The inaugural Mackhack2019 was held 7-9 June at the CQU City Campus in Mackay. Run by Split Spaces, it provides an opportunity for potential and existing entrepreneurs to create, test, build and discover solutions for the mining industry and to pitch their ideas to potential investors. Mentors, judges and presenters volunteered from CSIRO, Glencore, BHP, Mastermyne, Vayeron, DSDMIP, ACARP, CarbyneMining, CQU, METSIgnited, Ultimate Challenge and CMBI (Dr Janice Terrill).
Facilitated by Peter Laurie, the weekend event involved five teams competing for a prize pool of $5000.00, working on the following projects:
• Lightbound: low cost laser lights for underground roads;
• MinedShift: an app designed to improve FIFO miners’ mental health;
• Bretfree Deflector: a device to deflect longwall debris falling off conveyors;
• Arctic Air: automated repairs for air-conditioning systems in heavy machinery;
• Your Mining Hub: a one-stop online shop to equip contractors and other visitors with correct attire and equipment for individual mine sites.
The final result was close, with first prize of $2,500 awarded to Lightbound. The judges were impressed with all of the teams’ ingenuity, vision and scope and the participants left MackHack2019 with new skill-sets for developing innovations and pitching them to potential investors and new connections.
CMBI is actively engaged in helping mining and METS firms drive value creation around new technologies – see what we research here.