Laser solutions provider Laser Tools Co helped build the Panama Canal expansion by supplying tunnelling lasers that ensure accurate excavation. The GL350 Green Laser Technology Mining Alignment Laser was chosen for its long-distance performance and bright green laser beam.
The Panama Canal expansion project, also called the Third Set of Locks project, doubled the capacity of the Panama Canal by adding a new lane of traffic allowing for a larger number of ships, and increasing the width and depth of the lanes and locks, allowing larger ships to pass.
The project was completed in 2016.
“Green laser light is ten times brighter than red laser light,” Laser Tools Co president Joe Wortsmith explained in a statement issued in November.
“This means that you can see the beam better and shoot farther without having to move the laser equipment. This speeds the excavation process and saves money,” he added.
The GL350 Green Laser Technology Mining Alignment Laser is made from solid brass, includes tabs and brackets for Spad mounting to the roof and operates on 2D size batteries.
“It is also certified intrinsically safe by the Mine Safety and Health Administration for use in methane/air environments. This is required when mining and tunnelling in gaseous and hazardous underground environments like coal mines,” Wortsmith said.
Options include line generator lenses, mounting configurations, beam steering optics that permit the beam to be precisely positioned without moving the laser itself, as well as remote operation. Additional optics extend the operating range of the GL350 to more than 1 km.
Laser Tools Co will be exhibiting at this year’s MINExpo International in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the US.