Orica recently spoke with Jesse Morton from Coal Age for the January-February edition titled “New Drilling and Blasting Tools to Beat Trending Challenges.” The interview discussed the release of the i-kon ™ III Steel detonator and the ongoing success of the WebGen ™ wireless initiation system. i-kon™ III Steel detonator The i-kon™ III Steel detonator is designed to meet the industry’s need for more resilient and durable products in harsh mining conditions.

i-kon™  III Steel detonator

The i-kon™ III Steel detonator is designed to meet the industry’s need for more resilient and durable products in harsh mining conditions. It retains the advanced features of the previous i-kon III, including full programmability and precise timing with a 0.005% variance, while offering enhanced shell strength and corrosion resistance for consistent performance. This makes it ideal for open-cut coal, open-cut metal, and underground mining.

This makes it ideal for open-cut coal, open-cut metal, and underground mining.

Dr. Rodney Williams, Vice President of Initiation Systems, emphasised: 

With i-kon III Steel, we are addressing the need for more resilient products that can withstand the harsh environments in which our customers operate. A safer operating environment for our customers together with reduced downtime and improved productivity is always at the forefront of our commitment to excellence."

Learn more about i-kon™ III Steel 

WebGen™ Wireless initiation system We also highlighted the ongoing success of the WebGen™ wireless initiation system, which has recently fired its 100,000th primer in North America and more than 350,000 primers worldwide. WebGen™ uses low-frequency magnetic induction signals to communicate with primers in blastholes, enhancing safety by preventing accidental detonations from lightning strikes and eliminating interactions with surface connectors. This system has been implemented at over 75 sites across six continents and 13 countries, streamlining the blasting process and allowing for more efficient and precise blast designs.

An example of WebGen™’s impact is its deployment at the Kinross Morro do Ouro operation in Paracatu. This mine, located close to residential areas, requires stringent control of vibration, dust, noise, flyrock, and fumes. By adopting WebGen™, Kinross has been able to optimise drilling and blasting operations while upholding strict environmental standards and maintaining social responsibility. 

Nigel Pereira, Vice President, Commercialisation, stated: 

WebGen fundamentally changed the way blasting can be approached, offering new techniques and mining methods that were previously unimaginable. This system enhances safety by preventing accidental detonations from lightning strikes, eliminates possible interactions with surface connectors, and reduces the exposure hours to hazardous areas such as under highwalls."

Learn more about the WebGen™ wireless initiation system

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