GROUND SUPPORT
Sandvik ' s battery DS412iE is a highly automated , productive battery powered bolter for underground mining operations and civil construction tunnelling
Bolting best practice
As mines continue to go deeper including some major depth expansions of existing mines , Paul Moore focuses on technology developments in ground support including the latest bolter and pumpable resin technology
The importance of the right ground support approach in today ’ s intensive production deep mines was highlighted on July 2 when Newcrest Mining advised that a “ localised seismic event ” had occurred in the Eastern end of Panel Cave 2 at the Cadia operation . No injuries were sustained and , in accordance with standard operating procedure , all personnel working in the affected area were accounted for and safely returned to surface . Mining operations in all other areas , development activities and above-ground operations all continued uninterrupted . Newcrest added that inspections have been conducted which have confirmed that “ past investment in ground support has been effective in preventing damage to infrastructure , with only localised damage to the roadways and ground support near the junction of two extraction drives , and minor ground support damage to a nearby ventilation rise .” Seismic events have also been reported in late 2020 / early 2021 at other high profile operations including IAMGOLD Westwood and Glencore Kidd and others . Both of these also passed without injury to workers . Of course there is still a lot of work to be done – in 2020 as an example , there were 60 underground deaths in South Africa , of which 21 were attributed to rock falls or rock bursts .
Sandvik closes DSI Underground acquisition
The major corporate news in ground support is that Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions announced July 7 that it had completed the previously announced acquisition of DSI Underground , the global leader in ground support and reinforcement products , systems and solutions for the underground mining and tunnelling industries . In 2020 , DSI Underground had revenues of about € 516 million ( excluding the four joint ventures that are part of the acquisition ) and the purchase price was approximately € 943 million on a cash and debt
free basis . DSI Underground has around 2,000 employees and forms Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions ' new Ground Support division .
In December 2020 when the deal was first announced Henrik Ager , President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions stated : “ With the world ’ s most extensive choice of ground support products and systems , DSI Underground ’ s offering is highly complementary and enables us to deliver greater value and safety to our customers . The deal gives DSI Underground access to Sandvik ’ s substantial R & D , global service and sales network , complements our growing aftermarket business and strengthens our leadership in underground mining and tunnelling .”
Derek Hird , DSI Regional CEO for the APAC region commented recently : “ We have a long pipeline of technical developments , ranging from product enhancements through to nextgeneration products , such as self-drilling injectable bolts . As mines go deeper and the need for higher capacity support increases , our R & D team can assist with the design and testing .”
DSI Underground has focused on manufacturing improvement and capital investments in their factories to ensure they drive the internal efficiencies in manufacturing . The investment into a state-of-the-art injection chemical facility in Poland is a good example . “ Injection chemicals are products used for ground consolidation and cavity void filling in those extreme mining conditions ,” Hird says . “ Through this plant , we can supply these injection products globally .”
DSI Underground ’ s Fasloc resin capsules also improve safety and simplify handling and the injection process when installing mining anchors . Their ease of use , fast setting times and high bond strength have made them a popular choice in conventional and fully automated installations .
Digitisation and automation will be increasingly essential enablers to make underground mining safer , more efficient and sustainable . However , ground support installation lags other processes in the underground excavation cycle in these areas .
“ This is where DSI Underground becoming part of Sandvik will make a difference ,” says Michael Reich , President of the new Ground Support Division at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions . “ Together , we will be a full-service provider to the underground excavation process . We will leverage a combination of equipment ,
AUGUST 2021 | International Mining 63