Tag Archives: BOLT

IMDEX focused on ‘find, define and mine’ solutions at MINExpo 2024

Automation, Explosives and blasting, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining software, , , , , , ,

IMDEX plans to reveal the latest advances in its production mining tools and software at MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2024, in Las Vegas, USA, later this this month.

IMDEX Chief Technology Officer, John Hickey, said the tools and software assisted mining and exploration companies to safely find, define and mine orebodies with precision and at speed.

“Location, geochemistry, mineralogy and structure define the rock,” Hickey said. “Our tools capture and analyse the data on each element.

“Structure becomes even more important with deeper exploration and lower-grade orebodies. We have been focused on developing market-leading tools to enable the collection of structural data for more than 20 years.”

IMDEX tools and software break down information siloes and gather critical data to the deliver the best results from drill, survey or geological evaluations, the company added.

Specific to the MINExpo event, IMDEX will promote:

  • BLASTDOG™ – a semi-autonomous system for multi-parameter measurement of blastholes, which allows automated spatial domaining of material characteristics and fracturing in ore and waste;
  • OMNIx™ and BOLT™ (underground) – a production-hole survey tools for underground applications measuring blasthole deviation using a north-seeking gyro;
  • IMDEXHUB-IQ™ – a solution that provides secure access to validated field data, which is transmitted from a range of sub-surface instrumentation, analytical instruments and mobile form data inputs; and
  • Bore Hole Stabiliser™ (BHS™) – a multifunctional product formulated specifically for air-drilling applications, particularly drill and blast applications. It helps prevent a wide range of downhole problems including poor collaring, hole decay or sidewall instability; provides a degree of lubrication to the hole; and will improve the lifting capacity of the air stream for cuttings transportation.

“BLASTDOG is a game changer,” Hickey said. “Its unique, eight-arm calliper is able to ‘feel’ the side of the blasthole, giving the drill and blast engineers information about the diameter of the hole along the entire hole length. It can detect voids and other structures to assist in modelling.

“Downhole survey tools such as the OMNIx deliver an accurate trace of the hole path and because the data is captured in IMDEXHUB-IQ, it is connected to the structural data and readings are uploaded almost immediately.

“This remains a breakthrough, by eliminating spreadsheets and data imports from files. IMDEXHUB-IQ manages the acquisition and collation of these different datasets with full chain of custody protocols.”

MINExpo 2024 will run from September 24-26, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

IMDEX posts record underlying earnings as technology deployments accelerate

Automation, Environmental, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining finance, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

As well as posting record underlying earnings for its financial year ending June 30, 2023, IMDEX made significant strides with deploying its newest technology, the company says.

This is the first set of financial results to include revenue from global directional drilling and sensor technology company, Devico, which IMEX acquired in February.

Revenue for the 2023 financial year was A$411.4 million (265.1 million), an increase of 20.3% on the previous year, which included four months of Devico revenue.

Underlying earnings, normalised for the Devico transaction costs as well as exceptional legal costs, was a record at A$122.6 million and delivered at a sustained margin of 30%, notable given the rising cost environment experienced more broadly in the mining industry, IMDEX noted.

IMDEX Chief Executive Officer, Paul House, said: “We are especially pleased at the record performance of the business and the sustained margins. This is a testament to the relentless effort by our teams around the world; the strength of our business model; and a reflection of our prior investment in our digital 1.0 platforms. This allowed us to ward off the rising cost environment while at the same time continue our investments in R&D and our IMDEX Mining Technology business unit.”

As well as the Devico acquisition, IMDEX took a 40% investment in drilling analytics software company Krux Analytics and increased its stake in geoscience image analysis company Datarock.

IMDEX continues to grow its suite of mining technologies including IMDEX BLAST DOG™ which remains in the commercial prototype phase with three units now on rent with trials in Western Australia, Queensland and South America.

Underground production hole survey technology IMDEX BOLT™ and blast hole stabiliser IMDEX BHS™, both commercial prototypes, have been installed in four sites with two trials underway and installed in 11 sites with five trials underway, respectively, it says.

During the financial year, the company achieved the commercial launch of its automated spectral mineralogy technology IMDEX aiSWYFT™, the advanced IMDEX OMNIX 38 & 42 GYRO™ and its core logging solution IMDEX LOGGERX™.

“IMDEX is well positioned to leverage the robust industry fundamentals and the unique competitive position its global presence, leading technologies and integrated solutions provide,” House said.