GLOBAL NEWS
BME expands into US explosives market
South Africa-based explosives
leader BME has taken
another important step in
internationalising its footprint
by supplying its market-leading
AXXIS electronic detonators to
customers in the US. According
to BME managing director Joe
BME managing director, Joe Keenan.
Keenan, the company is
already active with shipments
of AXXIS detonators to
customers in Atlanta and
Texas, with the introduction
of a number of BME’s other
products and services soon
to follow.
“Our range of highly stable
emulsion formulations has
also been approved by the
necessary authorities, and
these will soon be available to
the US market,” said Keenan.
“We expect considerable
interest from users and
distributors alike as we unveil
our offerings to this market.”
He highlighted that much
of the anticipated initial
demand is likely to come from
large existing customers who
have a favourable experience
working with BME in Africa
and Australia — and who
also have operations in the
US, which could benefit from
BME’s offerings. Providing a
base for BME’s US presence is
its recently opened offices in
Denver, Colorado.
“We expect that the
powerful features of the
AXXIS system and its user-
friendly interface are going
to prove as attractive to this
new market as they are in our
existing markets,” Keenan said.
“Our immediate plans for the
US market are to establish
and develop our distribution
network for the AXXIS system
and emulsion explosives
— to develop customer
relationships in mining,
quarrying, and construction.”
BME’s emulsion products
— which have been developed
over the past three decades
and have proved highly
successful — will be toll
manufactured in the US
to BME’s specifications.
The company’s emulsion
technology, production
capacity, and customer service
culture have made it one of the
largest explosives supplier to
Africa’s opencast mining sector.
BME’s AXXIS system has
a strong customer base in
the mining sectors of Africa
and Australia, and has been
behind the world’s largest
surface blasts, measured by
the number of electronic
detonators fired in a single
blast. At Zambia’s Kansanshi
Mine — the largest copper
mine in Africa — 6 690
electronic delay detonators
were successfully initiated
in one blast last year using
AXXIS. Electronic detonation
has become increasingly
popular due to its reliability,
accuracy, and flexibility,
making blasting practice more
predictable and allowing
for larger and more cost-
effective blasts.
France-based Chryso Group,
represented locally by the
Chryso Southern Africa
Group, has expanded its
global operations with the
acquisition of an additional key
European operation for an
undisclosed amount.
The Chryso Southern Africa
Group consists of Chryso
SA and a.b.e. Construction
Chemicals. The admixture
producer opened operations in
South Africa 22 years ago. The
Chryso Group is a world leader
in manufacturing additives
for concrete and cement as
well as developing added value
and innovative solutions for
the building industry. It has
announced the acquisition
of certain relevant assets of
Ruredil S.p.A. in Italy.
Ruredil, established in
the 1950s, manufactures
chemicals and structural
reinforcement systems, and
owns well-recognised brands
in the construction industry,
such as Ruredil and Levocell.
The Chryso acquisition
includes the following Ruredil
operating business divisions:
concrete admixtures, cement
additives, technical mortars,
accessories for precast systems,
fibres, products for decorative
concrete and restoration, but
excludes the Rurmec brand and
the structural reinforcement
business division.
In Italy, Chryso operates
as Chryso Italia, established
in 1997. Its customers in
the region include cement
manufacturers, concrete
producers (ready-mix and
precast industrials), and
building companies that
benefit from the Group’s
8 _ QUARRY SA | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
extensive experience in the
chemical sector, and in the
formulation and knowledge of
construction materials.
Thierry Bernard, Paris-
based president and CEO
of the Chryso Group, says
the acquisition of Ruredil’s
operating business divisions
will enable Chryso to further
develop its offering of high-
technological products for
the building industry. “It will
strengthen Chryso’s presence
in the different market
segments, from construction
to repair, and widen its range
of solutions. This new business
will increase the product
mix and service offering
to customers.
“The combination of our two
operating businesses in Italy
will provide a wider range of
products to our customers, as
Chryso Group announces Italian acquisition
Thierry Bernard, president and
CEO of the Chryso Group.
well as improve our geographic
coverage, enabling us to serve
a greater number of building
companies and cement and
concrete manufacturers
across Italy and abroad. The
businesses will have strong
offerings to answer the new
technical challenges facing
the building industry,”
says Bernard.