Modern Mining January 2022

COVER STORY

Ushering in a new era in electronic blast detonation

As mines seek to gain further improvements in safety, efficiency and productivity, BME’s new AXXIS Titanium, said to be one of the world’s most advanced electronic blast detonation systems, ushers in a new era in safe and efficient blasting, writes Munesu Shoko .

T he productivity versus safety debate has over the years been a major topic of discussion in the mining industry. The reality, however, is that increasing productivity and improving safety are two sides of the same coin. A safer mine is, in fact, a more productive one. Safe and efficient blasting is the goal for every mine. When developing its newly-launched AXXIS Titanium, Omnia Group company BME had these parameters in mind. The electronic blast detonation system brings safe and efficient blasting to the fore, enabling mines to increase productivity (mine more efficiently) and improve safety (not hurting anyone in the process). Safety to the fore The significance of safety in blasting cannot be reit- erated enough. With its dual basis of safety, the new

Tinus Brits, BME’s global product manager for AXXIS, holds the AXXIS Titanium logger. AXXIS Titanium sets new standards in electronic detonation. A major talking point is the use of dual capacitors and dual voltage, allowing for low voltage

AXXIS Titanium allows mines to program blasts of up to 35 seconds long for larger and more complex blasts.

12  MODERN MINING  January 2022