recent studies and articles show PDS technologies will be where quarries will focus efforts and investments in the coming years. At Aptella, we’re committed to being at the very forefront of these developments and we’re thrilled to be able to confidently say we can keep you and your workers safe on your job site by offering this state of the art safety solution to our customers.”
As Australia and Southeast Asia continues to uphold its reputation for excellence in quarrying, Torsa’s Collision Avoidance Technology represents a significant stride towards achieving unparalleled safety benchmarks. By embracing this cutting edge solution, quarrying operators can confidently navigate the challenges of their environments while safeguarding the wellbeing of their workforce. This new technology stands as a testament to the ongoing evolution of safety practices in Australasian heavy industries. As adoption grows, the future promises not only safer work environments but also greater operational efficiency and sustainability across the quarrying sectors. Aptella is dedicated to being the pioneers in sourcing innovation and deploying it for the safety of its customers.
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