Air Operated Mining Equipment

Developing a New Culture

Mechanized mining requires an entirely different approach – Decade old standards are fast becoming obsolete. Today’s production demands are getting more and more difficult to meet. The conventional mining industry is hungry for new developments in the mechanization field. To institute these developments successfully a new working culture has to be developed within the workforce.

Handheld vs. Mechanisation

A fundamental basic of efficient blasting are to develop the correct drilling pattern. Optimal advances cannot be achieved if the direction and depth, of the holes drilled, are not correct. These factors will consequently impact on stope cleaning rates and support requirements; hence the importance of hole accuracy cannot be over emphasized.

One of the major problems of hand held drilling is the difficulty in properly positioning and aligning the drill while collaring. The result of this hit and miss approach explains why advance rates will vary and why average drill depths of 1,2m translate into average advance rates of 0,8m. Improved drill accuracy will lead to better face advance. 

The current drill rig has quickly proven to dramatically improve productivity. Safety legislation is forcing management to reassess mining methods and to consider equipment that is compliant with safety requirements.

• Single operator of same skill level as current drill operators.
• Safe to store in stope without risk of damage or need to disassemble
• Operator must be able to assemble and install the rig with only one assistant.
• Minimal underground maintenance.
• Hole pattern must be fixed and repeatable but allow for reef undulations and variations in stope width.
• Modular construction for ease of assembly, transport and replacement of service exchange modules.
• Must be safe.
  
  
  

  3 boom stope rig in operation		2 boom narrow stope rig		3 boom stope rig in operation