Epiroc, a leading productivity partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has won a significant order from Norilsk Nickel for underground mining equipment that will strengthen safety while ensuring a highly efficient mine development.
Norilsk Nickel is one of the world’s largest producers of nickel, palladium, platinum and copper and has a high focus on automation and new technologies. The mining company has ordered Epiroc’s Boltec M and Cabletec M rigs for use in the Oktyabrskiy, Mayak and Komsomolskiy mines in Russia to reinforce the underground rock in the safest and most productive manner. Quality and productivity are key features - 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.
The order exceeds MSEK 100 (MUSD 11) in value and was booked in the third quarter 2020. The equipment will be delivered from the product company in Sweden in the fourth quarter 2020.
“Norilsk Nickel has been an Epiroc customer for many years,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “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.”
One of the more difficult rock reinforcement tasks in underground mining and tunneling operations is how to install long-term rock bolts in poor rock conditions. As a result, 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.