Clearing the commercial hurdle

There is no lack of innovation, argues Douglas Morrison of the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation. Countless examples can be found rusting in the back lots of many mines. “If there is no support in the marketplace for a new piece of technology, it will fail,” he explains. It is CEMI’s task to ensure good ideas make the difficult leap to commercialization and adoption.

Using examples including ColdBlock Technologies’ sample digestion technology and a contractible canopy created to accelerate underground advance rates, Morrison details CEMI’s efforts to ensure innovations are put to work.