Communications/Tracking System optimizes miner safety.
Press Release Summary:
Designed for miners in hard rock, surface, and underground coal mining operations, ActiveMine(TM) addresses safety, efficiency, and regulatory issues. Fully integrated system enables 100% wireless, real-time electronic tracking of personnel and equipment as well as 2-way voice communications with individual miners. System also exhibits optimal full-duplex voice quality despite multiple hops between nodes required in 100% wireless mesh network.
Original Press Release:
ActiveMine's Communications and Tracking Capabilities Extended to Hard Rock and Surface Mines
ACT Also Unveils Improvements to ActiveMine System
TORONTO, Feb. 22 -- Active Control Technology Inc. (TSX-V:ACT) today announced that ActiveMine(TM), a 100% wireless two-way voice communications and tracking system for underground miners, is now available for hard rock and surface mining operations, in response to market demand.
The company will demonstrate ActiveMine's capabilities for these applications during the upcoming Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto, and has initiated direct discussions with hard rock and surface mining operators after receiving expressions of interest from several organizations.
In addition to these new opportunities, ACT will continue to target underground coal mines, the application for which ActiveMine was initially developed. The expanded marketing scope will significantly increase sales opportunities for ActiveMine. Worldwide, there are more than 10,600 underground and surface coal and metal mines, based on National Mining Association statistics.
"The qualities that make ActiveMine the ideal communications and tracking system for coal mines are perfectly suited to most other mines as well," said Steve Barrett, President and CEO of ACT, noting the system's cost-effectiveness, durability and redundancy. "ActiveMine can play a role in addressing the safety, efficiency and regulatory issues faced by all mining operations."
ActiveMine is the first fully-integrated, 100% wireless communications and locating technology for underground mines. The system is designed to improve underground mining safety and enhance operating efficiencies through wireless, real-time electronic tracking of personnel and equipment, and robust two-way voice communications with each miner.
Refinements Lead to Improved ActiveMine Performance
ACT has continued to refine the performance of ActiveMine - including improvements to voice quality and locating accuracy - at a live demonstration site in a major Illinois coal mine. The system's wireless "full-duplex" voice quality is crystal clear - a breakthrough achievement given the "multiple hops" between nodes required for ActiveMine's 100% wireless mesh network.
The system's network architecture represents a unique competitive advantage. In contrast with other proposed systems, all of ActiveMine's nodes, clients/handsets and network are wireless. This makes ActiveMine easy to install and extend as the mine face advances while significantly reducing maintenance costs arising from the frequent mechanical damage suffered by current hard-wired mine communication networks.
ActiveMine(TM) Demo During PDAC Convention in Toronto
ACT will host an open house hospitality suite on March 5th and 6th during the 2007 PDAC convention and trade show in Toronto. The event, which will feature live, on-site demonstrations of ActiveMine, will be located in the Wentworth Meeting Room at the InterContinental Toronto Centre Hotel, adjacent to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For further information or to schedule a one-on-one meeting, please send your request to info@activecontrol.com.
About Active Control Technology
ACT designs and markets wireless network control and communication systems for buildings and extreme environments. Located in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, the company trades publicly on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ACT. For more information, visit the company's website at www.activecontrol.com.
We make wireless work.(TM)
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CONTACT: Steve Barrett, President & C.E.O., Active Control Technology Inc., Tel.: (905) 670-5500 ext. 202, Fax: (905) 592-9691, Email: sbarrett@activecontrol.com, Website: activecontrol.com; Don Hogarth, Hogarth Communications Inc., Tel.: (416) 565-8920, Email: dhogarth@sympatico.ca
