IM 2019 April 19 | Page 46

SURFACE DRILLING A FLANDERS customer in Florida stated: “We have used the FLANDERS DRILLWISE product on our DML SP located in South Florida for almost a year. We are very pleased with the quality and accuracy of the product. The HMI has enhanced the drillers’ performance with its user friendly interface. The strata logger feature has allowed us to increase blast performance by developing hole-specific loading charts and managing vibrations based off geological profiles. The GPS option has allowed to save on time and money by reducing the cost of a surveyor as well as lessening production time. Customer support is always available with quick solutions to keep production rolling. Overall, a great product at a great price” said John Rohrer, from Angelini Blasting Inc/J&G Explosives LLC. Russia’s Rudgormash says it continues to modernise its blasthole product line, most recently with an upgrade of the SBSH-250MNA- 32. “Presently this new control system undergoes a number of tests. The system is made on the basis of the industrial controller supplied by one of the world famous manufacturers of electric equipment. The new control system provides an opportunity for the operator to control the machine work in various operating modes. One of the system functions is visualisation of the equipment working parameters (temperature, pressure indexes etc). The data can be transmitted online to the mining T H E G L O B A L T E C H N O L O G Y and processing plants head office, service centres and immediately analysed.” Rudgormash says the new control system development is the first step towards further automation of its drills. The pilot was initiated and designed for CJSC Syrievaya Kompaniya, which operates limestone, gypsum and clay open cast mines. Mining customers in Uzbekistan are also showing interest in the system. Capital Drilling’s trading performance in 2018 was strong, particularly in the second half of the year which saw the Group accelerate its penetration into the fast growth West African mineral drilling industry A strong contracting market Capital Drilling Ltd, a leading drilling solutions company focused on contracted blasthole drilling in the African markets, provided its Q4 2018 trading update for the period ended 31 December 2018, ahead of announcing its full year results on 14 March 2019. Jamie Boyton, Executive Chairman, said: “Capital Drilling’s trading performance in 2018 was strong, particularly in the second half of the year which saw the Group accelerate its penetration into the fast growth West African mineral drilling industry. The quality of our business improved further, with zero LTIs A N D I N N O V A T I O N S H O W recorded, an outstanding result, in addition to some material contract extensions with some of our longstanding blue chip customers.” He added: “The current year has started strongly with solid tendering activity in West Africa, where we are benefitting from the infrastructure investment that we have made over the past 12 to 18 months.” The company stated: “The Group’s increased footprint in West Africa, coupled with our track record of delivering the highest quality service to F O R T H E M I N I N G I N D U S T R Y COPPER, LITHIUM AND ENERGY · MINERS AND SUPPLIERS MAKE YOUR MAJOR BUSINESS DECISIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM FOR MINING NEW ! TH TO ENERGY TH PAVILION SPONSORS STRATEGIC PARTNERS PRESS PARTNERS RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION: (+56) 55 2454335 · reservas@exponor.cl · www.exponor.cl · Antofagasta Chile GUEST NATION