Modern Mining February 2021

primary and secondary support methods, including cable bolters. “We have collaborated with our customers in recent years to drive innovation in both active and passive rock bolts.” The former can be loaded and tensioned immediately after installation and typically include resin grouted rebars and mechanical bolts with expansion shells and high pull-out capability. Passive bolts are friction-type bolts with medium pull-out capability for high-speed development. “In some instances,” says Pule, “we also offer hybrid bolting systems. We partnered with cable suppliers to ensure fit-for-purpose installations, including meshing.” Sandvik’s key offering in terms of bolting prod- ucts are equipment boom and turret mechanisms for accuracy, consistency and hole alignment to handle challenging bolting applications. Pule says these bolting turrets can accommodate different drilling methods, bolt types, hole sizes and, importantly, the capacity for bolt cassettes with maximum plate sizes. “Our key offering is therefore our low-profile mechanised bolters, the Sandvik DS211L-M, the robust DS311 and the DS411. Technology uptake Pule says market uptake of these technologies has

been “slow but promising”. “Adopting new technology,” he says, “can at times be a risk and extensive testing and trials are therefore needed.” He says all stakeholders must be aligned on the single, common message that safety and miners’ lives are paramount. “In South Africa, we must balance employment with the ethics of safety. Our automation drive is therefore purely aimed at safety, and not at replac- ing jobs. This is what drives the uptake of this technology – a balance of ethics, sustainability and macroeconomics. 

Key Takeaways  Roof support is a complex area of underground drilling, which forms the backbone of safety at every underground mine  Industry trends are characterised by large opencast mines moving from surface to underground operations and by gold and platinum mines becoming deeper  Deep mines are moving away from conventional, dynamic roof bolts to seismic-enabled dynamic bolts  People have died, not while installing the supports, but while trying to make the roof safe  Sandvik’s automation drive is purely aimed at safety, and not at replacing jobs

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