Bulk explosives and blasting technology supplier BME has launched its Global Blasting Technical Services (GBTS) as an external and standalone offering to customers.

While GBTS was previously part of BME’s basket of solutions, the company recognised the importance of leveraging its skilled technical capabilities to benefit the market for several reasons, says BME technology and marketing GM Nishen Hariparsad.

“This initiative aims to provide significant value to the industry and elevate the market through the adoption of best practice systems, tools and measures. We believe it is imperative not only to set a world-class standard, but also to lead by example, rather than merely benchmarking against existing standards,” he says.

With the move of its GBTS to a standalone business, BME aims to extend its capabilities, expertise and technical services beyond its current customer base, as an effort to further solidify its place as a dedicated partner to the industrial and mining sectors.

The GBTS initiative includes a range of reactive, proactive and specialised technical services. Among the reactive services is the BME team’s immediate on-site response to blasting issues, providing troubleshooting and resolving unexpected challenges.

The company invests in the science of blasting to enable enhanced mining methods, and applies the latest technological innovations and service solutions, which enables BME to achieve efficiencies and unlock a client’s value and potential at their operations or facilities, elaborates Hariparsad.

In addition, the GBTS team also conducts drill and blast audits and investigations, vibration and air blast monitoring, fragmentation analysis and blast video analysis.

Support with reactive ground testing, three-dimensional face profiling and unmanned aerial vehicle analysis is also available.

“Our proactive technical services focus on regular monitoring and maintenance to prevent problems before they occur, as we continuously optimise blasting processes. This includes rock response testing, survey services, and blast design and predictions, as well as blasting impact and performance assessments,” he says.

Further, the BME and GBTS team also provides specialised technical services, which comprise advanced solutions for complex projects, using innovative technologies and custom methodologies to meet unique project requirements.

The interventions range from blast modelling and burden response analysis, to environmental services and mine-to-mill, or even mine-to-metal, projects.

The GBTS team works with clients to optimise blast performance by addressing factors such as ore dilution, wall control and fragmentation, while training and improvement services are also offered to clients.

Underpinning these services is BME’s depth of global skills, with the company stating that each expert member of its team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure that clients receive the highest level of service.

Supported by regional technical services managers, projects draw upon the expertise of dedicated technical services engineers for each site.

Blasting technicians and engineers work with the company’s scientists and chemists, with further support from in-house software and hardware engineers.

“There are subject matter experts on hand to suit the demands of each project, whether this relates to blast analysis, fragmentation or another area of focus.

“Where special challenges, such as reactive ground, present themselves . . . our dedicated reactive ground experts are there to provide support both in the field and in the laboratory,” he explains.

The GBTS teams create a core group of explosives application specialists, engineers and scientists with hundreds of years of combined experience in mining and explosives engineering. BME’s rich history as a noteworthy supplier of explosives means that it is well positioned to offer this broad range of technical services.

Hariparsad says that BME’s interventions enable customers to achieve control, efficiency, optimal performance and safety, which, in turn, leads to the exposure of potential opportunities to improve the total cost of mining.

“We recognise our success is intertwined with yours, so we aim for a strong partnership of collaboration that combines efforts and leads to exceptional results,” he concludes.