Loc8 will be the brain behind the full robotic automation of rail car maintenance tasks, such as replacing bearings and lubricating moving parts.

It will also connect assets, service providers and subcontractors at the facility, and disseminate data to help BHP control more than 200 business process rules underpinning the rolling stock reliability system at its ore car repair shops, which comprise 67 robots.

Loc8 chief technology officer Owen Batt said the cloud-based software application would assist BHP meet additional rolling stock maintenance requirements as part of its Rapid Growth Rail Project 5, as the business capacity exceeds 200 million tonne per annum capacity.

“Every company, no matter how large or small in the service supply chain, strives to run as efficiently as possible,” he said.

“BHP Billiton's newly created iron ore car maintenance facility in Mooka, WA, has taken the opportunity to set a high standard in efficiency from the ground up in using Loc8 effectively as its 'digital oil' to run its maintenance operations.

“We are proud to work with the team to deliver this innovative project.”

Loc8 will initially be able to service 18 ore cars per 10 hour shift totalling 36 cars a day. Further stages of the development will see the capacity increase to 58 cars per day.