GROUND SUPPORT
higher rock stresses, rising temperatures and more demanding ventilation conditions, equipment suppliers are being asked to improve not only installation performance, but also operator protection and process consistency.
Mine Master told IM that its response is an application-led portfolio covering low seams, medium- and large-profile headings, hard- and soft-rock conditions, explosive atmospheres and increasingly automated and electrified mining operations. Much of this experience has been built in cooperation with Polish copper producer KGHM Polska Miedź and US roof support specialist J. H. Fletcher. Mine Master designs and manufactures the machine carriers and integrates the hydraulic, electrical and control systems, while selected configurations use Fletcher bolting units adapted to individual mine requirements.
Mine Master’ s Roof Master 1.7KA represents the next step in the development of its low-profile bolting offer. The machine was developed with J. H. Fletcher for medium-height workings, with the primary objective of removing the operator from the immediate bolting zone. The project responds to conditions encountered in KGHM’ s Rudna mine. High rock temperatures, seismic activity, rockburst hazards and the risk of roof instability make support installation particularly demanding.
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At the centre of the RM 1.7KA is a patented automatic drilling and bolting unit incorporating a magazine for 10 bolts and a manipulator that transfers each bolt into the installation position. The machine can carry either 1.6 m or 1.8 m bolts and can install both mechanical expansion and resin bolts. The complete cycle is controlled from an enclosed FOPS- and ROPS-certified cabin, eliminating manual bolt handling beside the mast and reducing exposure to unsupported ground, drilling dust and falling material.
An adaptive drilling system adjusts operating parameters according to the rock conditions, with the rig designed for rock strengths reaching approximately 200 MPa. Installation parameters are registered online, providing information on bolt quality and changing geological conditions. The system is also designed for remote operation, creating the potential for tele-operation from a protected underground position or from the surface.
During testing in favourable roof conditions, the RM 1.7KA achieved installation rates of at least 12 expansion bolts per hour or 10 resin bolts per hour. The mast can work through an angular range of ± 90 °, allowing support to be installed around the excavation profile.
Electrification is the second major direction in Mine Master’ s roof bolting programme. The Roof Master 1.8KE was the company’ s first battery-powered bolter to enter underground operation. Designed for headings between approximately 3 m and 5.8 m high, it uses a mechanised mast carrying nine 1.8 m bolts. The 120kWh battery installed on the machine can be charged from the mine’ s existing 500- 1,000 V electrical network using an onboard charger, while regenerative braking recovers energy during downhill tramming.
Mine Master is now building on this experience with the Roof Master 1.8KEF. The machine combines a battery-electric driveline with the J. H. Fletcher Titan Mast AK bolting unit and is intended specifically for low-profile hard-rock operations. Modular battery cages simplify servicing and battery handling, while permanent-magnet synchronous motors reduce the number of drivetrain components and routine maintenance requirements.
Mechanical scaling- the first line of ground support defence
While rock bolts, cable bolts, mesh systems, and shotcrete are often viewed as the primary components of ground support, effective reinforcement begins with proper ground preparation. Before support systems can be installed, loose and potentially unstable rock must be removed. As a result, scaling remains one of the most important and often overlooked steps in the ground control cycle.
Historically, scaling required miners to work beneath unsupported ground using handheld tools. Although mechanised scaling has become more common, many operations continue to use drill jumbos for scaling after blasting. Getman told IM:“ While effective in some applications, drill jumbos are designed for drilling rather than repeated impact loading, and falling rock can damage booms, feeds, and other high-value components. Purpose-built mechanical scalers are engineered specifically to withstand the rigors of scaling through reinforced boom structures, protected components, and dedicated scaling tools that improve durability while reducing equipment wear.”
Ground support is most effective when viewed as a continuous process. Scaling prepares the excavation for bolting, mesh installation, and shotcrete application, creating the stable surface necessary for reinforcement systems to perform as intended. Effective scaling improves both operator safety and long-term excavation stability.
Getman’ s ProScale mechanical scaler, is engineered specifically for underground scaling rather than adapted from a drilling platform. Its reinforced telescopic boom allows operators to advance up to 4 m from a single setup while maintaining effective roof and rib coverage, reducing machine repositioning and improving productivity.
Getman’ s GEMS II electrical architecture integrates a standard 10-inch touchscreen with onboard diagnostics, machine information, and compatibility for data collection and communication systems. Common control architecture simplifies operation while providing a foundation for future technology integration.
The redesigned operator station reflects the industry’ s growing emphasis on operator-centered engineering. Beyond ROPS / FOPS certification, the spacious ergonomic cab features an enclosed, HVACequipped, pressurized operator environment
International Mining | AUGUST 2026