Page 19 - EngineerIt February 2021

AUTOMATION AND CONTROL

a recent record blast. The system has
also been well received in mining
markets such as Australia, where it has
initiated record blasts in the coal
sector. Large blasts allow mines to
blast less often, reducing the disruption
from pit closures during blasting. This
in turn improves the mine’s productivity
and efficiency.
According to Tinus Brits, BME’s
global product manager for AXXIS™, the
latest version of the system – AXXIS
TITANIUM™ – is due to be released to
the global market this year. This version
promises to be the most advanced
electronic blast detonation system in the
world, said Brits. Among the
improvements in the new version are
higher levels of safety and the ability to
be linked to even more detonators in a
single blast.
“We are conducting final trials and
evaluations in South Africa, and these
have been successful so far,” he said.
AXXIS TITANIUM™ boasts a unique
three-in-one blasting box that can be
configured as a controller, a blaster and
a repeater.
A larger number of boxes can be
easily linked, as well as many more
detonators – to improve efficiencies
in blasting and saving time and cost
for customers. The system speeds up
the logging process, allowing on-
bench logging and testing of up to
500 detonators. D. Scott Scovira, Global Manager: Blasting Science
The integration of BME’s technology
with mine-wide platforms is a vital
element of supporting the mining
sector’s ongoing productivity drive, said
Christiaan Liebenberg, BME’s software
product manager.
“The digital age calls for increased
collaboration between technology
providers for integrated solutions,” said
Liebenberg. “It also means that mines
and their suppliers will need to work in
closer partnerships to develop and
apply the systems for increasingly
automated mining.”
He emphasised that higher levels of
business optimisation can be achieved
Christiaan Liebenberg, BME Software Tinus Brits, BME Global Product
through gathering and processing of
Product Manager Manager for AXXIS™
real-time data from all mining assets.
“A key focus of BME’s development
with digital tools for blasting operations About BME
is to leverage the value of real-time data BME, together with Protea Mining Chemicals, forms the mining division within the
on mines,” he said. “On the blasting side, Omnia Group, a JSE listed diversified provider of specialised chemical products and
this means integrating blast data with services used in the mining, agriculture and chemicals sectors.
the mine’s digital systems.” n

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