Control & Automation Systems

More intelligent control systems can unlock entirely new levels of performance, control, and efficiency in your electric machines, especially when it comes to power systems.

We help your machines level up

Advanced control systems for electric machines in mining and heavy industry

It was seeing our client’s drives and motors held back—or burn out—because of native control system limitations that led us to become machine-level control systems experts ourselves.

For mining, FLANDERS developed our own open-architecture controls and automation system—FREEDOM—that has led to major machine advancements for drills, shovels, draglines, and haul trucks.

For mills, manufacturing, and other heavy industries, we’ve become trusted systems integrators and experts in all major platforms: Siemens, ABB, Toshiba, and Rockwell Automation.

  • For Mining

    • Partial and full machine automation

      Improving safety, efficiency, and productivity

      The automation systems we develop on the FREEDOM platform remove humans from harm’s way while increasing machine accuracy, efficiency, predictability, and longevity.

      It’s important to note that automation isn’t an all-or-none undertaking. We can, for example, automate specific parts of a manual process or convert a machine to one-touch operation, automating all but the final trigger for running a process.

      Contact us to talk about automation options for your machines.

    • Hallmarks of FLANDERS controls and automation for mining machines

      Field hardiness

      Ruggedized, mining-duty FLANDERS components

      Safety

      Safety systems tailored to the risk category levels that you define

      Data access

      Total transparency—your machines, your data

      Interlocks

      Smart dependencies that prevent machine damage

      Operator experience

      HMIs designed for improved diagnostics and usability

      PLCs

      Use of programmable logic controllers (PLCs), rather than embedded computers

      Automation options

      Configuration options for partial or full machine automation

      Failsafes

      Smart fallbacks that minimize risk during implementation

    • The benefits of a universal control system interface

       

      Using FREEDOM to standardize the user interface for operation of different machine types or models reduces complexity for your machine operators, making it easier for them to navigate, find information quickly, and move between machines.

    • Mining solutions built on FREEDOM

      Field-proven in diverse mining fleets around the world

      Ask us about case studies, data, and the results you can expect for specific configurations, upgrades, and retrofits of mining machines with FREEDOM control systems.

      • FREEDOM for Drills
        • Widely known as ARDVARC, FREEDOM for Drills is the world’s first and only truly autonomous, multi-pass drill control system. Our blasthole drill automation system is unmatched in safety, accuracy, and machine life extension.

      • FREEDOM for Shovels
        • You can get 10% more output from your electric rope shovels and hydraulic shovels by combining our FREEDOM for Shovels control system upgrade with higher-performance FLANDERS motors.

      • FREEDOM for Haul Trucks
        • An essential part of our DC to AC upgrades that can increase haul truck speeds by 30%, FREEDOM for Haul Trucks gives you independent control of motors, greater traction control, and separation of power and control to reduce arc flash exposure.

      • FREEDOM for Draglines
        • Bring new life to old DC draglines. Our FREEDOM control system liberates you to convert your dragline from DC to AC, using higher-performance FLANDERS motors and drives that can extend dragline life by 15+ years and eliminating most motor maintenance.

      • Widely known as ARDVARC, FREEDOM for Drills is the world’s first and only truly autonomous, multi-pass drill control system. Our blasthole drill automation system is unmatched in safety, accuracy, and machine life extension.

      • You can get 10% more output from your electric rope shovels and hydraulic shovels by combining our FREEDOM for Shovels control system upgrade with higher-performance FLANDERS motors.

      • An essential part of our DC to AC upgrades that can increase haul truck speeds by 30%, FREEDOM for Haul Trucks gives you independent control of motors, greater traction control, and separation of power and control to reduce arc flash exposure.

      • Bring new life to old DC draglines. Our FREEDOM control system liberates you to convert your dragline from DC to AC, using higher-performance FLANDERS motors and drives that can extend dragline life by 15+ years and eliminating most motor maintenance.

  • For mills, manufacturing & other heavy industries

    • Industrial control and automation systems

      Whether it’s incorporating a new technology into your current control system or a complete machine upgrade for main-line or auxiliary systems, we have the in-house expertise to get it done fast and done right.

      Using the right platform for your scenario

      We develop controls and automations solutions on Siemens, ABB, Toshiba, and Rockwell Automation platforms. Our primary concern is matching the platform to the application, your preferences, and the unique demands of your operation.

      Contact us about different ways to optimize your current machines with FLANDERS controls solutions and the fastest ways to prove the ROI for your operation.

      Supported Platforms

Contact our controls and automation team

Let’s improve the electric machines in your mine, mill, or industrial operation with today’s most advanced control systems.

Contact Us