Explosives and blasting solutions provider BME has announced that its mobile manufacturing units (MMUs) are now equipped with advanced automation features, powered by machine learning and artificial intelligence. This integration of smart technology enables real-time data monitoring and analysis, optimizing the loading of bulk emulsion into blastholes.
One of BME’s key achievements is the development of digital solutions like Xplolog and Xplocharge. These solutions automate aspects of blasthole charging by tracking emulsion volumes pumped by smart trucks. On-vehicle equipment collects data on planned versus actual volumes, providing real-time insights. Through wireless transmission and cloud platforms, this information is stored and analyzed, facilitating ongoing cost optimization and resource management, while ensuring optimal blast results.
BME’s Smart MMUs revolutionize blasthole loading providing real-time data for safety and efficiency. By elevating mining operations, BME’s Smart MMUs and digital solutions ensure optimal blasting.
BME’s smart MMUs also feature digital telemetry capabilities through internet-of-things (IoT) devices, contributing to improved productivity, maintenance control, product quality, and asset utilization. This monitoring system allows for the measurement of truck performance and enhances overall operational efficiency. With over 200 MMUs built at their specialized in-house assembly and fabrication facility in South Africa, BME ensures the safe and smart loading of explosives.
Continuously evolving and upgrading their smart technology, BME recently introduced an enhanced version of their Xplolog system. This system captures and analyzes data on blast holes and decks, utilizing cutting-edge design and application code, along with a new and upgraded database leveraging Google’s Cloud Services. The real-time monitoring of block progress and continuous improvement of blast quality empower mines to achieve sustainable outcomes, while avoiding risks such as vibration and fly-rock through controlled blasting.
“(Emulsion) volumes are monitored by on-vehicle equipment, which compares the planned volumes with the actual volumes required. This data can then be transmitted wirelessly to be stored and analyzed in cloud platforms,” said Nishen Hariparsad, BME general manager of Technology and Marketing.