EACON Mining Technology is rolling out a next‑generation autonomous haulage system in China built around on‑board perception, integrating lidar, millimetre‑wave radar and camera fusion directly on 60–100 t class trucks from Tonly, NHL and Yutong. Field deployments span a large open‑pit mine and a quarry operation, with mixed fleets running driverless haul on existing benches and ramps rather than purpose‑built AHS roads. The focus on vehicle‑centric sensing over fixed roadside infrastructure has implications for retrofitting brownfield pits and managing variable geotechnical conditions and visibility.

Glencore Technology has partnered with XPS in Falconbridge, Ontario, to expand Jameson Cell flotation test work coverage across North America, using XPS’s piloting facilities and state-of-the-art mineral processing laboratories. The multidisciplinary XPS team will run laboratory and pilot-scale campaigns for operations and projects, integrating metallurgical test work with consulting and flowsheet development. For concentrator engineers, this should simplify scale-up of Jameson Cell applications in brownfield and greenfield plants, potentially shortening test programmes and de-risking circuit design changes.

Rio Tinto’s first Pilbara-made iron ore rail car has rolled off the production line in Karratha under a A$150 million partnership with Gemco Rail to build 100 wagons in Western Australia. The milestone follows completion of 40 cars at Gemco’s Forrestfield facility near Perth, with the balance to be manufactured closer to Rio’s Pilbara rail network. Local fabrication and maintenance capability for heavy-haul rolling stock is being strengthened, which could shorten overhaul cycles and reduce logistics downtime for Rio’s long-distance ore trains.