Capital Equipment News August 2021

DEMOLITION ROBOTS

For one operation, using demolition robots to open up older shafts allowed them double monthly linear output while reducing labour requirements by 44%.

With extensive equipment options available from innovative manufacturers, in terms of machine size and attachments, there is an opportunity to use demolition robots in just about every high-risk, heavy-labour situation.

out metallic garbage, such as broken pins or used screening discarded down the stope or in ore cars for more efficient and safer material removal. Additionally, demolition robots can make stope drilling safer and more efficient. One operation looking to excavate gold from an existing stope found demolition robots provided the necessary manoeuvrability to work on a 35-degree incline in very dangerous conditions. The company was using an inefficient scraping method to retrieve ore from a 300-mm-thick vein 4 000 m below ground. With only 1,2 m of clearance, the mine needed a compact robotic machine capable of standing up to immense pressure and extreme temperatures. A compact demolition robot equipped with a specialised drill attachment provided an ideal solution that allowed the operator to remain out of danger. Shaft maintenance operations Opening up shafts or performing shaft maintenance are other areas where remote- controlled demolition equipment can provide more efficiency. Mining techniques have changed over the years, and for many operations returning to old veins with more modern equipment can supplement production. However, these shafts are usually found in a deteriorated state – with large rubble, collapsed supports and downed utilities – making the process of opening them up slow and dangerous. Additionally, safety requirements have also advanced along with mining techniques, so revitalising old shafts can require substantial work to meet modern regulations. In these types of situations, the versatility of remote-controlled demolition machines can minimise equipment and personnel

requirements for highly efficient renovation. Armed with a suite of attachments, a demolition robot can perform almost any required task. For example, a breaker can be used for scaling during initial maintenance or refurbishment work. It can also increase efficiency during clearing operations by offering a non-blasting solution for breaking up oversized material. Operations wouldn’t need to stop work and remove employees for blasting. An operator could switch to shears or a multi- cutter attachment next to remove sets and services – such as pulling down utilities or old support beams. Simply attach a bucket for material handling and mucking out. Secondary blasting, support units and suspension can all be managed with drill attachments. Grapples can be used to help erect support ribs and install safety netting or wire mesh as well as setting new services such as rails, pipes, or cables. Finally, shotcrete attachments are also available from leading manufacturers. For one operation, using demolition robots to open up older shafts doubled its monthly linear output while reducing labour requirements by 44%. The attachments can also make routine shaft maintenance more efficient, allowing mines to maximise productivity for these vital, yet time-consuming and risky operations. One operation was able to eliminate all manual labour in a shotcrete removal application and advance its maintenance schedule by months. It positioned the demolition robot on a platform that rotated around a shaft boring machine. After the shotcrete was removed, they used the robot to pin and bolt new screening. In addition to making shaft maintenance easier, demolition robots are increasing

safety and efficiency for widening operations, as well. They can be underhung from a Galloway stage, hammer, drill and blast, drill and split and replace old clam buckets for mucking out. The future of mining From ultra-deep to applications just below the surface, demolition robots can increase safety and productivity throughout the mine. Position a demolition robot above a stationary grizzly or in a blast chamber to tackle oversize without explosives or any unnecessary material handling. The possibilities are only limited by the imagination. With extensive equipment options available from innovative manufacturers, in terms of machine size and attachments, there is an opportunity to use demolition robots in just about every high-risk, heavy- labour situation. Compact units are currently available that range in size from a half tonne to 12 t with each offering power-to- weight ratios two or three times that of a conventional excavator. With full-remote capability and instant data retrieval for maintenance and troubleshooting, demolition robots are ideally positioned to bring the industry into the modern era – and into all-electric production. Modern mining has many exciting challenges in store for the new generation of technologists who will need creative solutions to supply the world’s ever-growing demand for metals in support of green technologies and more. Working with demolition robot manufacturers to provide mechanised mining and maintenance solutions promises to improve not only current productivity, but ensure a safer, more sustainable future for mining operations. b

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