IMARC INTELLIGENCE
Strayos and CR Digital this year announced a new integration project that has seen CR Digital ’ s Thunderbird 1110 drill optimisation system combined with Strayos blast design and optimisation tools
fragmentation in hard zones and preventing over blasting in soft zones .
In addition , operations using the Strayos blast design tools users are now able to issue the drill patterns directly to the Thunderbird 1110 drill optimisation system , so drill rig operators have the very latest drill hole geometry available onboard , ready for accurate drilling using the Thunderbird 1110 onboard user interface and guidance .
Hydraulic bolting for mining ’ s largest gyratories
IMARC Exhibitor Technofast in September 2022 showcased its time-saving and cost-saving hydraulic bolting solutions at the Minprovise Open House Day , in Perth , Western Australia . Minprovise is a specialist engineering , products , and services company providing expert support to the mining , oil and gas , and construction industries . It is also an authorised distributor of Technofast products , including outer shell nuts and head nuts , both designed to save mining and minerals processing companies downtime , whilst also enhancing safety . Minprovise is also the Australia & New Zealand agent for Japan ’ s Earthtechnica , which is the supplier of the Kawasaki primary gyratory crusher , one of the world ’ s leading designs .
At its open day , Minprovise had a large Kawasaki crusher on display , which featured outer shell nuts from Technofast . Also on display will be Technofast ’ s Head Nut , which provides a safer and more efficient way to change the mantle on gyratory crushers .
“ Minprovise has been a valuable distributor for Technofast . They have strong mining connections through their work in the industry , and they have expert staff to service all installations . We ’ ve recently supplied a head nut to a council for a crusher that ’ s crushing roadbased materials , and they are so happy with the performance , they are looking at a second set ,” said John Bucknell , CEO and Founder , Technofast , which is a global leader in safe and efficient hydraulic bolting solutions for the mining , minerals processing , primary production , sugar , power generation and other industries .
“ Mining operations that have used our EziTite products – including the head nut , outer shell nuts , and other hydraulic bolting solutions – have found that the job can be done in half the time or quicker , with fewer personnel .”
Technofast ’ s EziTite Head Nut provides precise clamping forces generated by hydraulic pressure acting on a constrained area within the assembly . It is fitted with multiple in-built locking screws to retain these tensile loads after the hydraulic pressure is released .
In order to change the mantle in gyratory crushers , which can happen as frequently as every 10 days in harsher environments , the retaining ‘ head nut ’ has to be unfastened to allow removal of the worn component – a process previously done in a time-consuming and potentially hazardous way .
“ The old method used to take five or six personnel approximately five hours to complete the mantle change , which is a big chunk of downtime . With the EziTite Head Nut in place , the same job can be done in under an hour , with only two or three personnel . It really adds up when you consider that when they aren ’ t crushing , they aren ’ t making money ,” added Bucknell .
The EziTite Head Nut is tightened using hydraulic force supplied through a pump , which means minimal physical effort is required and extremely accurate and even bolt loads can be achieved . Technofast ’ s latest EziTite ® hydraulic outer shell nuts have been designed to tension all nuts simultaneously using hydraulic pressure . The hydraulic pressure tensions the bolt to the precise tension required and then locks it in place mechanically with a built-in locking device .
“ These rock and ore crushers used to be changed by personnel using large hammers or flogging spanners , which come with a greater risk of injury , and take longer to achieve the desired result . These crushers are processing hard materials , so these outer shells need to be replaced frequently . And any time they aren ’ t crushing , they aren ’ t making money .”
EziTite hydraulic nuts and bolts provide simple assembly , and they can be daisy chained together so that all nuts are tensioned to the exact requirements simultaneously .
Materials handling mastery
Australia ’ s RCR Mining Technologies has been delivering materials handling solutions ( MHS ) to the mining industry within Australia and across the globe for nearly five decades . Neville Kelly , Business Development Manager , said : “ We have been listening to our clients needs over this time delivering market leading OEM products , parts and service , and updating our products to meet our clients current MHS requirements . Most recently we have completed the design and testing of a new apron feeder design , our sealed pan feeder .”
The new sealed pan feeder ( SPF ) was developed on the back of clients requesting a feeder that can reduce carbon footprint and meet the needs of a new battery mineral materials market . He says the new patented SPF offers superior impact and abrasion resistance , sealed apron assembly technology , removal of dribble management requirements , lower operating costs , higher reliability , and lower profile and is all designed and manufactured at RCR Mining Technologies ’ Bunbury , Western Australia operations .
RCR Mining Technologies sees the SPF bringing benefit to many mining applications and all application scenarios are currently operating with existing RCR MT feeder technologies with the new SPF bringing the opportunity to further improve side truck tipping , dozer trap feed , front end loader feed , stockpile and surge bin reclaim , to name a few .
Kelly adds : “ We continue to collaborate with our clients to bring new solutions to the mining industry , which are tested in the harshest conditions in the Pilbara of Western Australia . We stay close to our clients product needs via our OEM Product Support technical team from commissioning through to overhaul and including maintenance planning and execution . It is our clients that drive our new designs as we listen to their needs .”
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Potential application of RCR Mining Technologies ' Sealed Pan Feeder
12 International Mining | OCTOBER 2022