MINING

MINING EQUIPMENT CONTROLLERS
AND MONITORING SOLUTIONS

INDUSTRY: Mining

OEM Controls designs and manufactures configurable industrial controllers and equipment-monitoring solutions for surface and underground mining equipment.

Mining machinery places demanding requirements on the operator interface. Dust, vibration, temperature variation, continuous duty cycles and repetitive operation can all influence controller selection, configuration and system integration.

Mining Equipment Applications

Control requirements vary considerably by machine. A haul truck, underground loader, drill rig and material-handling system may require very different combinations of proportional control, switching functions, operator interfaces and system communications.

haul trucks
material handling
mining rig
underground loader

Loaders & Haul Trucks

Operator controls can support steering, positioning, material handling and auxiliary machine functions on surface and underground equipment.

Drilling & Blasting Equipment

Single- and multi-axis controllers can be configured around the proportional movement, positioning and auxiliary functions required by drilling and related equipment.

Underground Mining Equipment

Compact operator stations, demanding environments and specialized machine functions can influence controller size, configuration, interface and mounting requirements.

Material Handling & Support Equipment

Conveying, lifting, positioning and support machinery may require combinations of proportional controls, switches, foot pedals and other operator inputs.

Find the Right Control for Your Mining Equipment

Not every mining machine requires the same controller.

Use the guided selector to narrow control options based on your equipment, required functions, operator needs, environment and system interface.

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Engineering the Right Mining Control Solution

Selecting a controller for mining equipment involves more than choosing a joystick style. The control system should be evaluated around the machine functions, operator interface, electrical architecture and actual operating environment.

Control Functions

Start with the functions the operator needs to control, including propulsion, steering, positioning, lifting, drilling, material handling and auxiliary functions.

The number of axes, required proportional functions, switching requirements and operator commands help narrow the appropriate controller and configuration.

Operator Interface

Handle style, switch placement, detents, lever travel, mounting position and available space can all affect how the controller works within the machine.

Operator ergonomics should also be considered, particularly for equipment involving long shifts, repetitive movements or frequent control inputs.

Electrical & System Integration

The controller should be matched to the machine’s electrical architecture and required interface.

Depending on the product and configuration, available options may include proportional outputs, switching functions, CAN-based communications and other supported interfaces.

Operating Environment

Mining environments can expose controls to dust, vibration, shock, moisture, temperature variation and demanding operating cycles.

Environmental requirements should be evaluated against the specific controller, configuration, mounting location and application rather than assuming every mining installation has the same requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

CAN-based communication may be appropriate when the machine architecture is already designed around a CAN network or when multiple control signals need to be communicated digitally. Conventional analog outputs may remain appropriate for other applications. The decision should be based on the machine architecture, required signals, diagnostic strategy and compatibility with the receiving system.

Available panel space, mounting orientation, lever clearance, handle movement, operator position and surrounding components can all affect controller selection. Mechanical dimensions should be reviewed alongside electrical requirements so the selected controller can be integrated into the operator station without interfering with adjacent controls or normal operation.

Available mechanical characteristics vary by controller, but configuration options may include factors such as lever travel, spring return, detents and handle arrangement. These characteristics should be selected around the controlled function and desired operator interaction rather than applying the same control feel to every machine function.

Safety-related requirements should be defined at the machine and system level before the controller is selected. If an application requires redundant signals, specific fault behavior or other safety-related characteristics, those requirements should be documented and reviewed against the specifications and available configuration of the proposed controller. A controller should not be assumed to satisfy a machine-level safety requirement without that verification.
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Explore Mining Control & Monitoring Solutions

Joystick Controllers

Single- and multi-axis controls for proportional and coordinated machine functions.

Handles & Operator Interfaces

Configurable grips and controls for operator-accessible auxiliary functions.

Switches & Foot Pedals

Alternative input devices for switching, selector and specialized control requirements.

Data Delivery

Tags, trackers and gateways for equipment and asset visibility.

Need Help Specifying a Mining Equipment Controller?

Choosing the right control starts with understanding the machine.

OEM Controls can review your equipment functions, operator requirements, environmental conditions and system architecture to help identify an appropriate control solution and configuration.