Matrix president Aric Pryor said the agreement would give Joy the rights for sales, installation and service of the systems while collaborating with the Kentucky supplier on additional development and efforts to continually refine the system.

“We have been testing this system in underground environments since MSHA approval in February 2009,” Pryor said.

“Joy will be critical in getting these systems into production mines quickly and ensuring that every installation of the system has the highest level of support.”

Joy Mining marketing vice-president Mark Finlay added: “We are confident this partnership will provide the mining industry with a proximity detection system that promotes the goal of a zero harm mentality.”

Matrix was notified February 24 of intrinsic safety approval of its Matrix Miner Monitor (M3) proximity detection system from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Matrix representative Brian Jones told International Longwall News at the time that the federal agency had signed off on all components of the system, permitting approved use in all US underground coal mines.

The submission for approval on the entire system, including the transmitter, the receiver and the controller, was made in November 2007 while the transmitter unit for the miner operator was approved last October.

The system detects signals from a person-worn transmitter and determines “red zone” potential or if the worker has come into a hazardous location. When that is triggered, the entire continuous miner will shut down.

Matrix said Thursday that it and Joy were working together with the industry to finish detailed design, testing and product risk analysis before launching the device globally.