Stawell Gold Mine Relies on RCT to Automate New CAT 2900XE Loaders
Stawell Gold Mine, located 250km northwest of Melbourne, is no stranger to RCT – Powered by Epiroc. The site has been leveraging RCT’s technology to boost safety and productivity for over 20 years.
So, when the mine recently added two CAT 2900XE diesel-electric underground loaders to their fleet, they once again turned to RCT to automate the new machines using its multi-machine automation solution, AutoNav.
The decision to continue with RCT was largely influenced by the technology’s OEM-agnostic capabilities. Stawell needed a solution that would allow the new CAT machines to operate alongside their existing Epiroc ST18S loaders, which are already equipped with RCT automation.
“Having them operate on the same software was essential for the site. They had existing RCT AutoNav Centres on the surface and underground cabins, and the site wanted their operators to control all the machines from these cabins,” said RCT Brisbane Branch Manager, Owen Perrott.
This setup allows Stawell to avoid relocating operator stations across the site, a task that often results in lost productivity.
“The vast majority of mines operate a single OEM fleet. Very few places operate with different OEM brand machines, which makes this project unique,” Perrott added.
This was also the first time the Brisbane branch installed AutoNav on the hybrid CAT 2900XE model.
“We are constantly hearing from our clients that they’ve been told these hybrid machines can’t be automated, so it’s a real buzz for us being able to do it – and do it well,” Perrott said.
The installations were completed by RCT’s Brisbane team — one at the CAT OEM William Adams facility and the other on-site at Stawell. The software upgrade was supported by RCT Technician Dan Peake, who ensured everything ran smoothly.
The project was well-received by the client.
“We appreciate the efforts put in by all and understand this can be a quite tricky transition to plan and undertake with our mixed fleet,” said Stawell Gold Mine’s Electrical Superintendent, Luke Norsworthy.
“This particular job required the Brisbane team to communicate with multiple people to ensure it was delivered successfully and I’m really proud of the job they have done,” added Perrott.