BMA’s Saraji, Blackwater and Goonyella sites will host the simulators, which will be used to train opencut employees in the use of machines such as a dragline, dozer, excavator and shovel.

Training will include pre-operator evaluation, equipment familiarisation, skills refresher courses, unscheduled maintenance reduction training, emergency situation training and productivity improvement training.

Immersive Technologies marketing coordinator Don Forbes said that while the simulators were currently suited to the opencut mining industry, the company will look at the underground market in the future.

“Many of our customers are currently looking for a reliable training solution for their underground operators,” Forbes said.

Immersive Technologies’ Australian regional manager, Mark Walker, said the BMA order confirmed the high level of recognition by the state’s major mining groups of the company’s leading-edge simulator technology and market support capabilities.

“We have engaged an external consultant who will work with us and BMA to achieve clearly defined performance goals, which have been developed through a comprehensive process aimed at aligning site specific training key performance indicators with production, safety and maintenance KPIs,” Walker said.

The new simulators will be delivered in July and August of this year.