COMPANY PROFILE
2014
DetNet
Sparking groundbreaking success
company profile
Sparking ground-breaking success Editorial: Christian Jordan Production: James Clark
DetNet, the 50/50 joint venture between AEL Mining Services and Dyno Nobel, has recently released new products into its global markets. With more to come this year, the future is set to be exciting for this pioneering company. Marketing Manager, Andrew Caesar tells IndustrySA more about this highly innovative organisation.
It would be fair to say that DetNet started out with a bang when it adopted its current identity back in 2002. The company, a world leader in the innovative design and industrialisation of electronic initiation systems for detonation missions, was formed after AEL Mining Services purchased Detotech and its Electrodet product and the two businesses were amalgamated. This was a major development for the industry on a global level and was an important part of the history of DetNet’s two current owners. As a 50/50 joint venture between JSE-listed AECI and Dyno Nobel, a subsidiary of Incitec Pivot Limited, DetNet is represented globally by both AEL Mining Services and Dyno Nobel, thus providing global access and support for all its products. The company has been involved in a number of firsts including the first 3G HotShot four-wire blast in South Africa and the first four-wire conversion in North America. Rock blasting has been used for many years in the mining and quarrying industries and its origins date back to 1627 when gunpowder was used instead of mechanical tools in a mine in what was then Hungary (now Slovakia). Marketing Manager at DetNet, Andrew Caesar says that
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although the company operates in global markets, the South African market remains important and looks set to grow. “Our global reach has us contemplating multiple markets all at once,” he says. “As the mining industry in South Africa becomes more stringent and mining occurs closer to people’s homes the requirement for our product will continue to grow. South Africa is one our most important markets and we believe it will continue to grow.”
FLAGSHIP PROJECTS DetNet products are used primarily in the mining industry and their quality and effectiveness keeps some of the world’s most important mining houses coming back for more. “The main users of the product are within the mining and quarry markets,” says Caesar. “This includes some of the largest mining houses in the world. Usually, once a mine converts to an electronic initiation system and they see the benefits it can provide to their entire operation, they stick with it. There are customers that have been using our product for many years.” DetNet products are sold mainly through its channel partners (AEL Mining Services and Dyno Nobel) but each product is intended to suit a specific need. Communication with clients
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is important and the company’s highly qualified design and engineering teams are able to deliver cutting edge solutions as a result of collaboration with academia, end users and suppliers worldwide. In South Africa, the company has been involved with some major projects across different industries as Caesar explains: “One of the most high profile projects in South Africa that we were involved in was the tunnelling for the Gautrain in Johannesburg. More recently our Channel Partner AEL Mining Services broke the African record for the largest blast of electronic initiators, blasting more than 4700 detonators at once.” Two DetNet products were used during construction of the Gautrain. Firstly, to minimize air blast and vibrations, the Smartdet fully programmable electronic initiation system was used for the shaft sinking and secondly, the QuickShot, a pre-programmed electronic initiation system, was used for the tunnelling. During construction, the contractors who managed the tunnelling for the Gautrain project had many limitations to consider including storage constraints, environmental constraints and technical constraints. Because of DetNet’s innovative nature, the company was perfectly suited to assist.
In November 2013, AEL Mining Services set the record for the most amount of DigiShot Plus detonators fired simultaneously. At Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela Mine, 4787 detonators were fired in the newly opened Klipbankfontein pit and this was 2100 detonators more than the previous Africa record, set at the same location and just 331 short of the world record of 5118. Morne Stiglingh, Managing Director for Open Pit and Massive Mining at AEL Mining Services said that the aim of the blast was to minimise blast stoppages in the newly established pit and to showcase AEL’s capability of delivering superior products and services. Minimising stoppages positively affects production and subsequently helps clients expose ore quicker. The success of the blast has enabled the mine to change its methodology by having the confidence to fire fewer and larger blasts to minimise mining interruptions.
FIRST CLASS PRODUCTS Obviously, the market that DetNet and its channel partners work in requires a meticulous attention to detail, especially when it comes to the issue of safety. continutes on page 25...
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Leading a surging industry Apex Cordset Technologies has been operating in the electrical accessory industry for over two decades. By combining speedy turn-around times, innovative products, creative staff and entrepreneurial ambition, the company has managed to carve out a position at the front of this high competitive industry. Manufacturing in South Africa has become a significant driver of economic growth and is now known as a sector that can compete on a global playing field. Its ability to stimulate complimentary activities and create jobs is demonstrated by Apex Cordset Technologies (Apex), the Gauteng based manufacturer of moulded plugs, cordsets, wire harnesses and extension cords. Founded in 1986 by Konstantinos Gerasis, Apex has seen exponential growth, now employing over 500 people in its five manufacturing divisions, namely, Apex Leads, Kosmolink, Pintek, Evrotek and EDCAP. Christos Gerasis, Operations Director for Apex, tells IndustrySA that the company is now looking for expansion across the board; in its product range, facilities and workforce. “It is our vision to become the preferred supplier of the entire range of plug and connector systems globally,” he says. “Through our research and development, we aim to expand our product range so as to provide our customers with a complete one stop solution to their product needs. “We have earmarked a number of very exciting new projects, including the construction of a new, 7000m² production facility, to produce exclusive branded products. “We are also in the process of improving our training academy to provide a much needed educational facility. This will not only improve and empower our current workforce, but will also assist in providing a steady stream of knowledgeable employees.” It is these knowledgeable employees and the company’s innovative product offering that encourage names like DetNet to choose Apex for specialised electronic detonator cable wire harnesses. Apex has worked with DetNet for two decades and the two companies enjoy a thriving relationship. “The relationship with DetNet started in 1994 where Apex began supplying the Electronic Detonator Wire Harness for
the SmartDet Wire Harness. Over the years we have tailored and enhanced these assemblies allowing DetNet to increase efficiency and competitiveness, making them market leaders in their industry,” says Gerasis. “We have established ourselves in this very competitive market by being very conscious of our customer’s needs and being able to deliver the large volumes they require on time whilst maintaining the highest possible quality. “Our ability to provide products of the highest quality in a cost effective and efficient manner as well as our culture of striving for perfection has allowed us to be selected as a preferred supplier.” 2014 looks set to be an eventful year for Apex with new products set for release and a total solution set to be offered to customers, from design through to manufacture. “Our customers have expressed the desire to have their own unique products and designs. We aim to offer this total solution, from design and development through to manufacture and supply of these products to our customers. “In our bid to promote and grow the Apex Cordset Technologies brand, our innovative design team is constantly working on current as well as new products designed to make our everyday lives easier and safer. A number of these products are in their final stage of testing and approval by various regulatory authorities, including the SABS.” Gerasis concludes, saying that the company looks set to realise its targets for the year albeit through challenging conditions. “With the ever growing demand for innovative solutions compounded by increasing competition and rising costs of manufacture, we are expecting tough times ahead. “All things being equal, and with the knowledge gained through our past experiences, we anticipate achieving our projected growth target.”
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The current product portfolio is home to the DigiShot, DigiShot Plus, HotShot, SmartShot and ViewShot product lines and the entire range undergoes rigorous testing to ensure technical efficiency and safety. “Safety is always our number one priority and top of mind
in our design process,” says Caesar. “We work very hard to put physical controls in place that prevent an unintended initiation from happening. We do not see this as a hindrance, but as a necessity to ensure the safety of our users around the world.” In order to bolster its already comprehensive product offering, DetNet has recently released new products and has plans for more introductions throughout the year. Caesar says that these South African designed products will help the company to stand out in what is a highly competitive market. “We have just introduced a new seismic product, GeoShot, into the market and will soon be introducing another range, DriftShot, for the underground market. “We’ve also just launched a new tagger into the market and this will be followed by a new blast controller in the coming year. We are working on a few other products that will be introduced late this year/early next year. These products will really set our range apart from the competition. All of these have been designed, researched and developed here in South Africa. “Electronic initiation is still a niche market and represents less than 5% of the total initiation systems market worldwide. This makes the industry very competitive and somewhat protectionist. Once a customer understands the true value electronic initiation can bring to their production they rarely go back to shock tube initiation. This increases competitiveness as there are only a few
Built on the proven DigiShot platform, GeoShot provides an electronic solution to our seismic customers’ need for security by using a system-specific, coded command for detonator communication during testing and firing. As a precision electronic initiation system, GeoShot provides excellent data acquisition and reporting. In addition, the GeoShot detonator is produced with robust over– extruded downline wire for additional abrasion resistance plus an easy to deploy coiling configuration which facilitates hole loading efficiency.
The DriftShot Starter is an electronically initiated detonator intended for the remote firing of detonating cord, generally from the BlastWeb Centralised Blasting System. The detonator is enclosed in a polyethylene bunchblock, into which the detonating cord is inserted. The assembly is a two meter 2-wire cable, yellow in colour. A connector, containing insulation displacement terminals, is on the other end and is connected to the harness wire leading to the firing mechanism.
...continued from page 21 “Our products when applied properly can assist mines in meeting a number of the health and safety regulations that are required of them,” explains Caesar. “The very nature of the system provides users with more control and they will know before they initiate the blast exactly what should happen. Our products have been used to improve fragmentation and reduce noise, vibration and fly rock in many applications around the world.”
“Safety is always our number one priority and top of mind in our design process”
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systems available that have proven themselves as reliable.” DetNet works closely with its channel partners on the design and manufacture of all products and with AEL Mining Services and Dyno Nobel being an important part of the process. The relationship between the three goes back a long way and each player brings something different to the equation providing DetNet global access and support for all its products. “We manufacture the electronic timing module that goes into detonators,” explains Caesar. “This module is then provided to our channel partners who then assemble the components, designed by DetNet, into a complete detonator. “DetNet manufacturers the control equipment and designs the software required to safely control the electronic initiation system. The accuracy of electronic initiation provides partners
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in the mining industry with the means to optimise blasts. Significant energy is also devoted towards staying ahead of the increasingly stringent regulatory, safety and environmental demands,” he says.
FIRST CLASS PEOPLE Some of the adjectives and phrases used to describe DetNet as a company include innovative, explosive, industry leading, knowledgeable, experienced, efficient, accurate, safe and so on and all of these can also be applied to the staff of DetNet. DetNet employees follow a policy of continued improvement and because the products are utilised in international operations, DetNet staff have to incorporate a vast range of situations into their ideas.
DetNet “Our systems are recognised as one of the highest quality electronic initiation systems available. Working with the range requires our people to consider not only local issues but to think globally about what challenges may be faced by users around the world, working in conditions from a dormant volcano on a tropical island to the frozen tundra of the Northern Hemisphere,” says Caesar He pays tribute to the workforce saying that DetNet’s
“All of these have been designed, researched and developed here in South Africa”
lead the realisation of electronic initiation systems, and by extending its creative ability in functional design through collaboration with selected partners, the company can continue to set the global benchmark for the control of explosive power. As the company introduces more products into the market and its channel partners continue to grow and attract more customers, it seems as though there is no stopping DetNet – the message is clear; if you want creative, safe, reliable, innovative and effective solutions surrounding electronic initiation systems then DetNet and its channel partners are the choice for you.
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employees are the driving force behind its success. “Our people have been core to our success. Their innovative approach to solving problems and their dogged determination to find solutions have allowed DetNet to develop industry leading technology.” Through these people, DetNet hopes to continue to
Silcom (PTY) Ltd is a private South African company based in Lyttelton, Centurion. The company manufactures communication cables for the Data, Voice and Electronic detonator markets and is ISO 9001:2008 certified. Silcom operates from a 5000m² factory and employs more than 75 people.
Silcom is proud to work with Detnet to develop and supply quality products Company Capabilities • Copper rod breaking • Tandem Wire Drawing and high speed Insulation
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• Pairing and Lay Up of insulated conductors • Final sheathing and re-spooling • Extensive mechanical and transmission test facilities
Physical Address 1002 Ergon Road Lyttelton, Centurion Gauteng 0157 South Africa Postal Address P.O.Box 16184 Lyttelton, Centurion 0140 South Africa Contact Details Sander Silvis - CEO Tel : +27 12 664 1929 Cel : +27 82 446 8830 Fax : +27 86 601 8398
www.silcom.co.za MAR 14 PAGE 9
011 657 7600 www.detnet.com
(0)1603 618 000 info@industrysa.com East Coast Promotions Ltd, Ferndale Business Centre, 1 Exeter Street. Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4QB