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With the ever-increasing demands for production efficiency, fast-track training in the mining industry has never been more important. Boliden Tara Mines of Ireland is one company that is reaping the benefit of an effective and safe training method with simulator training, without causing any disturbance to production.
Traditional ‘buddy training’ on a production drill rig can take four to six weeks in order to get a new fully trained operator. In addition, any drilling errors made by a trainee can lead to difficulties during blasting, causing unevenness in the mine’s tunnel walls and floor. Similarly, if there are errors in depth alignment, subsequent rounds will be more difficult to drill and load, and without good profile quality, blast damage is increased, resulting in more time for scaling and rock reinforcement.
At Boliden Tara Mines in Navan, Ireland, Mining Manager Mike Lowther is fully aware of these production efficiency challenges. The mine, owned and operated by Boliden, the Swedish international group, produces approximately 2.5 million tonnes of ore for zinc and lead concentrate per year and strives to constantly improve efficiency wherever possible. Part of this effort included the use of an Atlas Copco Master Driller Simulator. ” Lowther recalls.
"It was a brilliant opportunity not to disrupt production and make rapid progress on our training program in a 21st century environment"
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Tomorrow’s underground mines will be more remote with orebodies that are difficult to reach and consequently more dangerous to excavate. Against this background, Atlas Copco’s Mattias Pettersson says mining companies have only one option.
Most surface miners agree that bigger blastholes reduces the cost of blasting but also increases the cost of hammers and bits. For example, mines have been switching from 152–171 mm (6–6 ¾ in) holes to 215–250 mm (8 ½–9 in) holes to increase productivity....