As AEL Intelligent Blasting continues its customercentric and expansive business strategy to capitalise on its current momentum, plans are in place to further leverage cutting-edge technologies.

The blasting solutions group has embarked on a strategy to ensure the sustainable supply of hiugh-quality, locally produced initiators and access to safer, more efficient emulsion explosives and delivery systems developed exclusively for the underground conventional mining segment amid growing industry challenges and constraints.

“The company is embracing the concept of digital transformation through a variety of projects and offerings, one of which includes the adoption of a digital twin in both its manufacturing and blasting applications,” says AEL MD Edwin Ludick.

A digital twin will enable proactive decisions, the selection and optimisation of inputs and model various outcomes, as well as ensure the most suitable products, design and methodology are chosen to guarantee the most desirable blasting outcome.

“With this approach, we can more accurately predict imminent equipment failure and perform planned maintenance before it becomes critical. That prevents a costly shutdown, and enables us to manage our costs more efficiently, resulting in a benefit to the customer,” he explains.

Further, AEL is focusing on developing an autonomous GPS-guided mobile manufacturing unit, which has the capability to prime and charge up a blast hole without human intervention.

This reduces human exposure to hazardous activities within the mining value chain and will yield significant safety benefits.

“The advantages and limitless possibilities of augmented and virtual reality programming have also been leveraged to improve on various training programmes to ensure that people are trained in a way that develops better capability and understanding, and improves the overall skills base within the blasting fraternity,” Ludwick explains.

Meanwhile, AEL continues its global expansion plans, with more than 60% of the business currently based internationally, with the goal to increase this exposure to 80%.

Recent expansion includes the acquisition of a company in Brazil, while feasibility studies are under way in other territories.