Tag Archives: Boltec M

Epiroc reinforces order book with Norilsk Nickel contract

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Epiroc has won an order from Norilsk Nickel for underground mining equipment that, the OEM says, will strengthen safety at three of its mines in Russia while ensuring highly efficient mine development.

Norilsk Nickel, one of the world’s largest producers of nickel, palladium, platinum and copper, has been investing in automation and digitalisation for the past several years. This has seen it introduce advanced digital technology in mine engineering, as well as in planning and operational control of mining activities, through its Technology Breakthrough program.

As part of this order, the miner has secured Epiroc’s Boltec M (pictured with with pumpable resin option) and Cabletec M rigs for use in the Oktyabrskiy, Mayak and Komsomolskiy mines to reinforce the underground rock in the safest and most productive manner, Epiroc says.

Quality and productivity are key features of these machines, Epiroc says. “For example, several of the Boltec machines will be equipped with the new automated pumpable resin system, a key component in Epiroc’s automated bolting development. The pumpable resin system, when combined with self-drilling anchors, is particularly effective in difficult and unstable ground conditions.”

One of the more difficult rock reinforcement tasks in underground mining and tunnelling operations is how to install long-term rock bolts in poor rock conditions, Epiroc says. As a result of this difficulty, rock bolting traditionally has often been the bottleneck within the drill and blast cycle.

“To resolve this, Epiroc in 2019, launched a pumpable resin system for underground rock bolting, allowing for a faster, more reliable and cost-effective bolting alternative for long-term rock reinforcement in difficult ground conditions,” the company said.

The Norilsk Nickel order exceeds SEK100 million ($11 million) in value and was booked in the September quarter of 2020. The equipment will be delivered from the company’s Sweden operations in the December quarter, Epiroc said.

“Norilsk Nickel has been an Epiroc customer for many years,” Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO, said. “We are proud to play a key role as this forward-looking mining company now takes the next step in its commitment to safety and productivity with our latest technology.”

Epiroc to supply equipment, services for Codelco’s Chuquicamata underground mine

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Epiroc is to deliver underground loaders, face drill rigs, rock bolting rigs and mine trucks to the Chuquicamata underground mine in northern Chile following an order from Codelco.

The large equipment order, which comes on top of the signing of a large contract for services at Codelco’s Andina mine and a large order for equipment used at its El Teniente mine, also includes several years of technical support and training. The order is valued at more than $20 million and was booked in April 2020.

Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, opened the Chuquicamata underground mine in 2019 as it looked to transition the world’s largest open-pit mine into a technologically advanced underground operation. The transformation will extend the mine life by 40 years, according to Codelco.

Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO, said the company was proud to be a key partner of Codelco “as it significantly extends the life of the Chuquicamata mine in the most productive, efficient and safe manner possible”.

Juan Mariscal, Sourcing Category Manager at Codelco, says: “Epiroc was chosen because it complied with all the technical, safety and performance requirements that Codelco demanded for the Chuquicamata Underground Mine project, while being the supplier that provided the best economic proposal for all its equipment as a whole.”

The order includes multiple units of the Scooptram ST1030 and ST18 loader, the Boomer S2 face drilling rig, the Boltec M bolting machine, and the Minetruck MT65 (pictured), the highest payload capacity underground truck in the world.

The machines will be equipped with 6th Sense solutions for automation, connectivity and information management, Epiroc says. The solutions include Epiroc’s Rig Control System, RCS, which makes the equipment ready for automation and remote control, and Epiroc’s Certiq system, which allows for intelligent monitoring of machine performance and productivity in real-time.

Delivery of the equipment will take place later this year.

Epiroc pumps up rock reinforcement offering

Explosives and blasting, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Epiroc, together with LKAB, has developed a new solution for installing long-term rock bolts in poor rock conditions.

The pumpable resin system for underground rock bolting, designed for the mechanised bolting machines Boltec M and Boltec E models, is a result of the mining OEM and mining company’s collaboration within the EU-led Sustainable Intelligent Mining Systems (SIMS) project.

Epiroc says: “One of the more difficult rock reinforcement tasks in underground mining and tunnelling operations is how to install long-term rock bolts in poor rock conditions. Rock bolting, as a result, is often the bottleneck within the drill and blast cycle, leading to difficulties to predict work task scheduling.”

Blocky or friable ground often leaves drilled bolt holes blocked or partially blocked. This slows down, or in the worst case, prevents the introduction of bonding agents such as cement grout or resin cartridges into the bolt hole.

“The Epiroc and LKAB solution will allow a faster, more reliable and cost effective bolting alternative for long term rock reinforcement in difficult ground conditions,” Epiroc said.

Peter Bray, Global Product Manager, Epiroc, said: “An important factor to achieve a workable rock reinforcement solution is to have a system where the bolt design, bonding agent and bolting rig all work together to provide a robust and reliable bolt installation. To this end, Epiroc has worked hand in hand with a leading bolt and chemical supplier to create a bolting system that addressed the issues faced with long-term bolting in poor ground conditions.”

The result of this work is an integrated pumpable two-component resin system that can be used with a Self-Drilling Anchor style bolt in tougher ground conditions or, alternately, with a two-step hollow bolt in more moderate ground conditions.

“Having the ability to choose a long-term rock bolt that suits the ground conditions means that customers are able to achieve an optimal rock reinforcement regime in terms of function and budget,” concluded Bray.