Features - North American Mining Magazine

Will 2025 mark the ‘tipping point’ for mine electrification in North America?

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 Francesca Peeples

New findings suggest strong near-term investment interest in mine electrification among North American companies. By Sachin Jari Several months ago, I attended my fourth MINExpo International and couldn’t help but smile (somewhat righteously) at the overwhelming presence of attendees evaluating the latest ideas and concepts for mine and fleet decarbonization via electrification. While the focus was on mining (we all…

Optimizing the flow

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 NAM Staff

TerraSource Global marketing director Raymond Pietramale discusses the keys to efficient, durable and cost-effective operations in mineral processing as well as at aggregate sites. Companies operating in minerals processing, as well as those in aggregates, must navigate a complex landscape of challenges, including efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. As global demand for raw materials continues to rise, businesses must optimize throughput…

Mining education: the view from WVU

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 NAM Staff

North American Mining exclusively talked to West Virginia University’s Dr. Qingqing Huang about the current state of mining engineering education. By Jonathan Rowland If the North American mining industry is to support the supply of critical metals and minerals, it needs mining engineers. Yet, U.S. and Canadian mining schools are “not graduating enough mining students to meet current demand,” Dr.…

5 factors impacting equipment manufacturing’s regulatory landscape

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 Jason Malcore

By Jason Malcore Over the last 25 years, the global regulatory landscape has continued to expand and grow more complex with each passing year. This has led to larger administrative burdens, costly product re-designs, higher barriers to trade and more uncertainty for industry as they look to navigate the future business environment. There are a variety of different factors that…

Getting the most from your conveyor: load zones and transfer points

February 25, 2025February 25, 2025 Jonathan Rowland

In demanding mining environments, the design and maintenance of load zones and transfer points are crucial for ensuring smooth, safe, and efficient material handling. By Jonathan Rowland Load zones and transfer points are critical areas in any belt conveyor system. Properly designed, they help stabilize the belt and prevent bottlenecks, ensuring smooth and continuous material movement. They also help minimize…

Drilling into the details

February 17, 2025February 17, 2025 Donna Schmidt

Call it a merger of strengths. A 2022 acquisition of the Cannon product line by J.H. Fletcher from Lakeshore/Trident left the OEM with a rich portfolio for multiple applications. It is now merging the designs to become better than ever. By Donna Schmidt When an OEM grows its line-up through an acquisition, it is generally great news for the company…

Swift solutions

February 17, 2025February 17, 2025 NAM Staff

A case study on high-capacity dewatering implementation to ensure uninterrupted operations for surface mines. In surface mining, efficient and reliable dewatering is essential for both safety and operational success. It ensures improved working conditions, enhances geotechnical stability and boosts overall efficiency for the mining operations. This was the case at a mining complex in the Midwest, said to contain 1.3…

Ramping up the savings

February 17, 2025February 17, 2025 NAM Staff

Dyno Nobel’s DynoConsult team and electronic detonators recently helped bring a midwestern North American coal mining customer savings of more than $100,000 per ramp shot as it implemented a new ramp design. Optimized blast timing can certainly lead to savings – but $100,000 per ramp shot? According to a recent customer study, it is possible, and it is already leading…

Leading with precision

January 2, 2025January 2, 2025 Donna Schmidt

In this month’s Executive Q&A, NAM talks to Precision Pulley and Idler (PPI) CEO Matt Buckingham about his start, trends in mining consumables, and the company’s growth path. Edited by Donna Schmidt There isn’t a mine that does not use consumables, especially the key infrastructure components that keep mines on the move. PPI, nearing 50 years in business from its…

Weathering the storm

January 2, 2025January 26, 2025 Erik Sucksdorff

Why hyperlocal weather intelligence boosts North American mining operational productivity, safety and sustainability. by Erik Sucksdorff Accurate situational awareness empowers mine project owners and operators to plan for and respond to severe weather, decreasing downtime, employee safety risks and environmental impacts. Every hour of mining operation translates to valuable resources extracted, processed and delivered – with efficiency driving profitability. The…