EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING
Primed for innovation
The blasting sector continues to move closer to autonomous operations as sophisticated hardware and software combine , Dan Gleeson observes
A critical enabler of Avatel is the second-generation wireless initiation system , WebGen 200 , which will eliminate the need for wired connections and subsequent exposure to crews at the face , enabling continued and safe access , even in poor or seismic ground conditions , to accelerate the development cycle , Orica says
Another year , another milestone .
In the world of explosives and blasting , innovation and technological development continue unabated .
Where once electronic initiation technology was considered niche , it is now gaining widespread adoption .
Where remote and autonomous operations were once a concept , they are now becoming a reality .
That is certainly the case at an underground mine in South America where Enaex , through its Enaex Robotics division , recently achieved an important milestone .
During April 2022 , a fully robotic blast was carried out for development operations in underground mining .
This development – a world first , Enaex claims – is the first of many robotic loading cycles planned at this mine during 2022 leveraging the Enaex UG- iTruck ® robotic loading equipment where a robotic loading arm autonomously positions and loads explosives at the face .
Marco Ruiz Hernandez , Enaex Robotics Director , said the main challenge the company is seeking to solve with this technology is the ability to carry out blasting operations in complex areas and environments where operational risks such as rock bursts , geomechanical instability and seismicity are of concern – often the case in deep mining .
“ With the UG-iTruck , the risk present in special operations , where there is high exposure , is eliminated , moving people to a safe place where the entire system is controlled remotely ,” he said .
The UG-iTruck has a mechanised priming system and can manufacture Ugex Full Face ® , an emulsion with a variable density that allows precision blasting and high performance , according to Enaex .
The Enaex equipment is designed to load explosives in development tunnels , with the ability to measure the profile of each drill hole ( cleaning them if necessary ), assemble boosters and detonators robotically , load emulsion , tram and detonate without the need for tie-ups thanks
During April 2022 , a fully robotic blast was carried out by Enaex for development operations in underground mining
42 International Mining | AUGUST 2022