Upgraded electronic blasting technologies from Orica

Updates to company’s electronic blasting systems offer improved performance and usability

ORICA say customers of their uni tronic 600 and eDev II electronic blasting systems are set to experience more efficient and productive operations.

The updated uni tronic 600 and eDev II electronic blasting systems have been integrated with the field-proven Blaster 3000 currently used with Orica’s flagship i-kon III electronic blasting system (EBS).

The Blaster 3000, which is widely hailed for its superior precision and reliability, will now serve as a common blast box platform to deliver an improved user experience and blasting capabilities for users of uni tronic 600 and eDev II.

Orica’s head of initiating systems, Dr Rodney Williams, said: ‘We are continually making blasting safer, easier, and faster, so that our customers can achieve more with less. The integration of our best technologies across our EBS product families demonstrates our commitment to delivering smarter solutions and adding value to our customers’ operations through technology and innovation.’

Designed mainly for small surface mines, quarries, and construction blasting operations, the uni tronic 600 system will now allow larger blasts to be fired remotely with synchronized firing capability for up to 1,600 detonators and starter detonator functionality also enabled through the upgrade.

Key highlights of the upgrades to eDev II system, which is designed for underground development and civil tunnelling operations, include remote firing capability enabling up to 800 detonators to be fired remotely, and improved firing precision to +/- 0.005% for better blast outcomes.

Orica say the migration to the Blaster 3000 platform will provide users with a range of additional benefits, including being able to store and access up to 30 blast reports to better support regulatory reporting and post-blast analysis.