Komatsu invests in MineWare’s future

By MEq April 3, 2017 20:25

Global mining technology leader MineWare today (April 03.2017) announced it has become part of the Komatsu group of companies as part of a plan to accelerate the implementation of advanced mine management technology and the development of autonomous systems. MineWare specialises in monitoring of draglines, mining shovels and excavators, optimising mine productivity through real time payload measurement. As the leader in this field, MineWare will expand its geographic and technological coverage through the association with Komatsu.

Commenting on the change, MineWare CEO Andrew Jessett said maintaining MineWare’s independence was a critical factor in its decision to partner with Komatsu. “With several potential partnership opportunities in the last year, what appealed about Komatsu was the ability for MineWare to remain a highly independent entity. Komatsu’s track record in executing this type of business model is successfully demonstrated through their ownership of Modular Mining Systems,” Jessett said.

“Komatsu is the right partner to support MineWare’s next level of growth, giving us the ability to expand our global footprint quickly into new markets. Product development collaboration and integration with Komatsu, Modular and their other subsidiaries is also a key benefit, supporting MineWare’s plans for machine automation and expansion onto other mining equipment.”

Founded out of Mining3’s research activities in 2005 by CEO Andrew Jessett and Mining3 (formerly CRCMining), a world leading mining research organisation based in Brisbane — MineWare is best known for creating the world’s first fully integrated dragline monitoring system ‘Pegasys’ and the widely acclaimed ‘Argus’ system for the global shovel and excavator market. The original MineWare shareholders, led by Mining3, have now sold their holdings to Komatsu.

Echoing Jessett’s comments, Komatsu Ltd. Director and Senior Executive Officer Kazunori Kuromoto said the partnership provides Komatsu with the ability to integrate MineWare technologies into its Intelligent Mine vision and for MineWare to access resources to develop new solutions and extend its reach into new markets and geographies.
“We see great value in partnering with a likeminded company such as MineWare who have a similar business philosophy and culture which can bring further improvements into Komatsu and its subsidiaries through shared learnings,” Kuromoto said. “As the developer of the intelligent Machine Control dozer and hydraulic excavator, it makes business sense for Komatsu to come together with a global leader in the development of advanced loader monitoring technologies.”