At the CIM 2018 in Vancouver, President of WipWare, Tom Palangio sat down with Jerrod Downey of Crownsmen Partners. They discussed Automatic Real-Time Fragmentation Analysis and the changes that technology is bringing to the mining industry.
How WipWare Got Its Name
One of the questions frequently asked is how the name WipWare came about. The “Wip” is descended from WIEP, Waterloo Image Enhancement Process, the original development at the University of Waterloo in the 1980s. The WIEP process was simple: Take a picture of broken material and get engineering data from it. Tom and some Waterloo colleagues developed the technology that WipWare uses today in their WipFrag real-time fragmentation analysis software.
Before technology like WipFrag, you’d look at a blast and have to visually try to determine if it was good. Another method was to stop the belt and take a manual sample. Then, wait for the sieve results which could take hours, even days. So, by the time the results came back, they weren’t actionable and this was an ineffective method. With WipWare’s fragmentation analysis systems and software, you get real-time results immediately to make quantitative decisions to improve your processes.
Cutting Edge Technology
In the past, “it has been difficult to introduce new technology into a traditional business”. The mining industry “hasn’t always been receptive to change”. With remote sensing, robotics and automation becoming common technology, WipWare’s real-time fragmentation analysis systems and software is on the cutting edge of this new technology.
Now, the mining industry is becoming more receptive to automatic processes. Tom explains, “Our technology allows you to measure material in real-time. If you’re off spec, you can adjust it and it’s not disruptive”. Imaging, computer and sensor technology has really improved. Tom states, “We thought creating the data…was a reason for being…but it’s getting the data to the people that can act on it”.
Expanding Fragmentation Measurement
By 2018, WipWare had expanded WipFrag onto mobile devices, making fragmentation measurements more accessible outside traditional desktop and laboratory environments.
The interview also explored applications beyond mining, reflecting the broader potential of particle measurement across industries.
For current capabilities and supported platforms, visit the WipFrag product page.
Watch the Interview
In this conversation from CIM 2018, Palangio reflects on the development of fragmentation measurement, the mining industry’s adoption of automated technologies, and the importance of delivering useful information to people who can act on it.
Watch the full Crownsmen interview below.
The principles discussed in this 2018 interview continue to guide WipWare’s approach to material measurement. While the technologies have evolved, the objective remains the same: provide meaningful information that helps operations understand and improve their processes. Explore From Blast to Mill: Using Fragmentation Data to Improve Mining Performance for a closer look at how fragmentation measurements support decisions throughout mining and mineral processing.
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