EXPLOSIVES & BLASTING
an Gleeson checked in with Becker Varis to get the latest on its smartblast ® remote firing
device, a technology that works in conjunction with a mine’s leaky feeder system to provide
full, two-way blast control in underground and surface applications.
D
IM: Since launching smartblast, has the company won more orders from the underground mining
or surface mining sector?
BV: We have won considerably more orders from the underground mining sector as we do
specialise in underground mining communications. Since the mines were already installing an
underground communication system and the smartblast system runs over the communications
network, the smartblast system was the logical choice for a number of mines.
Dyno Nobel says its EZshot detonator offers
users the benefits of accurate electronic timing
with the ease of use of the NONEL shock tube
8,000 milliseconds, with the long period delay
timing ideal for underground perimeter blasting,
it says. The EZshot LP shock tube is identical to
the NONEL LP shock tube Dyno Nobel has been
producing since the 1970s but comes in a new
colour.
“This reliable design has stood the test of time
and blasters will be familiar with the J-hook
connection, virtually eliminating additional
training time. EZshot LP takes advantage of the
shock tube system allowing wireless
communication from initiation to detonation,”
the company said.
Dyno Nobel, owned by Australia-based Incitec
Pivot Ltd, also recently entered an agreement
with Mining3 to “develop and deliver
transformational technology to improve the
productivity, sustainability, and safety of the
mining industry”.
The company plans to leverage its Mining3
membership through the identification of, and
collaboration in, the development of new
technologies important to the industry.
Wayne Stange, Dyno Nobel’s Vice President of
Mining Technology, said: “There are several
Mining3 projects that are aligned with our
technology development initiatives. Through our
Mining3 membership, we will be able to work
with a range of researchers and mining
equipment and technology services to accelerate
the development of transformational
technology.”
One project Mining3 is working on that will
probably interest Dyno Nobel is the pursuit of a
non-toxic post-blast bulk alternative explosive.
Blasting rebrand and expansion
AEL Mining Services (AEL), a member of the JSE-
listed AECI Group in South Africa, recently
announced its official rebrand to AEL Intelligent
Blasting.
This move is in line with the organisation’s
renewed vision of embracing the technological
revolution in the explosives and mining industry,
it said.
Edwin Ludick, Managing Director at AEL
IM: There are now many remote firing devices available to the mining industry; how has Becker
Varis continued to differentiate its own smartblast system from other similar products?
BV: We rely heavily on feedback from the end users and we are constantly gathering information
and talking to customers about their needs and possible product improvements. There is
continuous work being done on upgraded designs. The latest being the smartblast 1673 series
which has a controller unit that can initiate up 64 remotes. Whereas the previous 1670 series
could only initiate eight remote units for each controller. This is especially beneficial for the larger
mines that had a requirement for up to 32 remote units in the field which, in the past, required
them to have four controllers.
Another feature unique to the 1673 series was the addition of post-blast motion detection.
Many of the underground mines using the smartblast system to initiate their blast from surface
could not always easily tell if the blast had gone off and requested some kind of feedback from
the system. With the addition of the motion detector, the user gets immediate post-blast
acknowledgement of successful blast initiation. Other added features in the 1673 series include a
history event log, increased firing capacity, GPS fencing, among others.
IM: What type of mine applications are the ‘sweetspot’ for smartblast?
BV: I would say that there isn’t really a ‘sweetspot’; we have smartblast systems installed in all
sizes of mines. It all depends on the mine itself and how they distribute their communication
networks. In most cases, it is an easy choice to go with smartblast because they will already have
the radio communications infrastructure in place which the smartblast system uses as a
backbone. This way you only need to maintain one cable system, which will provide both two-way
radio communications and remote central blasting, with the possibility to add other data
transmissions as well. With the reduced maintenance and less missed blasts, the system can pay
itself off within a year.
IM: How has the evolution of mine communications systems
impacted the use of smartblast?
BV: At this stage in the evolution it has not impacted the use
of smartblast much, but with integrations of Wi Fi and LTE in
mines now, smartblast will have to follow suit, which is part
of the development of the product.
IM: Are there any recent Smartblast case studies you can
mention where the product has achieved impressive
results?
BV: I can’t give a specific case study, but all
smartblast installations have improved
overall safety and can save the mine
approximately $100,000/y in operation and
maintenance costs.
IM: How does Becker Varis expect its blasting portfolio to
evolve in the next five years?
BV: Now that the 1673 series is picking up, we
The Becker Varis smartblast remote firing
need to concentrate on the new communication
device works in conjunction with a mine’s
networks to ensure the smartblast system can
communication system to provide full, two-way
blast control in underground and surface
run on all available networks.
applications
AUGUST 2019 | International Mining 39