EACON Mining Technology says it has successfully completed its mining autonomy project at the Shuichang iron ore mine in northern China, officially handing over operations to the Shougang Group.
This milestone highlights EACON’s strategic shift from directly operating autonomous haulage fleets as a contractor to empowering clients or partner contractors to manage operations, it says.
The Shuichang iron ore mine, with a capacity of 11.46 Mt/y of aggregate and 2.4 Mt of iron ore concentrate powder, posed a unique set of challenges for the company, it says. EACON ORCASTRA® was used to enable autonomous haul trucks to automatically respond to the traffic light status at the crusher while also adapting to complex intersections, traffic flow and navigation rules for efficient operations. These solutions complement the deployment of ten EY70E autonomous battery vehicles designed in collaboration with Yutong to move aggregate. Together, these innovations are enabling efficient and reliable haulage operations at the site, EACON says.
The Shuichang project has achieved significant milestones since its inception. By November 2024, the project finished commissioning with EACON beginning training of the mine controller and on-site team, and, by January 2025, the project was successfully handed over to the client. EACON’s aftersales team will now provide on-site support for the next three years, ensuring seamless operations and continuous improvement, it says.
The Shuichang project is not only a testament to EACON’s technical expertise but also a strong foundation for a long-term partnership with the Shougang Group, which highly recognises EACON’s success in the project and expressed strong interest for repurchasing at other Shougang mine sites, EACON says.
Yao Yongpu, Chairperson of the Union of Shougang Mining Corporation, said: “The launch of autonomous haulage operations enables us to capitalise on new technological advancements and industrial changes, while boosting productivity at the grassroots level, tailored to local conditions.”
The project’s completion underscores the company’s commitment to driving innovation, safety and sustainability in global mining operations, further solidifying its position as a leader in autonomous mining technology, EACON says.
