- Bell and MacLean accelerate research and development on mining
vehicle automation, autonomy, and interoperability.
- Bell installs private mobile network at MacLean research and
training facility enhancing safety, driving sustainable practices
and reducing vehicle emissions.
MONTRÉAL, QC and COLLINGWOOD, ON, Sept. 17,
2024 /CNW/ - Bell and MacLean, the world's
largest Canadian-based manufacturer of underground mining
equipment, today announced a technology collaboration to better
support the evolving needs of mining customers. The innovations
being introduced will improve equipment interoperability - the way
in which machines exchange and make use of information -
enhancing safety for workers and driving sustainable practices and
reduced vehicle emissions.
Bell and MacLean accelerate research and
development on mining vehicle automation, autonomy, and
interoperability.
The installation of a Bell Private Mobile Network (PMN) at the
MacLean Research & Training Facility in Sudbury, Ontario, provides a communications
infrastructure perfectly suited for mining vehicle innovation.
Bell's PMN will transform the test facility into a Centre of
Excellence, leveraging Bell's secure 5G/LTE network that delivers
persistent, dedicated bandwidth and signal stability from the
surface shop to the underground environment.
This Centre of Excellence serves as the foundation for MacLean's
mobile equipment research and development. It enables the company's
mining vehicles to be more dependably controlled remotely, with
real-time monitoring data to support rapid decision-making. Remote
operations allow machines to work together better, maximizing the
potential for the deployment of semi or fully autonomous mining,
where underground excavations can be done safely by operators above
ground. Remote operators can also monitor vehicles from a distance
without lag, powered by Bell's low-latency PMN.
The collaboration between Bell and MacLean exemplifies a
commitment to sustainable mining practices as Bell has also
installed PMN coverage at MacLean's Electric Vehicle refurbishment
plant located in the same facility. Replicating the operating
environment in the manufacturing facility optimizes quality
assurance and manufacturing efficiencies. Accelerating the
transformation of mining companies' digital services enables the
deployment of electric vehicles underground using sophisticated
battery technologies that leverage real-time monitoring, with
reductions in fuel use and CO2 emissions.
Quotes
"What we're doing here at our research and training facility is
quite literally building the mine of the future, now, leveraging
Bell's leading-edge mobile network technology, so that we can
accelerate the industry transition to mining in a way that
maximizes the benefits from emerging automation and digitalization
technologies. This new private mobile network technology will help
us pursue our core work of driving safety and productivity
improvements in mining, here in Canada and around the globe. I'm delighted
with the results of this collaboration and know that it will open
new possibilities for our Advanced Vehicles and Technology team at
our test facility to pursue their important innovation
work."
-
David Jacques, VP Engineering,
MacLean
"Bell's private mobile network will allow MacLean to drive the
modernization of mining operations in Canada supporting the interoperability of
equipment, safer environments for all workers, and fostering a more
sustainable future through the enablement of battery electric
mining vehicles. Our collaboration will support the opportunity for
innovative Canadian Internet of Things solutions providers to test
and modify their solutions to perform at the exacting standards
required in rugged, real-world mining conditions in MacLean's
Centre of Excellence."
- Costa Pantazopoulos, VP Product, Bell
About MacLean
MacLean designs, manufactures, and supports engineered solutions
across the mining, municipal, and waste management sectors. The
company's mining division builds a comprehensive line of mobile
equipment in the ground support, ore flow, and utility vehicle
product categories. The company celebrated its 50th year in
business in 2023 and now has a continental manufacturing platform
in North America, along with
service and support branches across Canada as well as a global
network of manufacturing facilities and branches in the United States, Mexico, Peru,
South Africa, and Australia. For more information, please
visit: www.macleanengineering.com
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications company,1
providing advanced broadband Internet, wireless, TV, media and
business communication services. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell
is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit
Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a
better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and
economic prosperity of our communities. This includes the Bell
Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with
national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk
Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access,
research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the
country. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
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1 Based on total revenue and total
combined customer connections.
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Media contacts
Stuart
Lister
VP Marketing & Communications
MacLean Engineering
slister@macleanengineering.com
705.241.3247 (m)
Bell Media Relations
Audrey
Hood
media@bell.ca
Bell Investor
Relations
Richard.bengian@bell.ca
SOURCE Bell Canada