Metallugic works | Intrafeca | Industria de Transformación Ferrosa

5 Benefits of Automated Mining

Mining businesses the world over are quickly adopting the latest innovations in the world of automated mining technology in order to modernize their operations. For example, in Rio Tinto, Australia, four iron mines make use of 73 driverless trucks in order to mobilize the minerals all 24 hours of the day. Employees supervise the vehicles from 1.200Kilometers away, at the Rio Tinto control center located in Perth.

On the other hand, almost 14.000 Kilometers west, Boliden, a Swedish mining business, is working with the Ericsson mobile phone company in order to build an autonomous gold mine. The 5G network that Ericsson installed on site allows the mine’s ventilation system to save up to 18 megawatts in its yearly use of energy, with represents a 54% improvement in efficiency.

In the United States, mining company Barrick Gold Corporation joined Cisco Systems in order to integrate Wi-Fi sensors to the mines near Elko, Nevada, in order to track production in each mining project. Barrick is making use of this and other automated technologies to reach its goal of diminishing the costs of production for each ounce of gold to 700USD.

Finally, in Africa, mining companies Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti make use of robotic chargers located 800meters under the project’s surface, alongside Kibali Mine, in order to boost production and improve worker safety conditions.

Benefits of automated mining

Automated technologies offer certain benefits that simply cannot be overlooked. Companies that make use of automated mining technologies will notice an immediate, significate increase when it comes to production – as well as a less expenses. Some companies have seen production improve between 15% and 20% after adopting new technology.

The industry will also benefit from a noticeable increase in safety. Through the use of automated equipment that can be used in dangerous, remote areas, mining companies can send less workers underground, thus enjoying increased production while diminishing the risk to the life of employees. For example, after implementing automated technologies in several of its African mines, Randgold Resources saw an improvement of 29% when it comes to quarterly reports of injuries.

It is expected for this rapidly-changing scene to provide substantial value to the mining sector and its stakeholders. Reports suggest that the combination of increased production and safety alongside the diminished expenses can make the automated mining market grow almost 50% in the next six years, reaching 3.290 million dollars come 2023.

Hazards When Manipulating Metals

Working in the steel industry is an extremely complex chore; hence, it demands a great professionalism and, above all, lots of mindfulness and follow-up of safety standards, inasmuch as, there are many hazards to which you can be exposed. For this reason, today we want to introduce you some of the most commonly hazards in this work area:

Welding

Welding is one of the most common activities when working with metals, workers are exposed to toxicity and fever due to metal vapors; this depends on the composition of the material used, such as, electrodes, nickel rods or plasma. To minimize these hazards, it is necessary to have good ventilation in general also the use of personal protective equipment when necessary is recommended.

Noise and vibration

The casting and cleaning operations are the ones that register higher noise levels when working in a foundry, thus being even higher in the mechanized foundries than in the manual ones. Even, for those who work in small workshops, they also may notice that they are exposed to these types of elements. In order to minimize the risks of being affected by these, personal protective equipment should be employed and even though working on sound-deadening surfaces.

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Using portable vibrating tools can cause Raynaud’s phenomenon or hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). The frequency of occurrence of critical vibration for this problem is between 2000 and 3000 revolutions per minute and, in the range of 40 to 125 Hz. This disorder can be associated with carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative changes in the joints.

In order to reduce the vibration transmitted to the hands of the workers, it is recommended to use designed tools to minimize the harmful ranges of frequency and amplitude, and moreover to wear overlapped gloves or an insulator and, also reducing the time exposure to this type of tools based on changes regarding to working operations, tools and resting periods.

Is Using Iron for Construction an Economically Sound Decision?

Iron is an important part of the history of humankind’s, maybe due to its abundance on the planet. Iron completely changed man’s life, made agriculture and commerce easier, and later did the same for both the industry and war.

Exploited since the first millennium A.D., iron allowed mankind to leave behind prehistoric technology, and start the age of great civilizations.

Resistant, versatile and abundant, iron can only offer advantages when it comes to the construction of iron structures, despite some disadvantages.

Iron is a strong and durable metal, which is why its use guarantees a structure’s durability, avoiding erecting bent or weak walls, which, in the long-run, allows for savings.

Besides being strong – and therefore lasting, as well as a potential source of savings – it offers no refuge for vermin, nor does it allow them access to a building, avoiding the damages these creatures usually bring with themselves.

Another advantage of iron structures is their resistance to harsh climates, earthquakes and hurricanes.

However, nothing is perfect, and among the disadvantages of this metal, a well-known one is its tendency to rust, as well as its high costs of production.

Iron oxidization is, basically, due to a lack of electrons in the present atoms when two or more substances interact; just losing a single electron is more than enough to cause damage.
Its high cost of production. Once it cannot be used in its pure form and is in need of alloys. Its tendency to rust make galvanizing it a necessity, which increases its price in a considerable manner.

In conclusion, structures made with iron infrastructures possess a number of advantages, ranging from resistance, malleability, as well as a durability that will ensure many future savings.

However, two of its disadvantages are very significant, such as its tendency to oxidize, which demands a costly process of galvanization, as well as its need of alloys, as it cannot be used in its pure estate. It may seem like an oxymoron, but it is a costly way of saving money.

José Manuel Mustafá: What is The Relationship Between Fire and Iron?

During the Industrial Revolution, starting with gray iron and later with steel, the key elements in the construction of hanging bridges, steam ships, trains and their tracks, industrial machinery and building structures were born.

The twentieth century witnesses the new iron and steel work advances, present during the First World War, only increasing during the Second One.

“Iron and steel works” refer to the techniques that turn iron into other, different types of iron, or its many alloys.

The process of transforming the iron mineral starts from its extraction from the mines, present in nature as oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, silicates and sulfur.

Its processing remained virtually unchanged from the time of the Hittites to the middle Ages; it consisted of wrought iron obtained by direct reduction, producing a less resistant, flexible metal than the one we currently use.

The technique changes in the fourteenth century, when Catalonian smithies become popular in Europe, capable of generating up to 1.200ºC, which makes for higher quality iron.

Catalonian smithies were metalworking establishments dedicated to the production of iron in the Middle Ages, consisting of a forge that could reach very high temperatures, which allowed impurities to be removed from the iron. The technique was used until the creation of blast furnaces, which allowed for the mass production of high-quality gray iron, stronger and more elastic than wrought iron. Towards the ends of the nineteenth century, they also allowed for the mass production of high-quality steel.

Raw material for the construction of hanging bridges and other important structures of the times.

A history of growth and the search of perfection, since the higher the iron was heated, the greater its resistance and malleability, two key elements that make iron a useful boon, forever intertwined within the history of humankind.

In conclusion, fire is the key, the true way to temper iron and make it as strong as steel, demonstrating through the centuries the history of iron’s transformation.

José Manuel Mustafá: Extradosed Bridges

In today’s post we are going to talk about one of my favorite kind of bridges: extradosed bridges. It’s not a common type of bridge. It is a mixture between cable-stayed and metal beam bridges built on the air and with a large variation of lights.

Let us talk about its origins. Then, we will move on to their work and on basic predimensioning criteria and, finally, we will tackle its advantages and disadvantages compared to other types.

Nowadays, there are two versions about the origin of extradosed bridges. The first one comes from Cristhian Menn’s concept, who in 1980 proposed the construction of Ganter bridge in Switzerland in order to save a valley of 140 meters of altitude using a superstructure made from a cable-stayed metal beam box with walls and rigid pillars to endure the windy climate.

Although, the configuration for the cables was innovative at the time, the structure was admire by its esthetic and its blending with the landscape.

The second version comes from the Mathivat concept, who proposed this type for the Arrêt Darré viaduct in France. Mathivat proposed a bridge in which the the internal binds of the pillar were replaced by external cables in a low tower over the supports. This solution meant 30% less material regarding the metal beam, as well as an adequate use of the cables. However, the proposal was rejected in the contest.

Regardless these two versions, the world first’s extradosed bridge was Odawara Blueway bridge in Japan, built in 1994 by japanese engieneers inspired by Mathivat’s proposal.

IMPORTANT! Jos? Manuel Mustaf?: Gold in our Society
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IMPORTANT! Jos? Manuel Mustaf?: Gold in our Society

Jose Manuel Mustafá, Metallugic works

IMPORTANT! Jos? Manuel Mustaf?: Gold in our Society

Gold?has been?important?not only since our days but it has had important ues throughout?history.?Know everything about gold in today’s topic thanks to Jos? Manuel Mustaf?.

Gold?can be?useful?for more than just?buying?and?selling. There are many items today that are made of gold or?gold?parts. You may have noticed that computer can have?components?which are covered or made of gold.

That is a little impressive but in fact you may have one of those pars in your own house without really knowing it!

Gold?is definitely part of economy and it I the currency that does not get devaluations. It is so?important?for?society?that there have even been wars in more than one occasion just to have it.

It becomes very?excessive?when you think that the whole planet has had that many problems because of?gold. You will understand as well that it has been not only in the present but also in the pat that these?problems?have occurred.

The uses of gold is also necessary for?dentists?who have been using them for more than 3000 years. That can be as well very?impressive?but what is more?outstanding?is that it is useful to our days as well.

Did you know that the association of value with gold is purely imaginary? If it was not because of men given it a very high value, maybe copper would be more?expensive?than?gold?if it was not because people decided to give it that much value!

Gold?is necessary for many other uses like?jewelry?which is probably a common one. You will see every sort of jewelry that are made of gold: necklaces, rings, bracelets.

Gold can be used also to make?extra?teeth?for those one who have lost them. This may be one of the most extravagant uses of?gold?but you have probably seen someone using a gold teeth t least on TV.

[Jose Manuel Mustafa] Why is Steel so Important?
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[Jose Manuel Mustafa] Why is Steel so Important?

Jose Manuel Mustafá, Metallugic works

[Jose Manuel Mustafa] Why is Steel so Important?

Why is steel such an important metal in our society? Have you ever considered that question? Well, here there are some of the many potential answers.

It is a very high-priced material

This metal is a good one that many people owns in their homes and almost everyone would like getting. It is used for doing many things such as necklaces, buildings, architectonic works and other things.

Jose Manuel Mustafa – Steel items

Steel is valuable also because of the business area. Many are the people who are considering selling different materials and steel is definitely not the exception. Steel is sold and bought every day in our planet and it is a little exaggerated of course because we are talking about a mineral but for society, it really represents almost a gold mine!

It can be shaped!

This material is one of the easiest to mold and shape into different items. Consider the many decorations you may have seen in your life in the different house, arent many of them made of some steel part? In a high school, there may be many lockers which would have steel parts and doors with steel handles.

Jose Manuel Mustafa – Steel in our daily life

Steel is one of those materials that you can need also for making the components of basic daily life items such as kitchens, refrigerators, computers, bending machines, TV, and even your smartphone.

As you see, there are many applications and possibilities for steel and this is what makes of them an important item that is possible to get for many people in our society so you can remember how useful it can be.

Steel is one of the materials that will still have a very strong importance not only for enterprises who sell it but also for you and anyone in the world who uses the many items that are made out of it. Hopefully, you will now understand how useful this material is and why it is necessary to keep learning about the uses of materials and steel.

-Jose Manuel Mustafa

[Jose Manuel Mustafa] Metals in your pc
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[Jose Manuel Mustafa] Metals in your pc

Jose Manuel Mustafá, Metallugic works

[Jose Manuel Mustafa] Metals in your pc

Jose Manuel Mustafa – Metals in your PC

Metals are materials that are in our daily basis activities and which you barely notice. However, you may want to know more about the topic and get deeper in the knowledge of the computer you are using right now.

Your computer?contains some of the following materials in different degrees:

Neodymium: this is on your hard drive which is mainly the materials of the magnets.

Aluminum: located in printed boards with this material, computer chips, hard drives and CPU heat sinks.

Cobalt: it belongs to the hard drive piece.

Jose Manuel Mustafa – Metals used in computers

Tantalum: in the components of the circuit board.

Copper: located in the CPU sinks, cables, printed circuit boards and also in the chips of your PC.

Platinum: which can be found in the hard drive and circuit board components.

Palladium: located in the hard drives and the component of the circuit board as well. They are the capacitors.

Nickel: which can be found in the circuit board component.

Zinc:? they are printed on the circuit boards.

Tin: also located on the circuit boards in a printed form and on computer chips.

As you can see, more than one single metal is used on your computers and if you want to go further, remember every single component of your PC. Your motherboard, CPU and even the peripherals like USB cables and pen drives do have metals in different parts. This means that it would be definitely not possible to make a single computer without using these materials which are sometimes overlooked by the computer lovers who can get more knowledge on the possibilities of the computer rather than the materials of the computers which are as well important.

You should keep enjoying learning about the many metals out there and how they are used and as for computer, it will be always nice to understand the value of what you have in your hands even if it is not your subject so that you not only have more general knowledge on meals but also understanding on how useful it is for your own welfare in a daily basis.

-Jose Manuel Mustafa