Immersive Technologies, the developer of leading simulator technology for mining and other heavy equipment, today announced it has produced the world’s first commercial Wheel Loader Simulator for training operators. The first production units have been purchased by De Beers and BHPB.

The Wheel Loader Simulators, Caterpillar 992G and 994D models are the latest in a family of modular ‘Conversion Kits®’ that are designed to fit Immersive Technologies’ Advanced Equipment Simulator - AESII. Changing the AESII Simulator from a Truck Conversion Kit® to Wheel Loader takes less than 30 minutes by the customer.

Immersive Technologies’ CEO, Peter Salfinger, said “The Wheel Loader is another example of Immersive Technologies’ unparalleled ability to develop a not only a very realistic Simulator but an extremely powerful training tool that has been very well received by our growing international customer base.”

The Wheel Loader Simulators have real functioning controls and displays. A 180 degree full-colour display provides vital left and right peripheral vision together with a very low viewing angle, a must to see the edges of the Wheel Loader’s bucket. The 3-axis motion base provides authentic movement and feedback. The trainee is presented with on-screen multimedia style lessons for operating technique. Emergency situations together with various environmental conditions can be simulated that are impossible or too dangerous to replicate in real life.

From the moment the simulation starts, the trainee’s performance and the essential machine operating information are monitored and recorded with the results available in report form for analysis. The supervisor can ‘play-back’ the simulation and discuss the trainee’s actions.

Immersive Technologies offers an extensive range of Earth Moving Simulators that suit the majority of manufacturers’ equipment - including Haul Trucks, Hydraulic Excavators and Shovels, Electric Shovels, Dozers and Wheel Loaders. Immersive Technologies continues to invest heavily in the development of new machine types to meet the needs of our customers.

Leading mining houses including Rio Tinto, Phelps Dodge, BHP Billiton, Anglo American and De Beers, and major mining contractors apply Immersive Technologies’ simulators to improve safety, reduce operating costs and enhance productivity. Equipment manufacturers and dealers using the simulator include Caterpillar, Komatsu, P&H and Bucyrus.

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About Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies is the world's largest, proven and tested supplier of surface and underground Advanced Equipment Simulators to the global mining industry. The company has achieved this unique position by focusing on its mission to make every mining and earthmoving equipment operator in the world safer and their employer more profitable through its simulation technologies. Immersive Technologies' Advanced Equipment Simulators are helping hundreds of mining companies around the world to increase their equipment operators' safety and site profitability through effective simulation training.

Immersive Technologies provides its customers with the most effective Advanced Equipment Simulators available. This is made possible through the formal exclusive licensing and technical information alliances Immersive has established with the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), including: Caterpillar, Hitachi, Komatsu and Liebherr. These unique alliances provide Immersive Technologies with exclusive access to the OEM's proprietary and confidential machine technical information that is required to correctly simulate the OEM's machines and is not available through other public or dealer channels.

With advanced simulator modules deployed in 39 countries, Immersive Technologies is dedicated to provide outstanding service. To deliver on this commitment the company has customer sales and support offices located close to its customers in Perth and Brisbane Australia, Salt Lake City USA, Calgary, Ottawa & Vancouver Canada, Monterrey Mexico, Lima Peru, Santiago Chile, Bochum Germany, Johannesburg South Africa, Jakarta Indonesia, Kolkata India and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Immersive has the global mining experience, innovative technology, product range, OEM relationships, proven support commitment and industry vision to partner with you to ensure your simulator training solution delivers the significant results you expect.