GROUND SUPPORT with resin – there is no misalignment as the bolt stays centred at all times . You also aren ’ t worried about pushing something past fractured rock . It was the use of SDAs with pumpable resin that opened the door for autonomous bolt installation .”
Other features of the machine displayed in Orebro included a mesh handling boom , which picks up sheets of mesh and holds them in place for bolting through them . It is capable of many degrees of movement through multiple rotation units . As an example , LKAB Kiruna has used its machine for a lot of rehab work in an area damaged by a seismic event so they can install mesh with no one having to go in front of the Boltec . At Kiruna an operator has also never had to once come out of the cab to manually load the feed magazine . The next stage will be moving the operator to a remote office for tele-remote operation .
xCell Cyclops convergence system
Sandvik this year also launched xCell Cyclops™ , a convergence system for ground support in underground mining that , it says , provides wireless , continuous , remote and real-time measurement of ground movements . xCell Cyclops features built-in notifications and alarms to support a safer and more sustainable work environment , the company says .
Underground mining is generally trending deeper , which leads to more difficult and complex ground conditions for mine operators to manage . Squeezing ground and seismic events can have a major impact on both the safety and productivity of a mining operation . The new xCell Cyclops convergence system enables remote assessment of rock mass behaviour , which leads to safer , more efficient and cost-effective ground support and optimised ground rehabilitation , according to the company .
Peter Young , Product Manager for Bolting at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions ’ Ground Support Division , said : “ The new xCell Cyclops convergence system is a major technological leap forward to achieve a safer , more sustainable way of digitally monitoring convergence in underground mining . Through the wireless and connected devices and a user-friendly online platform , customers can easily adapt their individual setup and track any changes in the mine ’ s ground conditions .”
The retrofittable design of xCell Cyclops sensors makes them very easy to install directly onto existing rock bolts , Sandvik says . They are battery-powered and operate with highly accurate laser measurements , and can be xCell Cyclops™ Convergence System
connected via both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ,
providing operators with real-time access to data , built-in notifications and alarms . This setup reduces the need for manual work and inspections in the mine , reducing costs and improving safety .
“ This product is designed for the modern mine ,” Young said . “ Manual measuring methods for managing ground support are now a thing of the past . With this new sensor system , it is possible to understand , analyse and forecast ground movements remotely .”
The xCell Cyclops system is available as a subscription service with three levels : Basic , Silver and Gold . The number of users at a site and devices in remote mode vary across the levels . Local service is included in all three levels , and remote service is included in the Gold package .
Sika buys Thiessen Team , cementing its US presence
Sika has acquired Thiessen Team USA , a manufacturer of shotcrete and grouting products for the mining industry in the US . The company serves the Western US mining industry which produces essential minerals for the growing electric vehicle industry among many other critical minerals . It says the acquisition will open up significant cross-selling potential and will support Sika ’ s expansion in the US mining market .
Thiessen is a family owned business serving the mining industry in the Western region of the US with shotcrete and grouting solutions that
enable increased efficiency in mining operations . Sika stated : “ Thiessen has long-established , strong relationships with large mining customers and has built a reputation for excellent quality , hands-on technical support , and fast reaction times . The company operates two production facilities which are strategically located close to large mines in the western US , which among other excavate materials essential for the production of batteries . With the expanded investments in manufacturing of electric vehicles in the US , demand for these critical minerals is expected to significantly increase going forward .”
Increasing sustainability requirements in mining operations represents a significant potential for Sika ’ s robust range of solutions . A groundbreaking development is Sika ’ s unique technology for cement-free concrete which is already used for backfilling of shafts in the world ’ s largest iron ore mine in Sweden and will now be rolled out in the entire Americas region .
Sika already has a strong presence in the mining industry in Latin America and Canada , which was significantly expanded through the acquisition of King Packaged Materials Company in 2019 . “ The acquisition of Thiessen will in a similar way improve access to US mining projects . Sika products such as structural fibres , shotcrete accelerators , and backfilling solutions will complement Thiessen ’ s offering and further support market penetration .”
Christoph Ganz , Regional Manager Americas : “ The acquisition of Thiessen supports our expansion in the exciting mining business in the USA and provides Sika with a wider presence in mining across the Americas region . The offerings of Sika and Thiessen are highly complementary and open up significant cross-selling potential with new and existing mining customers . We look forward to a successful joint future and would like to extend a very warm welcome to the Thiessen employees as they join the Sika team .”
JENNMAR picks up The CAN ® with Burrell deal
JENNCHEM , a wholly owned subsidiary of JENNMAR , recently announced that on June 1 , it acquired the assets of Burrell Mining Products , Inc . As part of the acquisition , JENNCHEM will acquire Burrell ’ s operating assets along with certain customer agreements and intellectual property rights . JENNCHEM will continue production of ‘ The CAN ® ’ and ‘ Omega Block ® ’ from the Utah , Pennsylvania , and West Virginia locations . Ongoing sales will be carried out through JENNCHEM sales and distribution networks . This acquisition it said will allow JENNCHEM to expand its manufacturing capabilities , product offerings and better serve its customers throughout the US .
AUGUST 2023 | International Mining