ROCK REINFORCEMENT
UTT mining services include technical consulting , support and assistance at the mine site , laboratory testing and support to meet specific application challenges plus formulations – the development and optimisation of various system solutions and product classification , certification and approvals for the mining industry . It says client training is also provided in the form of personalised , practical site-based training as needed .
The UTT ( Underground Technology Team ) group says it offers a comprehensive range of chemical , mineral and cementitious grout options to help the mining industry solve common problems in ground consolidation , soil stabilisation and pre-injection grouting in advance of mining development . Chemical injection resins include polyurethane ( PU ) and polyurea silicate ( PUS ) variations for quick and permanent post-injection applications . Mineral grouts ( nano or colloidal silica ) are excellent for improving soil stabilisation in wet and dry conditions .
Cementitious grouts include microcements that can be combined with OPC grouts or used in conjunction with OPC grouts to improve consolidation performance and water tightness . The UTT solutions for mining ground consolidation include Foamjet F ST-R , a rapidsetting , two-component polyurethane resin with fluid consistency with high mechanical characteristics , to be injected for consolidating and waterproofing of structures ; Silicajet ANK is a is a two-component organo-mineral resin , free of CFC and halogen , designed for the anchoring of structural bars : it can be used for anchoring structural bars in case of consolidation of rocky layers in tunnel mining and blocks for slope stabilisation .
Silicajet ST HP is a two-component fluid resin with high mechanical characteristics , used for injections into all types of soil , rock and / or concrete . Mapejet System N , Mapejet System NS 15 , and Mapejet System LP are ultra-lowviscosity , environmentally friendly , twocomponent , cement-free binders for low and very low permeable ground consolidation .
Microcem 8000 is a micro-fine hydraulic binder with pozzolanic action for ground consolidation and ground waterproofing throughout injections of cementitious mixes . Unexpected water inrush in tunnels and underground mines creates major safety hazards , production delays and cost increases during excavation . Mapei RockIn is a one-component pre-blended cementitious mortar , characterised by a very quick development of mechanical strengths , for anchoring , by injection , tie rods and bolts in all types of substrates . It ' s useful for anchoring tie rods and bolts in tunnels , injection of pre- and post-stressed cables and rigid sealing of structural joints . Stabilcem T is a one-component pre-blended shrinkage compensated thixotropic mortar for anchoring tie rods and bolts in all types of substrates by injection - it is useful for anchoring tie rods and bolts in tunnels , filling cavities , and rigid sealing of structural joints .
The UTT polyurethane ( PU ) resin injection systems it says are an effective and economical solution to quickly consolidate and stabilise the ground , and to help reduce or stop water in these challenging situations . The UTT Group also offers
a range of adjustable solutions for water ingress underground . Foamjet F is an ultra-rapid-setting , two-component polyurethane resin with fluid consistency , to be injected for consolidating and waterproofing of structures subject to relatively weak water ingress . Foamjet T is a high-viscosity , ultra rapid-setting , two-component polyurethane resin , to be injected for consolidating and waterproofing of structures subject to strong water ingress . Foamjet 260 LV is a twocomponent polyurethane elastic and lowviscosity resin for injection and waterproofing . Shotcrete performance relies on the interaction of all the components in the mix . Resfoam 1km IT is a one-component , flexible , ultra-fluid polyurethane resin applied by injection for waterproofing soils and rocks subject to intense water seepage , with adjustable reaction times .
Finally , UTT Group offers the Mapequick range of alkali-free accelerator for shotcrete and sprayed concrete . The most used solution is Mapequick AF-70 , a liquid alkali-free accelerator , with which it is possible to produce shotcrete characterised by rapid setting times and a very quick development of its strength after only a very short curing time . UTT Mapei also operates a shotcrete test centre not far from its factory in Sagstua ( Nord-Odal , Norway ). “ At Mapei ’ s shotcrete test centre , not only can we produce our own shotcrete , but we also have access to the same equipment that is mounted on modern shotcrete rigs . The centre is used mainly for full-scale testing of shotcrete and inhouse development of new products , in addition to being a venue for intercompany cooperation .”
IM
MacLean Shotcrete system ROI
The MacLean Engineering SS5 Shotcrete Sprayer was introduced in 2021 and part of the new design included on-vehicle technologies that helped improve the precision and efficiency of shotcrete application , as well as reduce the amount of chemical usage required in the shotcreting process . The Maclean Quickscan system gives operators near real-time , digital measurement of shotcrete thickness on a user-friendly touch screen in the unit ’ s cab . As more and more of these equipment options get commissioned on SS5s in the field , MacLean says it will be able to amass a data-driven picture of exactly how much concrete usage is reduced due to the quality of the spray thickness data that the technology offers up . " But we are confident that the speed and the quality of Quickscan imaging will make a significant , positive difference to mining companies and the shotcrete operators who are integral to these companies ’ ground support plans ."
MacLean does have field data from the deployment of its Chemsave dosing system , which in a heavy volume spraying scenario can save mining companies up to 50 % of their shotcreting accelerant chemical costs . This means the ROI on a MacLean shotcrete sprayer - the full
repayment of the mining vehicle ’ s capital cost - it estimates could be achieved in less than a year ’ s operation . Even in low volume spraying
application scenarios , the machine repayment via chemical savings could still be realised in less than two years . " The Chemsave system will not only benefit mining and tunneling operations financially but with proven data MacLean customers have seen heavy decreases in re-entry time , aiding with in-cycle shotcrete operations as well as an enhanced benefit on the quality of the shotcrete applied , no longer needing overdesigned mixes to compensate for potential strength degeneration over the long term ."
The co-number one benefit of MacLean mining vehicle safety and productivity it told IM has always been the value proposition that the company has marketed to the mining world , and now you can add TCO – Total Cost of Ownership – as an additional benefit of taking the ‘ MacLean Way ’ for innovation , manufacturing quality , and global product support .
AUGUST 2024 | International Mining