ROCK REINFORCEMENT
Sika completed the acquisition of MBCC Group in May 2023
construction under a suite of climatic conditions . Ultimately SIka intends to fully integrate and
rebrand the Master Builders Solutions product portfolio into its Sika product brands .
Sika concrete admixtures such as its Viscocrete ® and Sigunit ® technology it says stand up to the highest quality and HSE standards in operations all around the globe . Furthermore it offers a full product range including SikaFix ® injection resins against water ingress and for rock consolidation ; SikaFiber ® technology for dynamic ground support ; dust sealing products to prevent dust generation ; plus refurbishment and maintenance products for steel and concrete structures , linings and coatings , conveyor belts , floors and roofs ; anchoring products for high loads ; Sika Aliva ® shotcrete equipment ; and mine paste backfill admixture .
On the fibre topic , Sika is opening a state-ofthe-art facility in Lima , Peru , to produce synthetic macro fibres , and expanding the rollout of a product range with great growth potential in Latin America . With this innovative technology , Sika says it is further strengthening its position as a leading supplier to the mining industry and a strong partner for infrastructure projects .
“ The growing mobility needs in urban environments require efficient transportation infrastructure , such as new road tunnels and subway systems . At the same time , the increasing global demand for critical minerals is driving the need for macro fibres to secure mining operations . With our state-of-the-art plant in Peru , we are ideally positioned to provide our customers all over Latin America with the full range of concrete technologies , while fulfilling the most demanding sustainability requirements of construction projects ,” said Mike Campion , Regional Manager Americas .
The global demand for macrofibres is projected to increase considerably in the coming years . A quarter of this demand comes from Latin America , particularly from the mining and tunneling sectors , and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 25 % over the next five years . Peru , the leading mining country in Latin America , is expected to experience the highest volume growth in the region .
Jennmar on J-Lok
A significant push for underground mining operators and contractors to achieve improvements in safety performance and development efficiency is driving a shift from traditional rockbolting products and installation methods to advanced automated resin-injected rock reinforcement systems .
As outlined in a recent paper titled ‘ Application of modern pumpable polyester resin to the mining cycle ’ Jennmar ’ s Trent Roberts , VP International Sales ; Dakota Faulkner . Vice President R & D ; and Komatsu ’ s Renier Koekemoer , Komatsu ’ s Senior Product Manager Drilling & Shaft Equipment state that over the last several decades , the resin-assisted rockbolting system has gained wide acceptance in the mining and civil industry due to its quick setting time , reliable anchorage , low cost , and other outstanding features such as durability ,
Komatsu ZB21 bolting machine with J-Lok P injection head assembly mounted to the carousel
corrosion protection , shear resistance and sealing of fractures .
However , they add that insertion of a polyester resin cartridge tends to be difficult in poor ground , high openings and / or for long tendon installation . “ Some operators pneumatically shoot polyester resin cartridges into bolt holes but broken ground , collapsed drill holes and irregularly shaped holes can burst a standard cartridge when fired into drill holes . To date , the method of installing resin capsules is using a polymer tube and adaptor mounted to a jumbo drill is most common . Using the drill boom , insertion of the resin capsule is completed with a cap / parachute attached to fix the capsule . The boom is then withdrawn along with the polymer tube from the drillhole , leaving the resin capsule installed into the drillhole . This method of installation is susceptible to the same issues encountered when shooting resin capsules , where the polymer tube has difficulty being inserted into the drillhole in poor ground and collapsed drill holes , generally breaking or damaging the polymer tubes and resin capsule / cap assembly .”
To overcome difficulties installing rock reinforcement in poor ground and collapsing drill holes , many operations now use hybrid friction bolts . These bolts are installed more easily in poorer ground and increase installed capacity but are still susceptible to corrosion and remain reliant on friction as the mechanical interface between the rock and bolt .
When anchoring cable bolts into drill holes , utilising mechanised cable bolting machines is a proven and successful process for installing 15.2 and 17.8 mm , seven-wire cable strand . Cable bolting machines traditionally use cement grout to secure the cable bolt into the drillhole . Cement grout is a very effective anchorage material although curing times associated with cement typically necessitate long cure times and re-entry times of 12 to 24 hours . The long cure times associated with cement grout significantly affect heading turnover in single-entry development , mines with limited available headings , and fast re-entry when rehabilitating main haulage and travel roads .
AUGUST 2024 | International Mining