March 2023
In Nairn Centre, Ontario, BME Mining Canada, a 50:50 joint venture between Sudbury-based contractor Consbec and South Africa's BME blasting and explosives company, will open new greenfield production and service facilities. A detonator manufacturing facility for both non-electronic and electronic detonators, along with product development and quality control labs, will be part of the new Nairn Centre operations.
Emulsion explosives, ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO), and BME's flagship brand AXXIS electronic detonators will all be produced at the company's production facilities, which are scheduled to begin operations in the latter half of 2023. Along with offering support for AXXIS blast initiation equipment, the facilities will also maintain, service, and clean the company's trucks and underground equipment.
Numerous field tests, including blasts in frigid temperatures and cold climates, have been conducted on the new systems. AXXIS has been successfully tested by the company in the United States to function in temperatures as low as -40°C.
September 2023
Anyone working in the field can now access a revised version of the industry standard reference handbook Explosives in Quarrying, along with a new diploma programme in Surface Mining Explosives Engineering.
The Institute of Quarrying (IQ) and blasting experts EPC Groupe have completely redesigned the third edition of the Explosives in Quarrying handbook to reflect the most recent industry knowledge needed for anyone involved in commercial blasting within the surface extraction environment. An updated version of the 1995 publication Explosives in Quarrying was released in 2010.
The IQ has introduced a Diploma in Surface Mining Explosives Engineering in addition to replicating Explosives in Quarrying.
Key players are Hanwha Corp., Incitec Pivot Ltd, Pakistan Ordnance Factory, Austin Powder Gmbh, Eurenco SA, Explosia, Inc., EPC Groupe, Yara, Nitroerg SA, Forcit Group, Titanobel, Solar Industries India Ltd, MAXAMCorp Holding, S.L., Orica Limited, IDL Explosives, Enaex, Anhui Jiangnan, China Poly Group Corporation, BME, NOF Corporation and Ideal Industrial Explosives Ltd
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