AUSTRALIAN METS
Designed to be compatible with renewable energy sources like solar and microgrids, BladeHAUL can integrate seamlessly into energy ecosystems and trickle charge via mine site renewable infrastructure, or fast-charge through CCS2 chargers, the company says.“ One BladeHAUL can be providing power to an electric drill rig, whilst the other one is charging,” it added.
BladeHAUL also has an added safety benefit, reducing human exposure in highrisk and hazardous zones through remote operation and autonomous navigation between drill pads, charging stations and stockpiles. It also removes safety considerations associated with long cables and the logistical challenges associated with access and sequencing that are becoming more apparent with electric drill rigs.
Equipped with BladeNET ®, a proprietary telemetry and communications suite, BladeHAUL offers real-time diagnostics, battery health monitoring and decentralised data sharing.
Autonomous stemming, explosives loading
Jevons Robotics recently announced the launch of the ARTEV1000, a cuttingedge, automated rugged terrain electric vehicle to augment the success of its larger counterpart, the ARTEV6000.
With the growing success of the ARTEV6000 product, which achieved global milestones in autonomous stemming and explosives loading through 2024 / 2025, the ARTEV1000 seeks to enable these benefits for small operations where the blasting bench constraints make it difficult or impossible to use conventional vehicles, Jevons says. This often forces customers to revert to manual handling and deployment thereby significantly increasing the activity’ s risk profile.
The ARTEV1000 eliminates the need for operators to engage in high-risk activities directly at the blast hole
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“ ARTEV1000 is not merely a smaller addition to our product line; it symbolises our dedication to addressing today’ s mining challenges with innovative solutions,” Todd Peate, CEO of Jevons Robotics, said.“ Now is the time for the industry to embrace new technology and leverage efficiencies that can significantly reduce exposure hours while enhancing productivity across areas such as explosives QA / QC, explosives loading, stemming activities, geophysical tool deployments, and environmental and geotechnical monitoring.”
The ARTEV1000 incorporates several technologies from the larger 6000 series. This robotic platform eliminates the need for operators to engage in high-risk activities directly at the blast hole, including hole dipping, stemming and hose handling in small diameter patterns. By automating these tasks, it effectively reduces operator exposure to manual handing, dust and gas exposures together with an elimination of exposure hours to high walls, the company says.
“ This is more than just automation; it represents a pathway to zero-harm operations, demonstrating that productivity and safety can coexist,” Peate said.
Ricky Butler, Vice President Australia Pacific Metals, Orica, noted at the launch of the ARTEV1000:“ We are proud to take delivery of the first ARTEV1000 in Australia. This solution represents one of the many ways we are looking at eliminating manual handling and other on-bench risks for our teams, whilst driving improved safety, productivity and quality for our operations and customers.”
Shaping the future of mining
As a global leader in commercial explosives with major Australian operations, Dyno Nobel has been embracing a combination of safety, sustainability and performance with two recent technological developments: the DYNOBULK ® Electric MPU and the DigiShot ® XR series.
Many mining operations have sustainability goals, and heavy equipment can be a major contributor to GHG emissions. That’ s why Dyno Nobel developed the DYNOBULK Electric MPU. Believed to be the world’ s first electric bulk explosive mobile processing unit( MPU), the DYNOBULK Electric MPU is a sustainable alternative to the conventional dieselpowered vehicles used in the mining and resources industry, the company says.
The DYNOBULK Electric MPU is powered by a 390-kWh lithium polymer battery and an electrified propulsion system. Its regenerative braking system captures and stores energy during descents, and it can be charged quickly using a 650-kWh fast-charging battery station compatible with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower, further reducing emissions and allowing for off-grid operations as necessary.
The DYNOBULK Electric MPU’ s battery provides a range of 300 km on a single charge, enough to sustain operations for an entire shift in most mining conditions, Dyno Nobel claims. The battery can be fully recharged in approximately 45 minutes using a fast-charging battery station, reducing downtime and maximising productivity.
Safety is a cornerstone of the DYNOBULK Electric MPU. It’ s designed to operate safely in extreme mining conditions and meets rigorous industry standards, according to the company. Its advanced emergency protocols, including automatic shutdown systems, thermal management and containment measures, are designed to ensure operator and environmental safety. Compared with diesel engines, it also reduces noise pollution and fumes for workers and operators.
Dyno Nobel’ s DigiShot XR series, meanwhile, consists of three electronic detonators: DigiShot XR, DigiShot Plus XR and DigiShot Plus XRS. Each detonator is designed with extreme shock resistance to perform in even the most challenging mining conditions.
In high-dynamic shock environments where detonator failure is possible, DigiShot XR, DigiShot Plus XR and DigiShot Plus XRS offer shock and EMP resistance through designed stress relief, precise component placement and material selection. DigiShot Plus XRS also features a hardened shell, offering additional dynamic shock resistance in extreme conditions. By improving shock and EMP resistance, the DigiShot XR series is designed for enhanced safety in any environment. For peak performance, the DigiShot XR
International Mining | OCTOBER 2025