Clean Plant is transforming mining operations with Clean Chute, an automated system that eliminates transfer chute blockages, reducing downtime and improving safety. By integrating intelligent automation into bulk material handling, Clean Plant is driving efficiency and reliability in mining and industrial processing facilities worldwide.
Clean Plant: Revolutionising Mining Operations with Automated Transfer Chute Solutions
Solving a Critical Challenge in Mining Efficiency and Safety
The mining industry faces persistent challenges in handling bulk commodities with high moisture content and cohesive properties. The transition from an easy-to-handle lump product to a highly cohesive fines product has led to frequent plant blockages, particularly in the Pilbara iron ore sector. These blockages contribute to significant unplanned downtime, resulting in hundreds of lost operational hours annually.
Despite advancements in discrete element modelling and transfer chute design, material handling remains one of the largest causes of inefficiency in mining operations. Clean Plant is addressing this issue with its groundbreaking solution, Clean Chute, an automated system designed to streamline the clearing of transfer chute blockages and eliminate the need for manual high-pressure hosing.
Enhancing Efficiency, Safety, and Productivity
Clean Chute is an intelligent, fully integrated solution that automates the manual and dangerous task of transfer chute hosing. The system enables operators to respond to blockages instantly, significantly reducing response and clearance times. Currently, a human operator requires up to 30 minutes to identify and resolve a blockage, navigating safety procedures and using high-pressure hoses. Clean Chute eliminates this delay, allowing for near-instantaneous intervention.
Key benefits of Clean Chute include:
Faster Blockage Resolution: Automated response eliminates delays associated with manual inspections and clearance.
Improved Operator Safety: Removes personnel from hazardous environments where they risk injury from stored energy blowbacks or airborne ore fines.
Seamless Brownfield Integration: Designed to integrate with existing plant control networks, Clean Chute installs within hours with minimal operational disruption.
Increased Productivity: Reduces material handling delays and enhances production efficiency by mitigating unplanned downtime.
A Vision for Intelligent Industrial Automation
Clean Plant’s broader vision is to lead the transition from human-operated machinery to intelligent edge-device automation within large industrial facilities. While automation has transformed autonomous vehicles and logistics, similar advancements are yet to be widely adopted in process plants and mineral processing facilities. Clean Plant aims to bridge this gap by providing expertise in deploying proprietary and third-party edge devices seamlessly into existing operations.
By simplifying process plant operations into two core principles—managing material buildup and managing abrasive wear—Clean Plant’s plug-and-play kits offer a paradigm shift in industrial plant management.
Industry Leadership and Market Potential
Founded by mining and aerospace engineer Braydon Munro, Clean Plant is spearheaded by industry experts with extensive experience in plant reliability, automation, and commercialisation. Braydon’s decade of hands-on experience working with BHP and Rio Tinto has driven the development of Clean Chute into a fully operational, production-ready solution.
Joining him is Justin Davies, an industry leader in business strategy and technology commercialisation. Justin’s expertise in developing remote automation solutions, including the CCTV automation system for Rio Tinto’s Autohaul driverless train project, has been instrumental in positioning Clean Plant as a leader in industrial automation.
The total addressable market for Clean Chute is estimated at 3,000 processing plants globally, valued at $3.7 billion. The iron ore sector alone presents a $400 million annual opportunity, with research indicating a potential 5% increase in production efficiency for customers, delivering rapid return on investment.
Beyond iron ore, Clean Plant’s innovative solutions have applications in multiple industries, including thermal power, coal, steel manufacturing, copper, nickel, and aluminium processing.
Pioneering the Future of Process Plant Automation
As the industry shifts towards increased automation and efficiency, Clean Plant is well-positioned to redefine how process plants operate. By integrating advanced automation solutions into brownfield operations, Clean Plant is enabling a safer, more productive, and more cost-effective future for mining and beyond.
