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Explosives-delivery prototype poised to remove charging crew from the face

4th December 2020

By: Natasha Odendaal

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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ASX-listed Orica and mining and infrastructure equipment multinational Epiroc Rock Drills have revealed a prototype for a semi-automated explosives delivery system for underground mines.

The co-developed prototype, Avatel, aims to showcase a new way of approaching development blasting operations by removing charge crew exposure at the face, and enhancing safety, efficiency and productivity.

“The solution provides safe access for an operator in cab to execute the development cycle, while reducing the reliance on costly, time-consuming and, at times, ineffective controls put in place to manage the risks to personnel working in one of the highest risk areas of an underground mine,” the companies commented in a joint statement.

Orica and Epiroc, which entered a partnership in November 2019 to develop the semi-automated explosives delivery system, are starting the commissioning of Avatel for extensive trials throughout the next year, with the first commercially available systems expected to enter service by the end of 2021.

It is deemed to be the first-of-its-kind, industry-driven explosives delivery system for customers in the underground hard-rock mining sector.

Avatel, which is built on the foundation of Epiroc’s Boomer M2 carrier and integrated with Orica’s latest explosives technology, is a twin boom, semi-autonomous and fully mechanised development charging solution that allows a single operator to complete the entire charging cycle from the safety of Epiroc’s enclosed roll-over protection structure and falling object protective structure certified cabin.

“The mining industry is moving rapidly toward a digitally integrated and automated future, and Avatel will fulfil our shared vision of developing safer and more productive blasting solutions,” says Orica chief commercial and technology officer Angus Melbourne, noting that the achievement of this development milestone, despite Covid-19-related disruptions, revealed the strength of the collaboration between the two companies and their collective ability to “deliver the future of mining”.

“The Avatel prototype represents the first step towards autonomous charging – a vital step in the journey towards safer and more productive blasting operations underground. “We are looking forward to bringing this ground-breaking solution to customers worldwide,” adds Epiroc underground division president Sami Niiranen.

The system boasts a convergence of technologies, including the fully wireless initiation system WebGen, the LOADPlus smart control system and the Subtek Control bulk emulsion, and is equipped with the most sophisticated version of Epiroc’s Rig Control System (version 5).

“Through its intuitive interface, with a large touchscreen and dual multifunctional joysticks, and combined with Epiroc’s computer-assisted boom positioning features, it can be easily handled. Integrated with Orica’s LOADPlus, charge plans and other important data will be communicated between the systems,” the companies explain.

This integration provides customers with complete and repeatable control over blast energy from design through to execution.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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