Optimising spare and replacement parts logistics is critical for the mining industry, where downtime can cost up to $100,000 per hour. That’s why a prominent mining company in Australia turned to BALYO to streamline spare parts management and ensure seamless, uninterrupted operations.
By deploying BALYO VNA Robots, we delivered a fully integrated, scalable solution that keeps operations running 24/7 with minimal risk of incidents and costly delays.
The mining challenge: Reducing downtime and boosting efficiency
In mining operations, the need for timely access to spare parts is critical. Delays in retrieving essential components or inefficient storage systems can impact productivity and profitability. The mining sector’s complex supply chains demand an automation solution that ensures both speed and accuracy in managing these critical assets.
Their challenge was clear: how can they optimise spare parts handling by autonomously storing and retrieving pallets up to a height of 12 metres?
The BALYO solution: End-to-end automation for spare parts logistics
BALYO responded with a tailored solution built around the VEENY VNA robot, designed specifically for high-density storage in very narrow aisles. With its capacity for infrastructure-free navigation in aisles as narrow as 1.9 metres, the VEENY robot integrates seamlessly with the warehouse management system for complete inventory control and efficient just-in-time spare parts replenishment.
Key features of the solution:
- Automated goods-to-person replenishment: VEENY automatically retrieves pallets when stock levels drop, reducing the need for manual interventions and preventing downtime. Partial pallet replenishment is also possible.
- Optimised spare parts dispatching: With automated order fulfilment, VEENY retrieves the required pallets from the high bay storage and delivers them to the designated picking and dispatch stations.
- Efficient outbound processing: Once parts are picked, autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles work in tandem to streamline the packing and shipment process, ensuring smooth flow through the entire spare parts supply chain.
Why this matters: Revolutionising spare parts logistics
- Minimising downtime costs: Every minute counts in mining. Automating spare parts handling with BALYO robots directly impacts the bottom line by reducing costly downtime incidents. Up to $100,000 in losses can be avoided with an automated system.
- 24/7 operational efficiency: With round-the-clock automation, our robots increase the efficiency of warehouse operations, reducing stockouts and ensuring fast replenishment—crucial for industries like mining, where every second counts.
- Scalable and repeatable automation: The VEENY robot is designed for scalability. As the mining sector grows, so can your automation. BALYO’s robots are built on standard forklifts, which are robotised and deployed at scale, ensuring fast integration and a high return on investment.
The return on investment: A smart investment for mining spare parts logistics
The financial advantages of automation in mining logistics are undeniable. A typical project deploying BALYO’s VEENY and Lowy CB robots in a mining warehouse running three or more shifts can achieve a return on investment within two to three years:
- Annual savings of over $1 million (replacing 15 manual drivers over three shifts) per site, driven by lower labour costs, elimination of handling errors and safety incidents, reduced downtime, and improved operational efficiency
- The impact is even greater for larger mining operations with multiple sites. Enterprise rollouts deploying 25 or more robots across multiple locations can deliver significant savings. A five-site deployment replacing, say, 75 manual drivers can save more than $8 million annually
- Eliminate forklift-related incidents, enhancing workplace safety and compliance with Australian occupational health and safety regulations
By automating critical spare parts logistics, mining companies can significantly reduce downtime, streamline operations, and see tangible financial returns in less than three years.
Robots in action: Optimising mining spare parts logistics
VEENY VNA robot
- Highest lift: 17 metres, increasing storage density by up to 30 per cent per level
- Narrowest aisle: 1.9 metres, maximising existing warehouse space
- Best safety: 360-degree coverage with safety-rated sensors compliant with ISO 3691-4
- Most accurate: 3D perception for precision handling of over 100 pallet types
Why BALYO for your spare parts logistics needs
BALYO can move you from manual to autonomous operations in weeks, not months. For over 20 years, BALYO has been at the forefront of revolutionising warehouse operations with autonomous solutions. Our expertise in robotics and logistics has helped over 300 companies globally transform their operations. This experience across all industries—and our proven track record in the mining sector – makes us the go-to partner for automating spare parts logistics.
Here’s how we help:
- Comprehensive return on investment analysis: We assess your specific needs and provide a detailed return analysis tailored to your operation
- Rapid site mapping and technical recommendations: We use LiDAR mapping to create a full digital map of your site, then offer tailored solutions and recommend the best equipment
- Digital twin creation: We simulate your entire operation to ensure the solution is optimised before implementation, allowing you to know before you go
Start your journey towards automated spare parts logistics today
Join the ranks of industry leaders in mining who have leveraged BALYO’s automation solutions to improve their operations. Book a call with one of our robotics experts and discover how our systems can optimise your spare parts logistics and improve warehouse efficiency.
Visit BALYO to learn more.
