Modern Mining April 2022

on continuous improvement

greatly reduces explosives handling and logistics risks to remote areas. Collaboration is key Botha believes that the future of mining is collabora tion and big data. Working together with customers, AECI Mining Explosives hopes to collect data on each and every blast designed. Mining this data will

Recycled oils are incorporated into explosive formulations.

which affects the results of the blast. By using d GPS technology, customers can enjoy faster blast deployment, greater accuracy and increased efficiency. While the system is currently semi autonomous, AECI Mining Explosives is working towards fully autonomous deployment and tagging in the near future.  Alternative booster / primer technology: AECI Mining Explosives is looking forward to launching its new, alternative booster technology in 2022. For decades, boosters (or primers) have beenmanufac tured from Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) and Trinitrotoluene (TNT). While performance is excep tional, the chemical make-up of these products has, until now, required sophisticated plants and specialised raw material facilities for their manu facture, and safety has been an ongoing concern. AECI Mining Explosives is developing an alternative booster, PowerBoost TM , manufactured from non explosive raw materials, which is being trialed in the field. The advantage of the PowerBoost TM is that it enables safe, containerised manufacture, which The biggest gains (financial and environmental) are unlocked when focusing on continuous improvement at every stage of the value chain – Botha.

allow for continuous improvement of field application, operational trans parency and business intelligence. “For me, the future is about partnerships and relationships,” Botha says. “We always have the customers’ best interests at heart.” 

PowerBoost TM .

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