The continuation of the exhibition "Coal of Russia and Mining" and the eve of the Miner's Day, the Timchenko Marketing agency asked debutants and old-timers of the mining and related markets to tell about their current opportunities, strategic plans and trends that will determine the development of the industry in the coming years. Within the framework of the author's project "New Times – New Heroes", the companies "AZOTTECH", "ZVEZDNY", "Instroytechcom" (ISTK), Akaliko, "Termolaser", "Evoblast", "Delovoy" and "Avtodorkomplekt" present personal and industry transformations and new opportunities that everyone opens for their customers.
The first stage of open field development is not complete without drilling and blasting operations. The shortage of necessary equipment and components has not bypassed this area. This year, one of the leaders in the field of BVR – AZOTTECH Company – turned 15 years old. The company enters its anniversary year with new partners, an updated product line and unwavering optimism:
"Last year for us, as for many, was a year of challenges. The departure of European suppliers and the disruption of logistics chains, one way or another, affected the company's work. At the same time, the current situation has become an incentive to search for new solutions. So, we promptly and successfully resolved the issue with the chassis and today we can offer customers options for installing the suspension on KAMAZ, URAL, MAZ, HUNT and SHAISMAN. Establishing cooperation with suppliers of spare parts from friendly countries – India, China, Turkey, and African countries allowed us to protect ourselves from interruptions in the supply of all components and assemblies for our equipment. Work continues on the introduction of the highest-class electronic initiation system in Russia. In close partnership with our Indian colleagues, we are implementing a project for the supply of non-electric ZEVS initiation systems. Within the framework of the joint venture, there are also strategic localization plans. As before, we supply and adapt special equipment for BVR, develop automated control systems. Many reverse engineering projects are being implemented today with Russian partners. Of course, extensive expertise, understanding of the needs of mining enterprises, own production and design capabilities helped us to adapt to new conditions and give results as quickly as possible," Maria Ipatova, Head of Marketing at AZOTTECH.
However , according to Anton Kondrashov, Managing Director of Evoblast Group of Companies (the local successor of ORICA in Russia), faced the first challenges of the global drilling and blasting market back in 2021. It was they who forced local and global manufacturers to look for new growth points and alternative solutions:
"For the global drilling and blasting market, the first challenge was the shortage of the main raw material for the production of initiation systems – surlin. This happened in 2021. Even then, in the Russian market, we were one of the first to develop a new direction of the company – electronic initiation systems in order to minimize dependence on individual components. Over these two years, we have come a long way: we have systematically increased our experience and expertise in the field of drilling and blasting operations using electronic initiation systems, developed this area and, together with local customers, implemented it in production. Already in 2022, we set a record by carrying out blasting operations on a block with a volume of over 350 thousand m3 at the Gross field in Yakutia. The peculiarity of the project was that the work was carried out in conditions of low temperatures up to minus 37 degrees. Even taking into account the climatic features of the region, a massive explosion was carried out without failures. The advantages of electronic detonators in comparison with traditional non–electric systems are high accuracy of explosion initiation, reduction of rock spread and specific flow rate, as well as seismic impact control. But the main feature of electronic systems is the safety of drilling and blasting operations. And in the next 5 years, this trend will only intensify."
Security and technology are at the heart of any responsible business, especially industrial. Occupational safety is almost the only area that has not been touched by the challenges of the last three years. Moreover, the requirements for the organization of security at the enterprise are becoming stricter. For the Delovoy company, the phrase "People are the main value" has been the main principle and specialization of the company for more than 10 years. Dmitry Gulin, Deputy General Director of the company, talks about theory and practice, legislation, risk minimization and modern technologies for personnel training:
"Modern legislation sets only a vector, but does not give clear instructions on occupational safety at work, and often enterprises do not know exactly how to train employees, assess risks. Our company helps to make the production process safe and cost-effective by reducing staff turnover and increasing productivity while improving working conditions. In our work, we focus not only on the current legislation and world successful practices, but also on the needs of a particular enterprise. We approach the organization of work comprehensively. Actual external factors are taken into account, the economic benefits from the organization of safe production are calculated, engineers and even psychologists are involved. We teach not only on our own sites, but also create training centers on the customer's territory. Products and services are regularly updated and evolve based on feedback from customers and our own experience. The main products that have already proven themselves in action are VR—technologies for teaching safe high-altitude work, which help to determine the aptitude of an employee and identify a fear of heights; augmented reality tools for the growth of student engagement and successful assimilation of the material; methodology for automating training in an organization through the introduction of a learning matrix and a platform for learning management SECTOR. In addition, we develop technological solutions for individual customer tasks."
The market of special equipment and spare parts has become the most dependent on imports and restructuring of logistics chains. The share of local manufacturers of the necessary equipment turned out to be too small to cover the needs of miners. Against this background, the role of distributors who guarantee reliability, quality and provide services is growing. One of such companies is Instroytechcom (ISTK), which has been supplying and servicing machines for onshore mining, construction, and agriculture for more than 20 years. Before the events of last year, the company's product portfolio included such brands as Komatsu, Deutz, Manitou.
"For more than 20 years, our company has been engaged in the supply and service of machines for onshore mining, construction, and agriculture. This experience has helped us not only to find a high–quality alternative to the brands that have left the existing portfolio, but also to develop a new direction - underground drilling equipment. We approached the search for manufacturers taking into account the high requirements of the industry for the quality, reliability and economic efficiency of equipment. The choice was made on the brands Siton, CRCHI and JK Drilling, whose production facilities allow applying the best world practices in the creation of special equipment. Moreover, the machines of these plants can be adapted to Russian operating conditions and the specifics of domestic mining enterprises. At the moment, our customers have already proven themselves on the market drilling rigs JK820-2 and SITON DD4-2b, as well as the installation for production drilling SITON DL4.
An equally priority task is to provide warranty support and maintenance of new equipment, as well as extend the service life of Sandvik, Epiroc equipment already operating on the market, etc. Thanks to our expertise and significant strengthening of the team due to the influx of specialists released from foreign projects, over the past year we have created the largest service network in Russia, consisting of regional centers for repair of equipment on the basis of branches and separate divisions of the company. The premiere of this year is the opening of a specialized service and production center in Kemerovo on the basis of the former Sandvik center. One of its tasks is to ensure the overhaul of various types of equipment and prolong the service life of the equipment. The choice of location was made based on several factors: the developed infrastructure of the region, geographical proximity to customers and good transport accessibility. The total area of the service center is 14,000 m2, 900 m2 – for a spare parts warehouse. This opens up the possibility to increase the throughput to 7 node repairs per month. In turn, the capabilities of the center allow for two major repairs at the same time: PDM-type machines, drilling or mining combines. Nevertheless, there is already an understanding that this is not enough, and in the near future we will have to reconstruct and increase the repair areas and the warehouse complex," shared Yuri Kileynikov, General Director of Instroitekhcom.
There are also record holders in terms of growth rates among manufacturers. Thus, Akaliko, a global manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders for mining, quarry and construction equipment, has increased its staff several times in just a year, developed new directions for itself and intends to organize full–cycle production by 2025.
