BHP Group (ASX:BHP) said it introduced a fully enclosed and automated robotic cathode stripping machine at its Olympic Dam production refinery in South Australia, eliminating operator exposure to potential hazardous conditions and helping to reduce downtime caused by copper jams, according to a Thursday statement.

Cathode stripping involves the removal of thin sheets of nearly pure copper from large metal plates after refining.

The original cathode stripping machine required frequent manual intervention, per the statement.