MineARC Systems, the market leader in the supply and manufacture of refuge chambers for over 20 years, has continued to take its emergency response offering to the next level; with a complete end-to-end solution for those moments in need.
In recent times, the company has launched a range of innovative products that no longer just focus on sheltering underground personnel in an emergency, but also facilitate navigation to the refuge chamber and ERT rescue endeavours.
Some of these latest products include self-contained self rescuers, remote chamber monitoring, and personal tracking.
Now, MineARC brings to the table an extension of their widely adopted Aura gas monitoring range – this time in a compact, handheld device.
The Aura-PT (portable) digital gas monitor, designed and manufactured in Western Australia, provides personnel with the ability to actively monitor atmospheric conditions within their immediate surroundings.
Available in two, four and six gas models, the unit is based on the same technology used in MineARC’s Aura-FX (fixed) gas monitor – a standard feature of their refuge chambers for a number of years.
MineARC has designed the Aura-PT with underground mining and heavy industry applications in mind, resulting in a robust unit with a rubberised casing that will stand up to any test.
An extensive range of gas sensors are available to choose from – ranging from the standard oxygen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, to more specialty sensors such as ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulphide and chlorine.
A user-friendly HMI and both visual and vibration alerts make the device simple to operate and reduce any risk of human error when interpreting gas readings.
The Aura-PT’ s most unique feature is its ability to offer remote data reporting; through either MineARC’s own GuardIAN Intelligence Network or simply via Wif-fi or Bluetooth.
Integration with GuardIAN is made possible with the standard inclusion of a UWB chip, enabling data transfer between the Aura-PT and the central dashboard via MineARC’s Node network (should they be installed on site).
With this set-up, clients can benefit from site-wide gas monitoring and alerts via the Aura-PT and a series of low-cost tracking nodes.
The Aura-PT gas detector is also useful as a redundancy during re-entry, allowing personnel to quickly and accurately monitor gas levels as they are driving back down the decline.
MineARC’s head office in Western Australia is home to its growing manufacturing facility.
They build everything from their extensive range of capital equipment down to their latest electronic equipment, including PCBs.
The Aura-PT is no exception to this, and has undergone extensive engineering, testing and trials; both at their facility, and at mine sites across Western Australia.