How do you use drones and robots to make underground mining less risky for workers? Virginia Tech researcher Richard Bishop and his West Virginia University collaborators are working to answer this question. A recent two-year, $569,149 Alpha Foundation grant will allow the team to study ways to use autonomous drones to predict and prevent roof collapses underground. It’s urgent work.…
Read MoreTag: underground mining
Bell Equipment Taking Things Beneath the Surface
OEM cites portfolio growth for its transition to underground offerings. Will others follow the trend? Bell Equipment recently announced its plans to create a dedicated OEM business division for underground mining, as it has identified it as an opportunity for further growth as the global industry continues its movement underground. The company’s plan includes expanding its existing product range as…
Read MoreThe Power of One goes deeper undergroundThe Power of One
Ahead of directing their Power of One platform and philosophy underground, North American Mining spoke to Hexagon’s Mateus Quintela for this exclusive interview about the company’s solutions and vision for underground mining. By Jonathan Rowland Hexagon launched the Power of One for surface mining at MINExpo in September 2021. Designed as a holistic, life-of-mine solution, it provides a single digital…
Read MoreOrica releases WebGen 200 Surface
Now commercially available from Orica: the WebGen 200 Surface wireless initiating system, which enables new mining methods and blasting techniques to improve safety, increase productivity and reduce operating costs. Released this month, WebGen 200 Surface is based on the success of more than 5,000 WebGen 100 blasts around the world, containing over 150,000 primers. Orica’s WebGen 200 Surface, the company…
Read MoreMiller Technology rolls out battery-electric grader
Canadian manufacturer Miller Technology, after successful customer response and trials, released its new low-profile battery-electric grader for underground mining at the 2023 bauma show in Germany. Miller, who said the addition of the battery electric vehicle (BEV) fills a market gap, built its E-Grader by retrofitting a HBM-Novas 110-M low profile grader with Miller’s patented Powered by IONIC Drive system.…
Read MoreNormet acquires companies, invests in third
Normet is already having a busy 2023, acquiring Finland boom system manufacturer Rambooms and hydraulic attachments supplier Marakon and also grabbing up a minority holding in startup Lekatech. Rambooms Marakon, both active in the mining, crusher and construction sectors, make up the Marakon Group. No financial details of the transaction were released. Normet president and CEO said both new addition…
Read MoreEpiroc, Orica mark milestone wireless blast
Epiroc and Orica, in partnership with Agnico Eagle, have successfully commenced live blasting with Avatel – the world’s first semi-automated wireless underground development charging solution at Agnico Eagle Mines’ Kittilä mine in Finland. The milestone brings to life an industry-driven concept to dramatically improve safety at the face during the charging cycle, which is one of the highest risk activities…
Read MoreKomatsu goes underground with GHH acquisition
Komatsu has entered into an agreement to acquire German manufacturer GHH Group, which it said will expand its underground mining equipment offerings. Founded in the 1960s and currently part of the Schmidt Kranz Group, GHH offers a wide range of equipment focused on loaders and articulated dump trucks in the mid-seam mass mining, narrow vein and low-profile market segments. The…
Read MoreINSERT BATTERIES HERE
Mining companies are increasingly looking to electrification to reduce carbon emissions. In underground mining, this switch offers several other additional benefits. But making the change at existing operations is not without its challenges. By Jonathan Rowland Electrification is nothing new in underground mining. Benefits include an improved work environment, with lower air emissions, heat, and noise, and thus reduced costs…
Read MoreRound Mountain going down
Kinross revealed during its third-quarter earnings report that it has completed the optimization program for its Round Mountain operation in Nevada and has decided to extract using underground methods instead of advancing an expansion plan for its open-pit workings. The optimization program evaluated four primary options: a Phase S open-pit pushback, Phase W3 open-pit pushback, Phase X underground, and Gold…
Read More