Reducing Down-time at Mine Sites

How structural resin injection reduces down-time at mine sites when raising, re-leveling and re-supporting mine site structures, such as stacker-reclaimer rails, conveyor belt structures and machinery bases as well as driveways, floors and buildings.

Uretek Ground Engineering demonstrated an innovative, engineered structural resin injection that helps rectify moving and sunken built structures in mines, at the 2011 Mining and Engineering WA Exhibition in Perth.

A Unique Method for Reducing Down-time at mine sites

The patented Uretek method uses structural resin injection to raise, re-level and re-support mine structures such as stacker-reclaimer rails, conveyor belt structures and machinery bases as well as driveways, floors and buildings. It is described as akin to keyhole surgery.

Reducing down-time at mine sites is of the first importance

“Uretek can often substantially reduce major closure or down time and fix OH&S issues in mines caused by moving and sunken built structures,” Uretek’s Senior Project Manager, Tom Bailey declared, "And that's of primary importance to mining companies!"

Uretek’s engineered resins combine chemically on entering the ground and expand very strongly, but in a well-controlled way. Any voids are filled and any weak ground is compacted and greatly strengthened in the process.

If the injection is continued, slabs or structures are raised back to their correct levels.

 “The process is quite rapid but is constantly monitored by laser level for a precise result,” he said, "The resins can be injected fast and they set very quickly. Most jobs take only a day or two and mostly corrected areas can be used again just 30 minutes after Uretek correction. There's no waiting as there is for concrete to set and gain strength."

Uretek also has the flexibility to treat one area at a time.

The two main processes are:

• Uretek Slab-Lifting for raising and re-levelling. This involves injecting expanding structural resins under the element concerned through 16mm holes.
• Uretek Deep-Injection for improving ground-bearing capacity by compacting foundation soils. Again, this patented process involves resin injections through tiny holes at multiple depths in weak strata.

The Uretek Deep-Injection is often used in conjunction with the Uretek Slab-Lifting to re-level a structure and compact the ground at the same time.

“The results are that safety issues are addressed quickly, effectively and economically while costly closures and replacement are eliminated and downtime is minimised,” Mr Bailey said.

“For example, trip hazards and slab movement are eradicated, trucks and forklifts will ride smoothly again and tower and pedestal footings plus machinery base slabs are re-levelled and re-supported,” he said.

The Uretek Method is also clean, environmentally inert and neutral... and cost-effective. 

For more information see 'Mine Structures Lifted'

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