In 2024, EACON entered the iron ore sector through a partnership with Xichang Mining, a subsidiary of BAOWU, to deploy autonomous operations at the Taihe Iron Mine. In the first phase, 70-ton SANY electric trucks were equipped with EACON’s ORCASTRA® autonomous haulage system. The project presented unique challenges, including mixed traffic across complex areas such as crushers and intersections, and tight loading zones shared with conventionally-operated trucks requiring advanced traffic coordination. This was the industry's first project integrating mixed loading, traffic, and dumping. It also marked a major milestone in EACON’s expansion beyond coal and aggregate into iron ore, reinforcing its role in delivering flexible, OEM-agnostic automation for safer and more efficient mining.