June 2, 2017 - The project has received financial support from Horizon 2020 – the biggest EU Research and Innovation program ever with nearly €80 Billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.

As coordinator of the initiative, part of Atlas Copco's role will be sharing information with the project consortium members and external stakeholders such as customers, politicians, and society in general. All twelve consortium members will be present at the Kick-Off and includes, Atlas Copco, ABB, Agnico Eagle, Boliden, Ericsson, iGW, KGHM Cuprum, K+S KALI, LKAB, Mobilaris, Luleå University of Technology and RWTH Aachen University.

Morgan Rody, Atlas Copco's Senior Project Manager for SIMS said “All agreements have been signed and we are eager to begin the exciting and innovative work that SIMS will deliver over the next three years.” Morgan continues “SIMS will demonstrate Battery Mining Equipment, Semi-Autonomous Inspection Drones, 5G Communications Network Technology, Material Identification using Thermal Imaging, an Augmented Reality controlled Scaling Machine, Faster Bolting Cycles, the latest in Underground Tracking and Positioning, the Virtual Mine, Production Blasting will be optimized and much more. All of these innovative mining technologies will be demonstrated throughout Europe at various Mining sites located in Finland, Germany, Poland and Sweden.”

The SIMS consortium is working to not only support economic growth, but also positively change the perception of the mining industry as a whole. With innovative solutions that focus on safe, efficient and ecologically-sound mining, SIMS members will demonstrate that sustainable practices are not only desirable, but essential to the transformation of profitable mining operations.

”Now it starts, from the early excitement and associated plans, it is now time to focus and deliver”, said Andreas Nordbrandt, President, Atlas Copco Underground Rock Excavation division. “We hope this project can become a reference and benchmark not only within our business but also how EU-funded projects can deliver results for a more sustainable way of mining”, concludes Andreas. 

To further advance progress in sustainable mining, the work of the SIMS consortium will be well documented, and the data will be shared with stakeholders in the European and global mining industry. The results are sure to demonstrate how innovators from the EU are making the future of global mining possible.

For more information on the SIMS project, please visit SIMSmining.eu.