Hanwha Co., Ltd. Launches Smart Mining Digital Platform 'HATS'

9 Digital Modules Including Blast Design and Precision Drilling
Enhancing Safety Management and Work Efficiency

HATS (Hanwha As a Total Solution) drilling module screen. The operator can check whether the drilling is proceeding accurately according to the design by viewing the precision drilling guide screen. At the same time, drilling-related data is automatically collected and transmitted wirelessly, allowing the operator to monitor safety-related factors such as work progress, noise, and vibration in real time from an office away from the site. Photo by Hanwha

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Hanwha Corporation's Global Division announced on the 14th that it will supply the smart mining solution 'HATS (Hanwha As a Total Solution)', which enhances safety at blasting sites such as mines and improves production efficiency, to Asia Cement, one of the major domestic mining companies, starting this month.

The mining business provides comprehensive services for mineral extraction, including explosives supply and blasting design. Hanwha Corporation entered the global mining business in 2014 and has been providing mining services in countries such as Australia and Indonesia.

Hanwha Corporation's Global Division and Asia Cement conducted on-site tests for several months starting in July last year at a limestone mine located in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.

An official from Asia Cement stated, "The on-site test results proved the excellence of cost reduction and enhanced safety management functions, leading to a supply contract signed in May this year."

HATS is a smart solution that integrates and analyzes key mining development processes such as drilling and blasting, as well as blasting pollution like noise and vibration, on a digital platform. It consists of a total of nine modules. It provides optimal blasting efficiency through modules such as a self-communication network module capable of wireless communication in any environment, a 3D-based blasting design module identical to the actual terrain, and precision drilling and precise charging modules.

The strength of HATS lies in its solution that automatically detects and collects effective data generated during operations and transmits it to the office manager's computer. Managers can monitor the status of safety and production-related work in real time without visiting the site directly. By analyzing digitized data on blasting results, work efficiency can be improved, and the alarm function provided by HATS allows for quick response in case of abnormalities on site. In particular, functions that can detect the risk of slope collapse in advance to strengthen on-site safety management and solutions that provide warning messages when workers approach hazardous areas have been evaluated as significantly enhancing site safety.

Recently, domestic mines have been accelerating the introduction of smart mining to strengthen safety and increase production efficiency. On the 3rd of last month, five related companies including Hanwha Corporation, SK Broadband, Korea Standard Association, and Korea Mining Association signed an agreement ceremony hosted by the Korea Mine Reclamation Corporation to promote smart mining in earnest.

Hanwha Corporation plans to focus on the technological standardization of smart mining by digitalizing key blasting processes within mines using its HATS development capabilities. Additionally, it plans to develop a next-generation electronic detonator system by combining the existing electronic detonator blasting system with HATS technology. The next-generation electronic detonator system is expected to enable optimal detonation timing settings through remote blasting control, real-time monitoring, and automatic data analysis. Detonation timing refers to the time from detonator ignition to explosion.

A Hanwha Corporation official said, "We recently conducted HATS demonstration tests at the KIDECO site, a mega mine in Indonesia, and received positive evaluations from overseas customers," adding, "Our goal is to succeed in securing orders in the global market within this year."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.