Rio Tinto Partners With IGate Patni To Open Technology Center
March 27 2012 - 5:29AM
Dow Jones News
Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) Tuesday opened a center in India with
engineering research firm iGate Patni that will seek to adapt
technology developed by the mining company for broader use in
different locations and for other commodities across its global
operations.
The move is part of the Anglo-Australian company's push to adopt
automated mining technology to improve the efficiency of its
operations, lower production costs and improve safety. A number of
mining companies have looked at automated mining systems, but Rio
is at the forefront with plans to roll out a fleet of driverless
trucks, trains and drill rigs in Australia's remote, iron ore-rich
Pilbara region.
Rio in a statement said iGate Patni will over the next five
years provide engineering research and development services at the
new center in Pune, building on work being carried out at Rio's
technology centers in Australia, Canada and the U.K.
"This partnership will enable us to move our innovations from
concept stage to reality more efficiently through the work of a
dedicated team of specialized engineers," said John McGagh, Rio's
head of innovation.
The Indian operation will have about 300 employees, mainly
engineers, Rio said.
"We are eager to cross-leverage our experience in engineering
and technology deployment across diverse fields such as industrial
automation, logistics, imaging and human factors designs," said
Satish Joshi, head of engineering services at iGate Patni, the
common brand of Patni Computer Systems Ltd. (532517.BY) and
majority owner iGate Corp. (IGTE).
Rio last month said it would invest US$518 million in autonomous
trains for its rail network in Western Australia, with the first
driverless train expected to begin running in 2014 on the
1,500-kilometer network. In November, it signed an agreement to buy
at least 150 driverless trucks from Komatsu Ltd. (6301.TO) over the
next four years for its Pilbara iron ore mines, adding to the five
trucks currently being tested at one of its mines.
-By Robb M. Stewart, Dow Jones Newswires; +61 3 9292 2094;
robb.stewart@dowjones.com