PROFESSOR Phil Dight from the University of Western Australia says that smaller, purpose-built machinery is in store for the mining industry.
Dight claims that the new machines won't be cheaper, but will be able to get to the ore bodies without breaking so much ground. This will make operations more environmentally friendly.
New equipment currently being developed in Scandinavia includes articulated dump trucks, which less space to turn around.
The professor says that mining machines of the future are likely to be powered by electricity and driven by robots but he doesn't expect an immediate rush to order the new machines.
At present, the economic climate is seeing more mining companies focus on innovation and technological development so that they can compete in the decreasing pool of demand. This will also allow firms to be competitive when the economy picks up.
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