RPMGlobal has acquired Canada-headquartered mine scheduling optimisation company Revolution Mining Software for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition includes Revolution Mining Software’s flagship schedule optimisation tool (SOT), which is a cutting-edge financial mine scheduling optimisation solution, as well as its Attain and SurfaceSOT software solutions.

The flagship SOT is the industry’s only strategic financial optimisation tool for underground mines that enables mine planners to improve productivity and profitability by optimising the net present value (NPV) of the mine schedule, says RPMGlobal CEO and MD Richard Mathews.

The SOT emerged out of research undertaken by Laurentian University’s not-for-profit Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation.

“This scheduling programme adds value to mining operations in several ways, including by generating life-of-mine schedules that adhere to all specified precedence and operational constraints, optimising NPV based on the user’s financial model,” he explains.

The acquisition of the SOT, Attain and SurfaceSOT solutions extend the strategic capability of RPMGlobal’s scheduling solutions.

“We will invest in [Revolution Mining Software’s] industry-leading scheduling optimisation tools to deliver even more innovative solutions that add real value to our customers,” Mathews assures.

Attain is a software solution which ensures that operational mine planning is systematically aligned with the long-range plan, while SurfaceSOT works for all types of mining operations to maximise their NPV by optimising their long-range schedules, including management of stockpiles and product blending, while minimising the rehandling of materials.

“RPMGlobal’s sophisticated mathematical modelling tools for short and mid-range planning amplify the benefits its customers receive from these optimisation and schedule alignment tools,” Mathews comments, adding that the company was born out of the belief that mine planning needs to be built on sound economics and Revolution Mining Software’s products strategy is completely aligned with that core value.

Revolution Mining Software’s employees and management will now move across into the RPMGlobal business, where they will continue to be focused on transforming mining operations through innovative software solutions.

“The entire Revolution Mining team is so passionate about the solutions we are delivering to the industry, so it was important to us that RPMGlobal also shared our vision and passion, which they clearly do,” says Revolution Mining Software president Lorrie Fava.

“We look forward to joining the RPMGlobal team and are convinced that the Revolution Mining Software product suite will benefit from increased investment and the sales and marketing support that RPMGlobal can offer these products right around the world.”