Read Mike Gribbons comments on page 104 regarding what is at the top of mining companies agenda and his interview with Global Business Reports on page 109.
View PDF on the Global Business Reports website HERE.
By Shannon Katary
March 1, 2020 Issue of the Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal
Maestro is well on its way to bringing Canadian built and designed digital solutions to the Latin American marketplace in 2020 and beyond. Maestro Digital Mine is a manufacturer of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) measurement and control instrumentation for the optimization of underground mine ventilation and digital networks for the last mile of communication. Their products are made exclusively for the underground mine automation, technology (IT) and ventilation sectors.
To date, Maestro has successful launched their products in over 130 mines, in over 20 countries around the world. This Sudbury based company prides itself on their brand promise, “we leave no one stranded” which is proving to serve them well as they grow into new markets and strengthen existing customer relations. Their leadership team will not go ahead with a new development project unless they can offer a 50% CAPEX reduction over the current methodology and/or reduce the integration time by 50%. This is a big hurdle to climb in their evaluation of new products but assures the team that they will have winners if executed properly. Flagship solutions such as the Vigilante AQS™ and Zephyr AQS™ – air quality monitoring stations and the Plexus PowerNet™ are product lines developed, in partnership with the mines, addressing the industries current “bottlenecks” or challenges.
In 2019, Maestro started the process to develop distribution partners in Latin America. Cindy Chesney, Director, Global Partnership at Maestro and leading the Sales in Latin America, highlighted that, “This is the ideal geographical location to expand in this open market with many opportunities to bring digital transformation to the mines to increase safety and productivity rates with simple, enabling solutions that can be maintained by the people at the mines.” Maestro has established four new distributors/agents located in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Mexico.
Chesney remarks, “The high value of Trade Missions, such as the recent, SAMSSA Trade mission to Chile (January 2020), aids in minimizing the risk in exploring new markets, thus creating a competitive advantage for Canadian suppliers. They provide valuable market insight by being present and in front of potential clients and mines, with a hands on view of the market potential and challenges. The networking and face to face meetings gives suppliers the “boots on the street” needed to find the right distribution partners and operating mines. Our Distribution channels are vital to our success in this area and as part of the Maestro Sales team, provide valuable feedback, access and service to potential clients in Latin America.”
Most recently, Maestro successfully landed sales in Mexico, and Argentina. In Argentina, Yamana Gold’s Cerro Morro Mine is installing the Plexus PowerNet™, As well as with Newmont GoldCorp’s Cerro Negro mine for Plexus PowerNet™ – last mile communication solution. “With the support of our distribution partners, we are proud to be enabling worker safety and productivity in the mines of Latin America. It is through a collaborative model that Canadian Suppliers can impact positive change in the global mining industry”, states Co-Founder of Maestro, Michael Gribbons.
Read More on this article in Sudbury Mining Solutions Journal Magazine March 1, 2020 Issue.
Posted by Daniel Gleeson
3rd April 2020
IM Mining Publication
Its flagship Industrial Internet of Things measurement and control instrumentation solutions, such as the Vigilante AQS™ and Zephyr AQS™ air quality monitoring stations, and the Plexus PowerNet™ last mile communication platform, are designed to provide the visibility and communication miners require to keep up productivity and improve safety while operating at increasing depths.
Having successful launched these products in over 130 mines, in more than 20 countries around the world, Maestro started its strategic outreach and market research in Latin America last year.
Maestro’s says its distribution channels are vital to its success in this area and, as part of the Maestro sales team, provide valuable feedback, access and service to potential clients in Latin America.
Read More on this article in IM Mining Publication April 3, 2020 Issue.
Panelists: Anthony Downs, Digital Leader, Vale; Matthew Curtis, Senior Technology Manager, Newmont; Chris Burgess, Director Innovation & Transformation, Yamana Gold; and Derek du Preez, Chief Technology Officer, Trevali. This panel was moderated by the legendary and host of TVO’s The Agenda, Steve Paikin.
Panelists from mining companies leading the Digital Transformation discussed and debated underground communications infrastructure (LTE, Wi-Fi, leaky feeder and fiber-optic networks). Discussed the applications that are driving the need for connectivity to improve production, reduce costs and enable worker safety. Determined what technology solutions are best suited for what specific challenge underground. Bridging the gap between OT and IT to better integrate technology in operating mines. Break through the unknowns about connectivity underground.
What does Industry 4.0 look like to the mining industry in action? Digital transformation enables disruptive mining innovations, connecting mine wide systems, helping to unlock value and drive better safety and production outcomes! Maestro Digital Mine brought together global mining leaders who are enabling digital technologies into operating mines. The Panel discussed valuable insights, successful integration examples, lessons learned and best practices & processes on how to improve safety, efficiency and productivity through integrating digital technologies into mine operations. Ultimately, discussing the future for advancing the digital mine!
Video of Panel Session
Panel 2020 Invite and Panelists Poster
“The safety of the miners both nationally and globally is of utter critical importance to us, it’s really our key purpose,” said Gribbons, who’s also the company’s vice-president of marketing and sales. “So we have to remain open, there’s no other way.”
Maestro makes environmental sensors, as well as easy-to-install hardware that allows digital communications at the mine face. Its products are aimed at improving both safety and productivity in underground mines. As an Ontario-based supplier to the mining sector, the company operates as an essential service and has been exempted from province-mandated closures of non-essential businesses that started Mar. 24.
At the start of the crisis, the company put a leadership team and plan in place to ensure that first, the team and their family members stayed healthy, and second, the company remained financially healthy. (With David Ballantyne, Maestro’s cofounder and vice-president of development and technology, having a spouse and two daughters working in the health care system, the fight against COVID-19 is personal.)
Read More on this article on the Canadian Mining Journal website (April 20, 2020).
