By Wei Wei, Regional Fluke Calibration Product Manager, Fluke South East Asia Pte Ltd
The Philippine mining industry continues to balance rising demand with the pressing need for safety, accuracy and operational resilience. From hazardous underground environments to remote exploration sites, mining operations face unique challenges that demand robust and reliable equipment. Fluke’s innovative safety devices and calibration solutions are helping miners across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, mitigate risks, improve productivity and remain compliant with international standards.
Meeting Safety Demands in Hazardous Environments
Mining is inherently high-risk, with workers exposed to dust, extreme temperatures and potentially explosive gases. This makes the use of intrinsically safe devices critical. Fluke has responded with specialised products designed to withstand harsh conditions without compromising measurement accuracy.
Recent deployments in Southeast Asia have included more than 100 intrinsically safe thermometers in active mining operations in Indonesia alone. These devices deliver consistent accuracy while protecting workers in hazardous zones.
The Fluke 1551A and 1552A “Stik” thermometers exemplify this safety-first approach. Built for rugged field use, these handheld devices offer an extended temperature range from -80°C to 300°C, delivering laboratory-level accuracy in the field. Their lightweight, battery-powered design provides up to 300 hours of operation on standard AAA batteries, a vital advantage in remote mining sites where access to charging facilities is limited.
Mining Success Stories in the Philippines
Mining operators in the Philippines are increasingly adopting Fluke devices where safety and uptime are non-negotiable. By deploying Fluke intrinsically safe thermometers across their operations, they overcome the challenges of charging and maintaining devices in the field.
The advantages of using Fluke 1551A and 1552A are clear:
- Ease of use – simple, intuitive controls that minimise operator training.
- Data logging - effortlessly capture and store temperature trends
- Long battery life – up to 300 hours on AAA batteries, removing reliance on AC power.
- Lightweight portability – handheld devices that reduce fatigue in the field.
With these solutions in place, operators have improved safety confidence, reduced downtime and maintained critical accuracy in harsh conditions.
Calibration Solutions That Keep Operations Flowing
Accurate pressure calibration is another area of growing concern in mining, particularly when it comes to hydraulic systems. Remote operations often rely on oil-based systems, which can complicate calibration and slow down productivity.
Calibrating pressure using a manual pump can be a time-consuming task, but the Fluke 729 Pro Automatic Pressure Calibrator makes it easier with an internal electric pump that provides automatic pressure generation and regulation in an easy-to-use, rugged, portable package. Fluke 729 Pro extends the family of 729 Automatic Pressure Calibrators to 1,000 psi, and streamlines testing for both pneumatic and hydraulic systems, removing the inefficiencies associated with oil-based hydraulic pumping processes. For operations requiring higher pressures, a manual pump option, Fluke 700HPPK Pneumatic Test Pump Kit, generates up to 3,000 psi, offering a simple-to-use, safe and portable pressure source for challenging environments.
Carrying multiple single function tools can be a trouble for field workers. Fluke 754 Documenting Process Calibrator does the work of several tools, sourcing, simulating and measuring pressure, temperature and electrical signals in one rugged, hand-held device. For documentation, the Fluke 754 automates calibration procedures and captures data and also helps mining companies meet rigorous standards like ISO 9000, EPA and OSHA regulations. The new improved graphical screen, Li-Ion battery for longer life, USB port and accessories help technicians work smarter and faster in the field.
Both solutions are designed to be portable, easy to operate and effective in the field, helping mining companies maintain accurate measurements and avoid costly downtime.
Raising Standards for Safety and Productivity
As the Philippines mining sector prepares for the future, the integration of intrinsically safe tools and advanced calibration systems is essential. By leveraging rugged, accurate and portable devices like the Fluke 1551A and 1552A, and by adopting smarter calibration practices with devices such as Fluke 729 Pro and Fluke 754, mining companies are better equipped to protect their people, maximise uptime and deliver consistent yields.
Mining may be unpredictable, but safety and accuracy should never be. With the right solutions in hand, mining companies can achieve both.
To learn more about solutions for mining from Fluke, contact us at fsea.info@fluke.com or scan the QR code to explore our full range of safety and monitoring solutions.
