Mining technology - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Epiroc makes the ‘impossible possible’ with launch of Boltec ABR 1

Epiroc has taken another significant step forward in its rock reinforcement automation journey with the release of the Boltec Auto Bolt Reload (ABR). Combining the company’s ground support nous with its mechanisation and automation knowledge has resulted in a solution able to remove operators from the front end of the bolter – where personnel are most at risk of rock falls from unsupported ground – and increase bolting productivity, especially in poor ground conditions. With mining operations steadily going deeper as they develop existing and newly discovered orebodies, the rock… Read More Here

Sandvik, Flanders to digitise technologies

September 12, 2022 admin

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has signed a deal with Flanders to develop a digital interface. The digital interface will be designed to connect Flanders’ ARDVARC autonomous drill system and Sandvik’s iSeries rotary blasthole drills. The creation of a digital interface will allow Sandvik’s rotary drills to work with the ARDVARC system with little to no changes made to the drill rig. The companies are targeting a ‘plug and play’ approach which would allow the two systems to work together. Developing the interface would also mean that customers would have… Read More Here

International Explosives Mining technology Technology & Innovation

BME’s AXXIS Silver™ debuts at sub-zero Lesotho mine

September 7, 2022September 7, 2022 arnbethnic

High in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, explosives and blasting specialist BME recently achieved the first blast outside of South Africa with its new AXXIS Silver™ electronic initiation system. BME – a member company of the JSE-listed Omnia Group – is assisting a diamond mining customer to conduct quality blasts in all weather. According to BME’s AXXIS™ support manager Hennie du Preez, BME has been active on this mine since 2016. Located at an altitude of over 3,000 metres, the operation frequently experiences snow and sub-zero temperatures. “This means blasting… Read More Here

International Equipment & Technology Mining technology

Atlas Copco has acquired Danish manufacturer of on-site gas generation equipment

September 4, 2022September 4, 2022 arnbethnic

Atlas Copco has acquired Oxymat A/S, a Danish supplier of on-site oxygen and nitrogen solutions. Oxymat is a privately owned company headquartered in Helsinge, Denmark, with production facilities in Denmark and Slovakia. The company has 146 employees, and in 2021, they had revenues of approximately MDKK 301 (MSEK 411*). Oxymat specializes in on-site gas generation solutions for a wide range of industries including aquaculture, water treatment, medical, marine and mining. By converting bulk or cylinder supply of gas to on-site generation, the need of frequent truck transport can be avoided,… Read More Here

Equipment & Technology Mining technology

Epiroc to acquire AARD Mining Equipment

August 27, 2022August 27, 2022 admin

Swedish mining OEM Epiroc has said it will acquire AARD Mining Equipment, a South African mining equipment manufacturer. AARD, based near Johannesburg, South Africa, designs, manufactures, services and supports a wide range of mining equipment, specializing in low-profile underground machines for mines with low mining heights. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The company’s customers are mainly in the Southern Africa region. AARD has approximately 200 employees and had revenues in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, of about SK650 million (US$61.4 million). “AARD has reputable and… Read More Here

Uncategorized International Mining technology Technology & Innovation

Spotlight on foundation failure in rock slopes

August 23, 2022August 23, 2022 arnbethnic

While slope failures in open pit mines occur mainly due to kinematic instability or shear stresses within the slope exceeding rock mass strength, the concept of foundation failure can prove useful in cases where ground profile anomalies occur. This was the message from John Kwofie, principal geotechnical engineer in SRK Consulting’s Ghana office, when he delivered a keynote address to the recent Rocscience Africa Conference 2022 in Accra. Kwofie noted that he had encountered three instances over a span of a decade, where the cause of slope failure could not… Read More Here

Equipment & Technology Mining technology

Sandvik Partners With Foran For Record BEV Fleet In Canada

August 13, 2022August 13, 2022 admin

Foran Mining has selected Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions to supply a fleet of 20 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), including trucks, loaders and drills, for its McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan, Canada. Set to be the world’s first carbon-neutral copper development project, McIlvenna Bay will be powered by clean hydroelectric power and designed to take advantage of Sandvik’s latest technological advances in sustainable mining. Sandvik’s biggest BEV fleet to date will include seven Sandvik LH518B loaders, six Sandvik TH550B trucks, four Sandvik DD422iE jumbos, two Sandvik DL422iE longhole drills and one Sandvik DS412iE mechanical… Read More Here

Equipment & Technology International Mining technology

Sandvik launches AutoMine® Mapping Solution, next generation automation solution

August 10, 2022August 10, 2022 admin

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has introduced the AutoMine® Mapping Solution, an innovative new product designed to, it says, maximise productivity and improve safety of autonomous vehicle navigation in underground mining operations through the use of mapped data. The AutoMine Mapping Solution is Sandvik’s next generation product that enables a vehicle to safely record an underground 3D environment with a mine mapping tool, and convert 3D maps to 2D. Faster configuration, and the possibility to continue to operate other equipment within the area while it is being mapped, increases productivity… Read More Here

Equipment & Technology Mining technology

John Deere brings redesigned ADT to South African shores

July 28, 2022July 29, 2022 admin

Heavy equipment manufacturer John Deere’s South African branch, having been in the country for 140 years, launched its redesigned 41.8 t, 460 series articulated dump truck (ADT) to the domestic market on July 26. Aimed primarily at the mining industry, the 460E-II series has been redesigned to incorporate a wider dump body, improved electrical and hydraulic systems, and new drive modes to help operators get the job done in various conditions. “John Deere can proudly say that this machine is built for the long haul,” the company states. The redesigned… Read More Here

Equipment & Technology International Mining technology

World-first hydrogen haul truck operational from August – Anglo Platinum

July 27, 2022July 27, 2022 admin

The pilot world-first hydrogen haul truck launched early in the year, has had some final changes made to it before it heads into the pit and goes into operational mode from August. Meanwhile, the second prototype is already underway, where learnings from the first truck are being taken into the development of the second prototype. “It’s important to recognise that as we were driving to get the first prototype out to market as soon as possible, we used existing components and retrofitted them into an existing truck. “The next prototype… Read More Here