A Kuchera apoia a sustentabilidade e a produtividade de locais de mineração remotos com a tecnologia SKYWAVE IoT

The challenge

There are tens of thousands of mines operating around the world today. The largest mines produce millions of metric tons of copper, gold, iron ore, nickel, bauxite, tellurium, molybdenum, and other minerals. Many of these mines operate in remote, rugged locations where cellular connectivity is limited or unavailable, making it difficult for the people and vehicles that keep operations running to stay connected. As a result, mining companies often face challenges when managing and monitoring sites that can span hundreds of thousands of square kilometers.

Berlin-based mining technology company Kuchera identified several opportunities to improve mining operations and developed its teamUP mining operations platform to help customers increase productivity and optimize equipment utilization. However, according to Kumbirai Chipadza, co-founder and Managing Director of Kuchera, achieving this presented several challenges.

“In many countries, such as Zimbabwe and South Africa, connectivity at mining sites is often unreliable or non-existent,” says Chipadza. “There are sometimes five- to eight-hour blackout periods during which data cannot be transmitted because cellular coverage is unavailable.”

The solution

Kuchera addressed its connectivity challenges by implementing SKYWAVE’s dual-mode satellite-cellular connectivity and devices. With SKYWAVE’s technology, teamUP enables customers to improve mining operations, enhance employee collaboration, and reduce environmental impact.

“Kuchera’s teamUP is more than just an IoT data platform,” says Chipadza. “It’s a performance management platform that empowers mining teams to set clear, achievable objectives and track their progress in real time. By automating data collection and providing actionable insights, teamUP helps teams focus on what matters most—achieving their goals.”

With tools to streamline operations, reduce downtime and enhance safety, Kuchera turns complex mining challenges into manageable tasks, driving both efficiency and success in every project.”

“When we were rolling out teamUp, SKYWAVE helped us determine exactly what we needed to ensure our customers would realize the benefits of our application.”

“We wanted to create a way for everyone involved in mining operations to collaborate on defining goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) that would help the entire team work together toward better results,” says Chipadza.

“We knew that consistent communication between workers and mining fleets was essential for maintaining transparency and achieving shared goals. We also wanted our application to provide immediate feedback to drivers and field personnel.”

SKYWAVE’s programmable dual-mode terminals transmit data directly to teamUP. Built for remote and rugged environments, these versatile, environmentally sealed terminals are designed to withstand the harsh conditions in which Kuchera’s customers operate. Their ability to seamlessly switch between satellite and cellular networks ensures that vehicles, personnel, and assets remain connected while minimizing airtime costs.

According to Christian Hugger, Kuchera’s co-founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer, the ability to process data and deliver over-the-air updates has significantly reduced device maintenance requirements.

“What impressed us most was SKYWAVE’s flexible programming environment, which includes a development kit and open APIs that make it easy to integrate with teamUP and extend the platform’s functionality,” says Hugger. “In addition, installing SKYWAVE satellite IoT terminals takes 20 minutes or less and does not affect vehicle warranties. That was especially important for our customers.”

A key factor in the success of the partnership was the close collaboration between SKYWAVE and Kuchera throughout the entire process, from solution design and development to deployment and ongoing support.

“When we began rolling out teamUP, SKYWAVE worked closely with us to identify exactly what was needed to ensure our customers could fully realize the benefits of our application,” says Chipadza.

“SKYWAVE’s support throughout our launch was invaluable as we began connecting people and vehicles operating in the field. For the first time, teams could clearly see how their work in the field directly contributed to measurable results. It was incredibly rewarding to see people become excited as they realized the impact of their daily efforts.”

“We never wanted our solution to be just another IoT platform that collects data without delivering meaningful outcomes,” says Chipadza. “We had seen many mining IoT solutions on the market that generated data but failed to improve productivity or operational efficiency. From the beginning, our goal was to provide a solution that delivers measurable business value.”

Results

Measurable improvements in mining productivity for Kuchera’s customers
Every aspect of a mining operation presents an opportunity to improve productivity. Rather than simply collecting and reporting data, Kuchera transforms operational data into employee-driven KPIs focused on continuous optimization. This approach has resulted in shorter cycle times, an increased number of loads per shift, and reduced waiting times between loads.

Reducing environmental impact while supporting regulatory compliance
‍Mining has traditionally been associated with significant environmental impact. Today, increasing regulatory requirements are driving mining companies to adopt technologies that improve sustainability. Through teamUP, Kuchera helps mining operations reduce their environmental footprint by optimizing fuel consumption, lowering CO₂ emissions, and minimizing waste.

Empowering employees to drive meaningful results
teamUP empowers employees by providing real-time feedback on the impact of their work. It gives every team member a voice and the opportunity to contribute to defining KPIs while measuring performance against shared team objectives.

“With SKYWAVE’s support, we’re providing our customers and their employees with the data they need to develop practical solutions and achieve their goals together. That’s exactly what we set out to accomplish,” says Chipadza.