The collaboration will leverage Caterpillar Global Mining's industry expertise and combine its in-pit operational execution system, Cat MineStar, with Trimble's portfolio of technology-enabled mining information solutions. This expanded collaboration in mining will include product integration and development, marketing, distribution and support of Trimble Connected Mine solutions.

The companies have signed an agreement that outlines areas for increased engagement to begin in early 2017. Caterpillar Global Mining is anticipated to become the primary sales, marketing, distribution and support channel for Trimble's Connected Mine platform. In addition, Cat MineStar and Trimble's Connected Mine platform will be integrated and collaboratively developed. The expanded Caterpillar-Trimble collaboration will enhance both companies' efforts to serve global customers with technologies and services across a mine’s entire operation and equipment fleet, regardless of brand, language or location.

Tom Bluth, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the surface mining & technology division, said: “Caterpillar and Trimble have enjoyed a very successful relationship for decades and we are pleased to be working more closely to better leverage the products and capabilities in both companies for our mining customers. Whether it's the mining pit supervisor or a corporate operational analytics teams, Caterpillar Global Mining continues to go beyond the iron by providing the technologies and expertise to help customers improve productivity and lower their cost per tonne.”

Bryn Fosburgh, vice president at Trimble, added: “This collaboration demonstrates our mutual commitment to provide mine professionals with complete visibility from the mine to the mill. As a result, mine operations can leverage accurate production, fleet and spatial data to optimise their workflow and control costs.”

Cat MineStar is a mining operational execution system purpose built to help miners boost productivity, enhance safety and improve equipment availability, regardless of equipment manufacturer. The system consists of five capability sets: Fleet, Terrain, Detect, Health & Command, which can be configured to suit the needs and capabilities of any mine, both surface and underground. Cat MineStar was first introduced in 1996, and today it is installed at more than 200 mine sites around the world. Utilising improved interoperability, the Cat MineStar platform is well positioned to help customers connect data and decision-making across the mining value chain, from the mine plan to plant processing or from an individual machine to across an enterprise.

Trimble Connected Mine provides an integrated and complete view of mine data to improve and accelerate operational and strategic decision making. Visual Intelligence is an optional module that enables the 3-D visualisation of Trimble Connected Mine data.