The blasting process is everything in mining. Blast success requires reliable emulsions with long-term stability against such issues as thermal and mechanical stress. In a market that is crowded with all sorts of substandard products which promise you a huge return on investment (ROI), it is important that mining companies’ partner with tried and tested industry players such as AECI Mining Chemicals. Reputation is everything and the company has proved its mettle as an acclaimed supplier of polymeric emulsifiers and products for mineral recovery and other value-added products for the mining industry.
Emulsifiers have evolved as the times have. While, on the face of it, traditional ones may be regarded as ‘trusted’ they are not friendly to the environment and are costly in the long-term. “That is why we are always innovating – always on the lookout for suitable solutions that will effectively deal with challenges in contemporary mining, through our specialists’ constant interaction with customers,” says AECI Mining Chemicals. In a quest to find out more about the latest trends in emulsifier technologies, the African Mining Brief had a sit-down with this industry leader on a mission to discover the latest trends in the field.
Constant Interaction with Customers
AECI Mining Chemicals has more than 30 years of experience in research, development and innovation in emulsifiers used in emulsion explosives. It supplies and interacts with customers globally, gaining insight into explosive industries practices. “Thus, we can keep abreast of the latest industry trends and changes in mining activities; providing a base for leading-edge innovation and product development,” the industry leader says.
Knowledgeable Front-End Specialists
A company may trade successfully in a certain product. But if that is all there is to it, without any intellectual property or expertise, then it leaves no legacy for future generations. However, AECI Mining Chemicals’ highly knowledgeable front-end specialists provide a complete solution for the blasting and explosives industry. The company’s technical team has appropriate practical research and development skills and customer support expertise – both in the laboratory and on the emulsion production facility. This allows them, as subject matter experts “to provide tailored solutions to our customers to suit local conditions at customer sites, emulsion raw material availability and other intricacies.”
Reliable Product Supply
Customers can’t help but ‘fall in love with a supplier who saves them money while offering them world-class service. AECI Mining Chemicals is such a service provider – reduces costs for clients as much as possible and mitigates the risk of interruption of supply through integrated back-end systems. This allows more flexibility in raw material supply.
Relevant Products
Due to the aforementioned factors, it is not surprising that AECI Mining Chemicals has made a name in the supply of super concentrates, thickening, ultra-low temperature products. The products are recognised globally for their distinctive features that address shortcomings that are frequently encountered when traditional emulsifiers are used with emulsion explosives. These are listed below.
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Super Concentrates
The super concentrates are supplied at usable viscosities for easy application. This results in a direct reduction in freight costs and ease of handling at ambient temperatures.
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Thickening Products
Thickening products are typically used in fractured ground where emulsions can run into cracks, causing post-blast fumes. The thickening additive can be adjusted to deliver suitable viscosity emulsion to work with existing equipment and the gassing method to deliver the optimal solution.
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Ultra-Low Temperature Products
These are designed to give long shelf-life emulsions with limited cold thickening for ease of use. The design of the emulsifier makes the pumping of the emulsion easier and mitigates the viscosity increase.
Managing Used Oil
AECI Mining Chemicals has experience in used oil collection and storage. Once certain steps have been followed and the appropriate quality control checks employed, the waste oil can be safely incorporated into the fuel phase. The company will also design an appropriate emulsifier to work with the type, quality and quantity of used oil – up to 70% – resulting in massive fuel phase/final emulsion and waste disposal savings.
Proper Product Usage
AECI Mining Chemicals’ high level of collaboration with potential new customers at the initial stages of engagement ensures that its products are used as specified in different applications. Products are developed in conjunction with the customer’s technical team. Once products have been developed, they undergo field trials and are then scaled up to production quantity. “We assess the final application on the bench and also provide ongoing support and plant audits to ensure proper use of the product and continual product/process improvements – ensuring full involvement from the development phase to commercialisation of the finished product, including customer in-field evaluations. Our team is available at short notice to travel to remote customer sites to provide technical support in cases of emergencies,” says AECI Mining Chemicals.
AECI Mining Chemicals is part of the AECI Mining pillar. Hence, it can draw on the expertise and knowledge from the group to address complex problems and provide unique solutions. Based on the above pearls of wisdom, it is evident that AECI Mining Chemicals is an industry pacesetter and thought leader.
With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) rapidly changing the way we live and do things, does any progressive mining company still need to be told who to contact for their emulsifier products?
