The new system, suitable for installation on all production rig makes and models, reduces blast hole drilling deviation - which in turn reduces average dilution and downtime (including reduced secondary drill and blasts) while improving overall fragmentation and ore recovery.

"We've had a lot of success in the exploration drilling side of the market to date - applying our technology to deliver optimum results for drilling contractors and end clients alike," said Mick Beilby, Minnovare's commercial director. "We've now extended that same core vision into the development of a new production drilling product suite that is a world first for the mining sector."

Having focused on exploration drilling to date, the move into the mining production sector represents a new direction for the business - one that has the potential to reshape the industry.

The new Production Optimiser system's hardware engages with Minnovare's new online client interface, Minnovare CORE, which utilises digital drill plans and plods that sync seamlessly with existing mine-planning software to deliver unparalleled drill-data capture and analysis capability.

Beilby concluded: "The initial trials [over a six-month period at two prominent underground gold mines in Australia] have seen our clients reduce their average blast hole deviation by up to 60 per cent, which has, in turn, delivered an estimated reduction in dilution of up to 30 per cent. At the same time, the client benefits from an increase in overall metres drilled, improved fragmentation and ore recovery. The downstream impact of which on minerals processing and logistical costs, as well as overall downtime, is significant for your average mine site - potentially equating to millions of dollars every year."