Among the attractions of the Sandvik Digital Assistant (SAM) is that it delivers value to everyone in the crushing and screening value chain, raising the game for forward-looking mines.

Recently launched into Africa at the Electra Mining Africa exhibition in Johannesburg, SAM’s reception among large and small players on the continent has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Ali Jumaa, Digital Product Manager for Sandvik Rock Processing.

“There is no doubt that the local market is ready for SAM, judging from the enthusiastic response we have had from customers,” says Jumaa. “Mines are looking to work smarter, and SAM provides this ability to operators, technicians, purchasing departments and managers alike.”

He notes that Sandvik Rock Processing has developed SAM in line with the concept of a proactive user journey, so it provides instant and valuable support for various steps in this customer-OEM relationship. SAM combines a wide range of tools, information and guidance in one place, acting as an always-on digital assistant for daily operations.

“For instance, maintenance and site managers can track their equipment’s performance in real-time from the convenience of a laptop, tablet or mobile phone,” he explains. “At the same time, the mine’s purchasing department can access the SAM web shop to find the correct part numbers, create shopping lists and submit orders.”

Service technicians use SAM to find up-to-date documentation and manuals on their equipment, while operators can find ways to increase operational uptime and availability. Extensive operating data from the crusher is collected by sensors and transmitted through a gateway into cloud storage, where it can be analysed in depth and utilised in a range of calculations, algorithms and models.

“The data and analysis allow customers to finetune their performance, while developing more effective predictive maintenance and ensuring no unplanned stoppages,” says Jumaa. “SAM provides customers with real-time insight into their operations supported by fact based recommended actions that inform the most appropriate operating and maintenance strategies.”

A key benefit of the SAM system is the visual way that it represents data to the user, he explains. Customers can quickly visualise exactly how long the crusher has been operational or has been idling, for instance. The platform’s interface is also intuitive and user-friendly, he adds, so that customers do not need extensive training to learn how to use it. The platform even has features to guide customers on how to use it.