MAXAM has used the backdrop of the 34th edition of the Perumin conference in Arequipa, Peru, to announce a new production line of cartridge explosives to be made at its Cocachacra plant in the country.

The manufacture of RIOGEL, alongside the initiation systems and RIOXAM ANFO products the company produces at its Cochachacra plant, should increase MAXAM’s capabilities in Latin America, it said.

RIOGEL is the latest generation of high-energy cartridge watergel developed by MAXAM and has important advantages over other products. “Thanks to its high energy, it allows optimal rock fragmentation, increasing the productivity of the operation,” the company said, adding that it guarantees a good blasting result even under dynamic pressure.

“With a better balance of oxygen in its composition, RIOGEL reduces the emission of toxic fumes such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide,” MAXAM says. This shortens the return times to blasting fronts and, thus, optimises the operations’ performance.

It also comes with environmental benefits given its manufacturing process requires 95% less water than an emulsion.

José Luis Alonso, General Manager, MAXAM in Peru, said: “In addition to offering innovative products that allow us to increase the productivity of our customers, at MAXAM we have the technical capabilities to respond to their specific needs. We offer adapted and valuable solutions in Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and the rest of South America.”

The company is showing the advantages of RIOGEL as well as its innovations and latest developments in blasting services during the Perumin tradeshow, from September 16-20.